Investigation underway into potential contract murder of ambassador in Peru

In a tragic turn of events, the Indonesian diplomat Zetro Leonardo Purba was shot and killed in Lima, Peru on Monday night. The Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has pledged to thoroughly investigate the homicide and provide all necessary assistance and protection to the embassy staff.

Purba, who had been working at the Indonesian embassy in Lima for five months as a junior officer, was married and had three children. The shooting occurred as he arrived at his apartment building on a bicycle. The suspect, believed to be a member of a criminal gang, fired three times at Purba, who fell to the ground.

The gang, which includes two Cuban nationals and three Venezuelans, ambushed Purba and fled the scene on a motorcycle driven by another person. No motive for the shooting has been provided by authorities, but Peruvian Minister of the Interior Carlos Malaver described the shooting as a "qualified homicide in the form of a contract killing," stating that the suspects intended to kill Purba.

The police have released footage from two surveillance cameras of the shooting incident. The footage shows the chilling moment Purba was shot, and he later declared dead at a hospital. The government of Peruvian President Dina Boluarte has struggled to respond to a rise in homicides and extortion in the nation.

Official figures show that 6,041 people were killed between January and the middle of last month, the highest number in the period since 2017. Extortion complaints totaled 15,989 from January to July, a 28 percent increase compared with the same period last year.

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono has called for a "thorough, transparent and expeditious investigation" and maximum protection for diplomatic personnel and Indonesian citizens in Peru. Sugiono, like many Indonesians, uses a single name. Peruvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmer Schialer acknowledged that the diplomat's slaying is "one more wake-up call" regarding the issue of insecurity in Peru.

The shooting of Zetro Leonardo Purba serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by diplomats and other foreign nationals in Peru. The Peruvian government must take swift and decisive action to address the rising crime rates and ensure the safety of all its citizens and visitors.