17 people die in protests and riots in southern Peru

clashes between law enforcement and protesters against the government of President Dina Boluarte They left 17 dead this Monday in Juliaca, in southern Peru, reported the Ombudsman.

“Until this time of night (10:00 p.m. local), we have confirmed 17 deaths in Puno during clashes with law enforcement in the vicinity of the Juliaca airport,” a source from the Ombudsman’s Office told AFP.

The number of deaths went from 12 to 17 in the last hours after the death of five of the nearly 40 registered injuries.

The victims had projectile impacts on their bodies, detailed a health official from the Carlos Monge hospital, where they were transferred, in statements to the N television channel.

“What’s happening It is a massacre between PeruviansI ask you to calm down, do not expose yourselves,” exclaimed the mayor of Juliaca, Oscar Cáceres, in a desperate appeal to the population through the La Decana radio station of that town.

With the new balance, those killed during the anti-government demonstrations rise to 39 in almost a month of protests. The violent actions of this Monday were recorded when a mob of about two thousand people tried to storm the airport of the city of Juliacalocated 1,300 km south of Lima, in the Puno region.

“Today, more than nine thousand people approached the Juliaca airport and approximately two thousand of them began a merciless attack against the police and the facilities, using magic weapons (improvised weapons) and double charges of gunpowder, creating an extreme situation. ”, the chief of staff Alberto Otárola told the press.

The aerodrome is under police and military protection. A similar takeover attempt had occurred on Saturday, but without deaths.

“The policemen were shooting at us (…) we ask that Mrs. Dina (Boluarte) resign (…) accept that the people do not love you,” a protester told AFP.

While the country is mired in a serious institutional and political crisis with demonstrations and roadblocksthe government of Boluarte prohibited this Monday until further notice the entry into Peru of former Bolivian president Evo Morales for “intervening” in the internal political affairs of the country.

“The record of the impediment to entry into the country was ordered, through all immigration control posts, of nine citizens of Bolivian nationality, including Mr. Juan Evo Morales Ayma,” said the Ministry of the Interior.

Morales has expressed his support for the protests against the Boluarte governmentwhich were unleashed after the dismissal and arrest of his predecessor Pedro Castillo.

Puno, the Peruvian Aymara region bordering Bolivia, has become the epicenter of the protests with an indefinite strike since January 4.

From there, a march is organized to the Peruvian capital that should arrive around January 12, according to various calls from social groups, which mainly bring together peasants.

Separate Peru?

The announcement against Morales coincides with new protests and road blockades in six of the country’s 25 regions, where protesters are demanding the resignation of Boluarte, the calling of a Constituent Assembly and the freedom of ousted President Pedro Castillo.

“In recent months, foreign citizens have been identified, of Bolivian nationality, who entered the country to carry out activities of a proselytizing political nature, which constitutes a clear affectation to our immigration legislation, to national security and to the internal order of Peru”, added the ministry to justify the decision.

Morales, who presided over Bolivia between 2006 and 2019, has been an active presence in Peruvian politics since former leftist president Castillo came to power in July 2021 until his dismissal on December 7. In November he visited Puno.

Castillo was ousted after a failed coup d’état and is serving 18 months in prison handed down by a judge accused of rebellion.

Morales regretted on Twitter the decision of the Peruvian government to prevent him from entering and maintained that the measure seeks to “distract and avoid” the responsibilities for the “serious violations” of human rights.

The Peruvian authorities maintain that Morales intends to divide the territory of Peru, promoting secession through the creation of “Runasur”, an Andean region that would supposedly include part of the Peruvian Andean south with Bolivia.

“The only separatism in Peru is caused for the racism, exclusion and discrimination of the power groups of Lima against their own people. Deep down, the right does not accept that the indigenous, those vilified for their skin color, last name or place of origin, come to power,” Morales replied over the weekend.

Last year, the right-wing-controlled parliament declared Morales persona non grata.

The prohibition of her entry into Peru was demanded by Congress, which had become the main point of support for Dina Boluarte. (YO)