University federations in Lima and the Peruvian Student Federation (FEP) rallied in massive support of students at the National University of Ucayali (UNU) following the intervention of the Peruvian National Police (PNP) on campus, which involved the excessive use of force. Several students suffered multiple injuries while protesting a University Council session convened by Rector Edgardo Braul, who is facing serious criticism from the student body.
It should be noted that UNU students have been protesting since May of this year to demand 20 specific demands, including: the replacement of university authorities, the University Council, the University Assembly, and the Faculty Councils; the immediate calling of elections for student representatives; greater transparency regarding resources; and investigations into alleged acts of corruption within the university (in logistics, hiring, and faculty appointments); simplification of the procedures for obtaining degrees and diplomas, among others.
The statement is backed by 27 university student federations and national student unions, noting that “this measure is not an isolated incident” and is a recurring pattern; therefore, they demand “the immediate resignation of the current UNU rector.” The statement reads as follows:
“On behalf of the undersigned student organizations and unions, we express our strongest rejection of the intervention by the Peruvian National Police against the students of the National University of Ucayali (UNU), who were exercising their legitimate right to protest to demand the resignation of the current rector, Edgardo Leoncio Braul Gomero, as well as better conditions for their studies, infrastructure, transparency in university administration, and a prompt response to the demands of the student community. During the intervention, we denounced the disproportionate violence used by the PNP, which resulted in serious injuries to students and staff caused by rubber bullets and exposure to tear gas. In light of this, we hold the rector responsible for the harm inflicted on the university community and his failure to respond to the students’ just demands.
Unfortunately, this incident is not an isolated one. Police intervention on university campuses and the persecution of organized students have been occurring with increasing frequency. In this regard, the undemocratic University Law No. 30220 stipulates in Article 10 that the National Police and the Public Prosecutor’s Office may only be permitted or denied access to university campuses by court order or at the request of the rector, the latter having the sole duty to report to the University Council. In light of this, other members of the university community may face repression when authorities refuse to engage in dialogue and resort to intimidation in response to legitimate protests.
Therefore, as student unions, we demand:
– The immediate resignation of Rector Edgardo Leoncio Braul Gomero; we also demand that the Congress of the Republic, SUNEDU, ANUP, and the Ministry of Education fulfill their legal and political obligations by focusing their attention on Ucayali.
– An objective and independent investigation into the police actions and decisions that led to the intervention on the university campus and its consequences, with appropriate sanctions imposed on those responsible.
– Immediate intervention by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, through the Crime Prevention and On-Call Criminal Prosecutors’ Offices, in conjunction with the Ombudsman’s Office, to ensure protections for the entire university community, the immediate cessation of the criminalization of the right to protest, and the permanent dismissal of any disciplinary proceedings or criminal cases filed against students.
– An end to the harassment and reprisals against the students who participated in the protests and activist actions carried out from May to the present.
– The initiation of a process of dialogue and resolution of the university community’s demands, under conditions agreed upon by all sectors to confront the despotism of corrupt university authorities.
We call for the unity of the three sectors of the National University of Ucayali and for the joint resistance of all democratic forces—students, workers, and faculty—to defend the university and reclaim it from the hands of corrupt and nefarious authorities who, unfortunately, are currently plundering and desecrating the name of this institution of higher learning. Today, the defense of the UNU requires the unity of its defenders. Today, more than ever, the tri-sectoral force of students, workers, and faculty faces the historic task of restoring the values and principles that led to the university’s founding. It is in their hands to fulfill this historic task, to defend the university, and to strive to ensure that it remains, now and always, a national, scientific, and democratic university, dedicated to serving the people.
Likewise, we call on human rights, grassroots, environmental, feminist, and local organizations, as well as civil society in Ucayali, to support the legitimate struggle of our comrades at the UNU and not to leave them alone in this struggle they are undertaking. We also call on all the Peruvian people to denounce these acts that criminalize the right to protest. We students are not a danger; far from it, the power of our mobilization cannot be compared to the repressive and lethal force of the State. We note with concern the impunity surrounding the Peruvian National Police’s (PNP) disproportionate use of violence. Therefore, we hold the competent authorities responsible for the imminent threat to student well-being that these acts represent.
