The Peruvian government has condemned the killing of Indonesian diplomat Zetro Leonardo Purba, 40, as a “heinous act” and pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
Purba was shot three times by an unknown assailant while cycling home to his apartment in Lima, Peru, on Monday night.
The Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its deepest condolences and deepest condemnation for the killing, stating, “the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to provide all the support and assistance required by the Indonesian authorities in this matter and affirms that this crime will be thoroughly investigated.”
The Peruvian police have released surveillance footage showing the attack, and an investigation is underway to identify the perpetrators.
The head of Peru’s national police, Victor Guivar, speculated that the attack could be a targeted assassination to settle scores, noting that “based on the physical characteristics we have been able to see on the video surveillance cameras, they would be foreign citizens.”
However, Indonesian officials have expressed skepticism about this theory, as Purba had not received any threats prior to the shooting. The Peruvian government has also offered enhanced police protection to Indonesia’s embassy staff.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono has spoken with his Peruvian counterpart, Elmer Schialer, to push for a rigorous investigation into the shooting.
“We trust Peru will ensure the highest protection for our embassy staff, families, & citizens in [the country],” Sugiono wrote on social media. The Indonesian government will closely monitor the investigation’s progress and ensure that justice is served.
The incident has raised concerns about the escalating crime rates in Peru, particularly in Lima, where homicides and extortion have increased under President Dina Boluarte’s leadership.
According to reports, an estimated 6,041 people were killed between January and mid-August, the highest number for that period since 2017. Reports of extortion totaled 15,989 between January and July, a 28 percent increase over the same period in 2024.
The killing occurred just weeks after President Boluarte completed a diplomatic visit to Jakarta, where she celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations between Peru and Indonesia with President Prabowo Subianto.
The two countries also signed a free-trade agreement to boost economic ties. Irwan Butapierre, an Indonesian embassy worker, blamed rampant crime in the Peruvian capital, saying, “Peru is an unsafe country. He was calmly riding his bike, not anticipating any danger. I don’t know why they killed him”.
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