The real separatism in Peru comes from racism and exclusion
En el cruce entre la identidad indígena y la soberanía nacional, el expresidente boliviano Evo Morales defiende su plataforma Runasur ante acusaciones formales de separatismo presentadas por legisladores peruanos, argumentando que el verdadero fraccionamiento del Perú no proviene de los movimientos indígenas, sino de décadas de racismo y exclusión institucional. Mientras la presidenta Dina Boluarte evalúa prohibirle la entrada al país, las protestas en el sur peruano —con cerca de treinta heridos— recuerdan que las tensiones entre el poder central de Lima y las comunidades históricamente marginadas siguen sin resolverse. Este momento no es solo una disputa diplomática: es el reflejo de una pregunta más antigua sobre quién pertenece al Estado y quién ha sido excluido de él.
- Morales enfrenta una denuncia formal por crímenes contra la seguridad nacional y traición a la patria, presentada por el congresista ultraconservador Jorge Montoya, quien lo acusa de amenazar la integridad territorial del Perú.
- Las protestas en las regiones del sur peruano, reanudadas tras una breve pausa navideña, han dejado aproximadamente treinta heridos y exigen el cierre del Congreso y justicia frente al gobierno de Boluarte.
- La presidenta Boluarte ha ordenado a las autoridades migratorias revisar si Morales puede ingresar al país, señalando su presencia como una interferencia extranjera en asuntos internos.
- Morales contraataca desde las redes sociales, reencuadrando la acusación de separatismo como una reacción del establishment peruano ante el despertar político de los pueblos indígenas.
- Runasur, la plataforma de integración de movimientos sociales e indígenas impulsada por Morales, permanece en el centro de la tormenta política regional, sin señales de que la controversia ceda en el corto plazo.
El sábado, Evo Morales recurrió a las redes sociales para rechazar las acusaciones de que su proyecto Runasur está alentando el separatismo en el sur del Perú. Lejos de aceptar el cargo, el exmandatario boliviano invirtió el argumento: sostuvo que la verdadera fractura del país no la generan los movimientos indígenas, sino el racismo y la discriminación que durante décadas han mantenido a esas comunidades al margen del poder.
La respuesta llegó tras una denuncia formal presentada por Jorge Montoya, congresista del partido ultraconservador Renovación Popular y excomandante militar, quien acusó a Morales de crímenes contra la seguridad nacional y traición a la patria. La denuncia también incluyó al exgobernador de Puno, Germán Alejo Apaza, y a Vladimir Cerrón, exgobernador de Junín y secretario general de Perú Libre.
Morales describió Runasur como una plataforma dedicada a defender la vida, proteger la tierra y restituir soberanía a los pueblos marginados. Argumentó que lo que realmente incomoda a la derecha peruana no es su activismo, sino la posibilidad de que los indígenas —históricamente despreciados por su origen o su color de piel— accedan al poder político.
Desde Lima, la presidenta Dina Boluarte sumó presión al anunciar que las autoridades migratorias evalúan si Morales debe ser autorizado a ingresar al Perú, alegando interferencia en los asuntos internos del país. La medida refleja la inquietud del establishment peruano ante la influencia que Morales cultivó en el sur durante la presidencia de Pedro Castillo, derrocado en diciembre tras intentar disolver el Congreso.
En ese contexto, las protestas que exigen el cierre del Congreso y una rendición de cuentas del gobierno se reanudaron esta semana, dejando cerca de treinta heridos, la mayoría en provincias sureñas. Para Morales, estas movilizaciones son la prueba de que el Perú indígena está despertando. Para sus acusadores, su presencia en la región representa una amenaza foránea a la estabilidad nacional. Entre estas dos lecturas irreconciliables se jugará, en buena medida, el futuro político del país en los próximos meses.
Evo Morales, who led Bolivia until 2019, took to social media on Saturday to push back against accusations that his Runasur project is stoking separatism in Peru's southern regions. The former president framed the controversy differently: he said Peru's indigenous population—long dismissed and excluded by Lima's power brokers—has finally begun to stir, and that the real separatism in Peru comes not from his integration platform but from the racism and discrimination that has kept indigenous people marginalized.
The defense came in response to a formal complaint filed days earlier by Jorge Montoya, a Peruvian congressman from the ultraconservative Renovación Popular party and a former military commander. Montoya accused Morales of crimes against national security and treason, specifically for allegedly threatening Peru's territorial integrity. The complaint also named two other figures: Germán Alejo Apaza, a former governor of the southern region of Puno, and Vladimir Cerrón, former governor of Junín and secretary general of the leftist party Perú Libre.
Morales characterized Runasur—his platform for indigenous and social movements across the region—as a project rooted in defending life, protecting the earth, and restoring sovereignty to marginalized peoples. He rejected the separatism charge outright, arguing that what Peru's right wing actually opposes is the prospect of indigenous people, those historically scorned for their skin color or birthplace, gaining political power. In his telling, the real crime is not his activism but the state violence being deployed against indigenous protesters demanding justice and control over their natural resources.
Peruvian President Dina Boluarte has added her own pressure. This week she announced that immigration authorities are reviewing whether Morales should be allowed to enter Peru at all, citing concerns that he is interfering in the country's internal affairs. The scrutiny reflects deep anxiety among Peru's establishment about Morales' influence, particularly in the south where he had cultivated a visible presence during the presidency of Pedro Castillo, who was ousted in early December after attempting a coup.
Morales has been prolific on social media since Castillo's fall, offering commentary on Peru's unfolding crisis and defending the deposed president. The backdrop to all this is a wave of protests that resumed Wednesday after a brief holiday pause. The demonstrations, which demand the closure of Congress and a reckoning with the government, have left roughly thirty people injured, most of them in Peru's southern provinces. For Morales, these mobilizations are evidence that indigenous Peru is awakening. For his accusers, his involvement in the region represents a foreign threat to national stability. The tension between these two readings will likely shape Peru's political landscape in the months ahead.
Citas Notables
Runasur is a project of integration to defend life and Mother Earth, to recover the sovereignty of peoples with dignity, solidarity and freedom. That is not a crime.— Evo Morales, via social media
The only separatism in Peru is caused by racism, exclusion and discrimination from Lima's power groups against their own people.— Evo Morales, via social media
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why does Morales keep talking about Peru when he's no longer in power in Bolivia?
Because Runasur is his project now—it's how he stays relevant and connected to indigenous movements across the region. And Peru's crisis gives him a platform to argue that his vision of indigenous integration is necessary.
But is he actually organizing the protests, or just commenting on them?
The source doesn't say he's organizing them. He's been present in southern Peru, building relationships, promoting Runasur. The protests are real and rooted in Peru's own crisis. He's inserting himself into the narrative.
What does Runasur actually do?
It's described as a platform for indigenous and social movements—a vehicle for regional integration and sovereignty. But it's also become a symbol of what Peru's right wing fears: indigenous people gaining power and redistributing resources.
Why would Boluarte care if Morales visits Peru?
Because his presence energizes the very movements challenging her government. If he's seen as a foreign agitator, she can delegitimize the protests as externally driven rather than homegrown.
Is there evidence he's actually promoting separatism?
The complaint exists, but the source doesn't present evidence. Morales denies it. What's clear is that his project threatens the existing power structure—and that's being reframed as a national security threat.