Political crisis in Peru: The country lives the deadliest day since the outbreak of protests – At least 17 dead

At least seventeen people were killed in total on Monday in Juliaca, southern Peru, during clashes between law enforcement forces and anti-government protesters, according to the latest tally released by the Ombudsman, an independent authority responsible for the defense of of human rights.

Clashes broke out in the area of ​​the city’s airportin the Puno region, which has become the focus of protests and riots since the suspension and arrest of the former president Pedro Castillo on the 7th of December.

“We have confirmed 17 deaths (…) in Puno, in the clashes (of protesters) with law enforcement forces on the outskirts of the airport in Juliaka,” where mainly indigenous Aymara people live, a source close to the independent authority, which made also account for about thirty wounded.

Several victims were hit by bullets, an official at a hospital in Chuliaka where they were served.

The incidents began when protesters tried to storm the city’s airport, approx 1,300 kilometers south of the capital. They had already tried to figure it out on Saturday.

“More than 9,000 people approached the airport” and “about 2,000 of them launched a merciless attack against the police and the facilities, using improvised weapons,” Peruvian Prime Minister Alberto Otarola told the press, speaking of an “organized” plan and “extreme condition”.

“Slaughter”

According to the regional directorate of the Ministry of Health, at least two of the people who died yesterday were teenagers, while others at least 38 injured have been admitted and are being treated in hospitals.

“The main policemen started throwing us,” a protester told AFP. “We demand that Mrs. Dina (Boluarte) resign. To accept the fact that the people do not want her!”, he added.

“What is happening is massacre among PeruviansI ask (to restore) calm,” was the appeal addressed by Oscar Caceres, the mayor of the city, via the local radio station La Decana.

Since Peru’s new institutional and political crisis erupted in December, at least 39 people have been killed.

Protesters are demanding the resignation of President Bolluarte, who took over as new head of state on December 7 after her predecessor Pedro Castillo was suspended from Congress following his attempt to dissolve parliament in what was described as a “coup”. Mr. Castillo’s supporters say instead that he was overthrown in a coup.

They also demand that the parliament be closed, that elections be held immediately, which have already been accelerated by a decision of Congress — they will be held early in April 2024, instead of 2026 — and that the former head of state, who has been jailed for 18 years, be released. months and is accused of “stance” and “conspiracy”.

The Puno region, which borders Bolivia, has become the epicenter of anti-government protests. An indefinite general strike has been declared there by the January 4th.

President Boluarte said yesterday that she cannot satisfy all the demands of the protesters, pointed out that the only thing within her power, the holding of early elections, had already been promoted and accused the participants of the demonstrations of looking for a pretext to continue causing “chaos ” in the country.

Earlier yesterday the File banned entry into the territory of the former president’s country Evo Moraleswhom they accuse of “interfering” in Peru’s internal affairs.

The former Bolivian president had visited Peru repeatedly in the 17 months since Mr. Castillo took office and has lashed out at the new government, accusing it of responsibility for the bloodshed. Just visited Puno in November.

The Peruvian right accuses him of seeking to secede the region to be annexed to Bolivia.

THE Dina Boluarte in early December she became the sixth politician in a row to assume the presidency in Peru in five years, as the country lives successive political crises in an atmosphere of generalized suspicion over corruption cases.

RES-EMP

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