Editorial comment: The use of “lawfare”—that political, legal and media scheme employed by an oligarchic minority to weaken its political rivals whom it is unable to remove from power by democratic means—has reached such heights in Latin America that the region has become the perfect example of what not to do.
The fact that the targets of these mafia-style tactics are systematically leaders of the anti-imperialist left in Latin America strips any credibility from the legal systems that issue these condemnations. – To a certain extent, these tactics are reminiscent of those of the ICC, which, for a decade, has prosecuted (or persecuted?) only those African leaders who have defied Western demands; indeed, as soon as the judges of that Court denounced the crimes of the Zionist occupation regime—whose barbaric cruelty is evident to all—they faced the merciless wrath of Washington.
Until true justice is served, “lawfare” has had devastating effects on the fate of the peoples of Latin America:
- Pedro Castillo was removed from office and thrown in jail just one year after being elected;
- Jorge Glas, former vice president under Rafael Correa, is subjected to mistreatment that appears to be the work of a terrorist organization;
- Rafael Correa has been prevented from returning to both politics and his country;
- Dilma Rousseff was the victim of a parliamentary coup;
- Lula da Silva was thrown in jail in 2018 to prevent him from returning to power.
Of course, this category also includes the cases of Nicolas Maduro, Cilia Flores, Alex Saab, Cristina Kirchner, Evo Morales, Juan Ramon Quintana, Raul Castro, and perhaps, soon, Gustavo Petro.
Some, like Jovenel Moïse, were clearly not deemed worthy of being subjected to lawfare.
Lama El Horr
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Former President Pedro Castillo stated on his X account that “the Peruvian state flagrantly violated his human rights and that he was subjected to arbitrary detention while serving as President of the Republic on December 7, 2022.”
Castillo Terrones made these remarks following the report by the United Nations (UN) Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which issued Opinion No. 78/2025 concluding that his detention was arbitrary and recommending his immediate release.
“The officials of the justice system and the political organizations that orchestrated my arrest and my immediate removal from office acted in a completely illegal manner, violating presidential immunity by fabricating a nonexistent charge of flagrante delicto and an alleged ‘armed uprising’ that never occurred, thereby undermining the rule of law,” he stated in a post on his X account.
The former president demanded immediate compliance with the GTDA’s ruling, noting that “the GTDA adopted this determination based on its mandate and the universal principles established in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), a binding international treaty to which the Peruvian State is a party and is obligated to comply in good faith, within the framework of its international commitments.”
Below is former President Pedro Castillo’s message to the national and international public:
“To the Peruvian people and the peoples of the world; to the organizations that defend the rights of individuals and peoples; and to the organs of the administration of justice:
I, José Pedro Castillo Terrones, as the constitutional president of the Republic of Peru, elected by the sovereign will of the people, address you with my moral integrity intact, my dignity unblemished, and the resolve granted to me by historical truth and the rule of law, to announce a momentous milestone in the struggle for justice in the face of the collapse of the democratic system in our country—a collapse of which I, along with my people, have been a victim over the past few years.
I hereby make it public that the United Nations (UN) Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has officially issued Opinion No. 78/2025 regarding my case. In this historic decision, this international body has unequivocally determined that the Peruvian State flagrantly violated my human rights and that I was subjected to arbitrary detention while serving as President of the Republic on December 7, 2022.
This decision unequivocally confirms that my imprisonment was never justified and that it was carried out in violation of fundamental principles of constitutionalism, the political preliminary hearing, due process, and international agreements. The UN Working Group reached this determination based on its mandate and the universal principles established in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), a binding international treaty to which the Peruvian State is a party and which it is obligated to comply with in good faith, within the framework of its international commitments.
The world is now aware of the findings contained in this opinion and can see how officials within the justice system and political organizations that orchestrated my arrest and immediate removal from office acted in a completely illegal manner, violating presidential immunity by fabricating a nonexistent charge of being caught in the act and an alleged “armed uprising” that never occurred, thereby undermining the rule of law.
In this regard, I strongly call upon and firmly urge all national and international human rights protection bodies, as well as the Peruvian judicial authorities, to immediately comply with and implement the provisions set forth by this United Nations body. Continuing to ignore this international ruling not only intensifies the political persecution against me but also places the Peruvian State in a position of open defiance and violation of international law.
Finally, I express my deep gratitude to the millions of Peruvians who did not give up and who clearly understood that everything done against me was intended to make an example of the people for electing one of their own—people who, through their tireless struggle in the streets, their resolve, and their moral support, have been instrumental in ensuring that the international truth shines through in the face of injustice.
I also express my eternal gratitude for the work carried out by the international legal team.
