The Peruvian government has condoled an Indonesian diplomat’s “assassination” in Lima, and described the incident as “lamentable” and “heinous act” by the country’s government.
Zetro Leonardo Purba, a member of Indonesia’s diplomatic corps, was killed in a statement sent to the nation’s ministry of foreign affairs on Tuesday, which included its “deepest condolences and deepest condemnation.”
When an unidentified assailant approaches him near the building’s entrance and shoots him twice, according to surveillance footage released by Peruvian police shows Purba riding home on Monday night while wearing a helmet.
The gunman shot Purba three times before fleeing on a motorcycle driven by a alleged accomplice after he fell from his bike.
Purba passed away later in a hospital in Peru. Unknown is the motive behind the shooting.
The Peruvian Foreign Ministry confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that an investigation was being conducted to identify those responsible. Additionally, it provided Indonesia’s embassy staff with increased police protection.
The Indonesian government will continue to support and assist the country with this matter, and it promises to thoroughly investigate this crime, according to the statement.
Sugiono, Indonesia’s foreign affairs minister, added that he and his Peruvian counterpart Elmer Schialer were on call to demand a thorough investigation into the shooting.
Sugiono, who uses a single name, wrote on social media that “we trust Peru will provide the highest protection for our embassy staff, families, and, citizens in [the country]”.
Victor Guivar, the head of Peru’s national police, made a speculative report to TV Peru that the attack might be a plotted assassination to settle scores.
They would be foreign nationals, Guivar said, based on the physical characteristics that can be observed on the video surveillance cameras.
However, various Indonesian officials have told the Peruvian media that they doubt the assessment, pointing out that Purba had not been threatened before the shooting.
At the time of his death, Purba and his wife and children had resided in Lima for about five months.
Irwan Butapierre, an Indonesian embassy employee, claimed the country’s capital was the site of rife with crime.
“Peru is a dangerous nation. He was riding his bike in tact without fear, Butapierre claimed in a newspaper article, La Republica. “I’m not sure why they killed him,” he said.
Homicides and extortion are on the rise in Peru under Dina Boluarte, president of the country.
The highest number for that time since 2017 was estimated to be 6, 041 people died between January and mid-August. Between January and July, there were 15, 989 extortion reports, an increase of 28 percent over the same time period in 2024.
Boluarte and President Prabowo Subianto celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations between Peru and Indonesia at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta just last month.
Source: Aljazeera
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