On the same day that Congress rejected a proposal to bring the general elections forward, one person died and others were injured in a clash between security forces and anti-Dina Boluarte protesters in Lima, Peru. This is the first death in the capital related to the protests that broke out after the ousting of former leader Pedro Castillo in December.
Initially concentrated in regions formed by poorer rural communities in the south of the country, where support for Castillo is greater, the demonstrations have gained strength in the capital in recent weeks with the arrival of hundreds of people in caravans for the acts that have been dubbed “Tomada from Lima”.
This Saturday (28) protests and cases of violence were registered in Lima and in the region of Cusco. In the capital, the death of Victor Yacsavilca, 55, increased to 58 the number of fatal victims across the country as a result of demonstrations that began two months ago. Without going into details, a national health insurance agency said the man suffered a serious head injury.
Witnesses reported that hooded protesters kicked and pushed the railing near Congress in Lima. Afterwards, they used makeshift shields and threw stones at the police, who fired rubber bullets and stun grenades.
The Ombudsman’s Office, responsible for guaranteeing the constitutional rights of the Peruvian population, released a note lamenting the death of Yacsavilca, without informing the circumstances of the event. The agency also communicated that it monitors the medical care and right to health of the injured protesters and police.
The case represents yet another setback for Dina, who is under pressure in her position and is being investigated on suspicion of having committed the crimes of genocide, qualified homicide and serious injuries in the repression of the protests. During the week, the president had declared that the groups behind the violent protests were seeking deaths in Lima. “They say that a death in Lima is worth a hundred in the province,” he said.
On Saturday, the president regretted the decision to reject the anticipation of the general elections for October this year, something that could cool down the wave of protests. A little over a month ago, Congress approved in the first vote the anticipation of the 2026 elections to April 2024, but the measure has not yet been confirmed by Parliament and has not proved enough to calm the demonstrators.
After Castillo’s dismissal, the then vice-president Dina Boluarte assumed the Presidency. But, according to a recent survey by the Institute of Peruvian Studies, 71% of Peruvians disapprove of their government.
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