Protesters try to consolidate ‘takeover of Lima’ in acts against leader in Peru

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A massive mobilization with demonstrators coming in large part from the Andes region began this Thursday afternoon (19) in the Peruvian capital, Lima, increasing the pressure for the resignation of President Dina Boluarte, in office for just over a month and quite.

At the same time, in the city of Arequipa, in the south of the country, clashes were recorded between police and demonstrators who tried to take over the space of the local airport by throwing stones at the agents. The site was closed to passengers, as was the Cusco airport.

Still in the capital, groups of protesters left from different parts of the city with the aim of walking along the main avenues until they meet at the Palace of Justice. The act has been nicknamed “Tomada de Lima” and mobilized various sectors of the government.

“They marginalize us, they say we are vandals and terrorists, but we are asking for what is our right,” peasant Ayda Aroni, who arrived in the capital from Ayacucho, about 330 km away, told the AFP news agency.

With her, she carried a flag with black and white colors, in a demonstration of mourning for the more than 50 protesters who died in confrontation with the police forces —on Wednesday (18), at least two more people died in the city of Macusani during protests.

In preparation for the act in Lima, authorities implemented a massive security scheme with the deployment of nearly 12,000 police, in addition to 120 trucks and 49 military vehicles, according to figures provided by the capital’s police chief, General Victor Zanabría.

Public and private health facilities are also on high alert, said Health Minister Rosa Gutiérrez, according to El Comercio newspaper. In all, 24,500 hospitals would be available to receive possible emergency cases during the demonstration.

Several commercial establishments in the capital closed their doors throughout the day earlier than the usual time as the pace of protesters advanced. Some even covered their facades with signs to prevent looting and other attacks on the premises.

The demonstrations, which have proliferated in the country since the ousting of leftist former president Pedro Castillo after he tried to stage a coup d’état, call for Boluarte’s resignation and the immediate calling of elections.

Protesters claim that occupying the streets of Lima gives more weight to the acts. “When they repress us in our regions, nobody cares,” Abdón Félix Flores, 30, told AFP, a peasant who left Andahuaylas on Sunday (15) and arrived in Lima on Tuesday (17).

Last Sunday (15), authorities decided to extend the state of emergency in four provinces and three regions of Peru, including Lima. The decree allows, among other points, for the Army to join the police in monitoring the protests.

Last week, given the escalation of violence, the Public Ministry announced the opening of a preliminary investigation into several authorities, including the president and Prime Minister Alberto Otárola, suspected of having committed the crimes of genocide, qualified homicide and serious injuries in the repression of protests.

Protesters are also demanding that a new constitution be drafted to replace the current Peruvian Magna Carta, which dates back to dictator Alberto Fujimori in the 1990s.

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