AMERICA/PERU - The Bishop of Chimbote asks protection for judges: "We are living in fear"

Tuesday, 27 January 2015

Chimbote (Agenzia Fides) - After the publication of the news regarding threats aimed at judges Susana Quispe and Sara Valdivieso, and three judicial officers of the Superior Court of the province of Santa (in the Ancash region in northern Peru), the President of the Association of judges of the Province of Santa, Raúl Rodríguez Soto, has rejected such harassment, inconceivable in a state of law.
"What happened is an attack, Ancash is a troubled region, we cannot allow this to happen, especially when it comes from criminals - said Raúl Rodríguez Soto -. We believe that magistrates, whether they are judges or prosecutors, must be protected, especially those who work on emblematic cases".
In the same letter sent to Fides, His Exc. Mgr. Ángel Francisco Simón Piorno, Bishop of Chimbote, also asked protection for magistrates: "Authorities and citizens cannot allow this, we are living in fear, and this should not happen. The authorities should clarify and look into these threats, to find and punish the criminals. Meanwhile they must provide security for judges and officials who are threatened", said Mgr. Angel Simón Piorno.
Chimbote is a city that has long lived situations of violence on behalf of criminal groups. A phenomenon that gradually came to light in these last two years (see Fides 21/03/2014 and 27/05/2014). The Bishops of Peru denounced this situation so that it can be avoided in other areas of the country, where the presence of law enforcement is lacking or the authorities still do not intervene in a decisive manner (see Fides 24/01/2015). (CE) (Agenzia Fides 27/01/2015)


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