STATEMENT ON THE ALLEGED USURPATION OF LAND FROM FARMERS IN PIURA

Spanish Translation

In view of the accusations of usurpation of land from farmers in Piura, the Civil Association San Juan Bautista informs the following:

1. The Civil Association San Juan Bautista categorically rejects the media accusations that have been made. None of its associates, representatives, or collaborators have incurred in the violation of the law or abuse of persons. Currently there is no accusation or lawsuit against the Asociación Civil San Juan Bautista or any other person who participated in the acquisition of the land in question.
2. In 2012, Asociación Civil San Juan Bautista purchased some land in the areas of Castilla and Catacaos in Piura with the participation of other businessmen. The purchase of land in Catacaos was made from owners legally registered in public records, in order to promote agricultural and real estate developments, seeking to obtain surpluses for the fulfillment of its mission.
3. On Saturday, April 13, Mrs. Paola Ugaz made public a video of Pope Francis addressed to the farmer communities of Piura where he exhorted them not to let their lands be stolen. In the press and on social networks it has been claimed that these words of the Pope refer to lands belonging to the San Juan Bautista Association in the Catacaos area that were supposedly expropriated from a group of community members led by Marcelino Ynga.
4. Using this video, the community member Marcelino Ynga, in a malicious and defamatory manner, links the San Juan Bautista Association to criminal acts of land usurpation, murder of community members and classifies it as a criminal organization, when for these issues, as we have said above, there is no complaint or lawsuit. Mr. Ynga is the one who has been investigated for land usurpation, violence, aggravated theft and aggression against people in the Piura Region.
5. In Mr. Ynga video, Archbishop José Antonio Eguren Anselmi is also linked to our Association and even criminal acts are attributed to him. In this regard, we must point out that Archbishop Eguren presided over the Association until April 27, 2001, when he resigned as an associate of our institution. That is to say, he was disassociated from the San Juan Bautista Association more than 11 years before it began with the acquisition of land in Catacaos.
6. The San Juan Bautista Association will soon send to the Apostolic Nunciature in Peru the pertinent information that proves that there has never been any expropriation of land or any other illicit action on our part. We hope that this information will be delivered to Pope Francis to clarify any doubts about the actions of our Association.
7. We call on the public and particularly the media not to be surprised by a sector of the press that has been misinforming the public opinion in a malicious manner.
8. We are open to answer any questions you may have on the subject through our spokesman, Dr. Percy García Cavero.

16/04/2024