Dozens of people were injured in the new incidents, including two photojournalists, one of whom works for Agence France-Presse.
Peru is preparing to experience another day of mass mobilizations across the country today against the government under President Dina Bolluarte, the day after protests and violent incidents in the capital Lima.
The head of state appealed on Tuesday for a “national truce” as at least 46 people have been killed since the political crisis erupted in the Latin American state in December.
In Lima, thousands of protesters, who traveled to the capital from impoverished regions of the Andes, many in traditional costumes, marched in the center, waving national flags and chanting “Dina the killer.”
Widespread clashes broke out in the afternoon and evening between protesters, some of whom were armed with metal shields and threw stones, and a heavy police force, who made extensive use of tear gas, AFP journalists who saw several arrests said. .
Dozens of people were injured in the new incidents, including two photojournalists, one of whom works for Agence France-Presse.
no “truce”
Before yesterday’s demonstration, the second in Lima in less than 24 hours, Mrs. Boluarte tried, once again, to de-escalate tensions, she asked to restart “dialogue”, “to set an agenda for each region”, in order to “develop ” the country. He assured that he has “no intention” to hang on to power, that he will respect the Constitution and retire after early elections are held in 2024.
Visibly distraught, Mrs Boulwarte apologized “for the dead” and promised an investigation would be carried out to find out who was responsible.
However, her intervention did nothing to convince the protesters.
“We heard Ms. Bolovarte. Her vision is pathetic. The Peruvian people, all of us, are not going to make a truce. We have nothing to discuss with Mrs. Boluarte. The only thing the people want is for him to resign and for new elections to be held,” said Carlos Abedano, 35, holding the tricolor flag of Andahuila, which became the focus of unrest in December.
“We don’t believe a word of what he says,” insisted Rosa Sonko, 37, who went to the capital from Acomayo, a community at an altitude of 3,000 meters, in the Cusco region (south). “We have 50 dead. How many mothers mourn?’
“We demand: first, that he resign; second, that Congress be changed; new elections. We want a transitional government.”
A protester held a doll with a bloody knife in its hand, which had a photo of the president stuck to it, who took power after her leftist predecessor Pedro Castillo was ousted on December 7 by a congressional decision.
Dozens of army reservists took part in the march, wearing khaki pants, tunics or hats. The country’s “populist” leaders “have been trampling on us for decades, but now the people have risen up,” said Crispin Quispe, a reservist from the Puno region. “We struggled, we were hungry, we were cold. Without getting paid. And now they are stepping on us. We are ready for all battles.”
Last night the authorities announced that Cusco airport closesthe tourist capital of the country, added to those Puno and Arequipa.
“Irresponsibility”
The unrest began after former President Castillo, who was accused of attempting a “coup” by announcing he was dissolving Congress as it prepared to impeach him, was suspended and arrested on December 7.
His former vice-president, who was elected with him in the 2021 elections, verbally attacked him yesterday. He repeated the accusation that he tried to make a “coup d’état” and “pretends to be the victim”, while he did not give an “answer” to the corruption cases in which he is allegedly involved. “There is no victim here, Mr. Castillo: there is a country that is bleeding because of your irresponsibility,” he threw, recalling that he, like him, comes from a poor Andean region.
The crisis in Peru reflects the huge gap between the political and economic elite of the capital and the poor population of the provinces, where many support the former president Castillo, in whose election victory they saw something like their revenge for the contempt and racism of the elites , especially towards the natives.
Ms Bolluarte will speak before the Organization of American States (OAS) today, as the international community and human rights organizations criticize the “disproportionate” use of force in suppressing the protests. He promised to tell “the truth”: “The Peruvian government and, above all, Dina Boluarte have nothing to hide,” he assured.
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