Racist police in Lima arrests four young Indigenous men as dangerous criminals

Peru's racism against non-whites is still alive and unapologetic. Based on comments from friends and relatives I was hoping that it was actually decreasing and that somehow things were progressing, as Peruvians were becoming more conscious about our diverse racial heritage. Unfortunally this change is not happening among Peru's leadership. Although is a good sign to see the way how people in Lima have reacted to this upsetting news:

Four Indigenous men were arrested and presented as criminals by members of the government and the police of the exclusive district of Miraflores, in Lima. Abraham Nina Márquez, Jorge and Daniel Chávez and César Cavero were accused of being dangerous criminals who belonged to a local criminal band called 'The damned of Larcomar." Larcomar is a shopping center located in the waterfront area of this touristic district, a place that has experienced an increase rate of crime and delinquency.

Actually the group of young cyclists were in Miraflores to see an event of professional cycling exhibition. Their only crime was being of Andean heritage in a city where most Indigenous people try to hide their roots, and being poor in a neighborhood where most people pretend to be rich and white.

They were presented by members of the Serenazgo (municipal police) along with Miraflores Mayor Manuel Masías -who is mixed white- at a press conference, where they showed the detainees belongings as stolen property. The victims were released today after six days of illegal imprisonment. Their relatives and friends traveled from the poor neighborhood of San Juan de Miraflores -an hour of distance but centuries of social differences away- to protest and prove the innocence of their loved ones.

Wilfredo Ardito, a representative of the Association for Human Rights in Peru (APRODEH) said that these young people were "unjustly detained" and that this case "had racist connotations" to add that "there was nothing in them that might have generated suspicions, except having Andean racial features.For the Miraflores police this was enough reason and that is why their own property, such as cellulars, MP4 and digital cameras, were presented as if they were stolen."

Ardito also said that "people of Andean features are more likely to be detained in residential areas. We hope that the National Police and the Municipality of Miraflores apologize to the people who were unjustly detained."

Also Ardito mentioned the case of the arrest of Lizando Díaz and Edison Tejada, two drivers charged with a run over a police officer during the EU-LAC Summit last month, in Lima. Local newspaper El Comercio, showed proof that their arrest was "totally unjust." During the accident, officer Lady Anaya Gomez died when she was escorting personnel of the Bolivian embassy in Lima. Both Diaz and Tejada are detained since twenty days ago at a prison in Lima.

According to EFE, the case "has generated much controversy in Peru, where the media have been bombarded with messages demanding punishment for those responsible for the arrest and compensation for those affected." Other people don't want to admit it this abuse was caused by racism.

Mayor Manuel Masías created controversy in 2007 when he shut down a popular gay bar in his neighborhood. So far, he hasn't made a public apology to the four victims of discrimination. Their attorney has said they are willing to take legal action.

Here is a video of a TV station show in Lima (in Spanish) with an interview to Abraham, Jorge, Daniel and César who, by the way, seem very much touched by the situation. The man in the center is the attorney. Also you can see the precise moments when the four were freed.

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