Calls for the closure of Congress and the departure of President Dina Boluarte spread this Friday in Peru and the protests reached Lima, while roadblocks persist in the southern Andes, affecting the tourist city of Cusco and the train to Machu Picchu .
Peru lives its tenth consecutive day of demonstrations, and woke up with Arequipa, the country’s second city and cradle of revolutions, practically blocked, without land communication with the neighboring Andean regions of Cusco and Puno.
The violent protests that began a month ago have so far left 42 dead, including a policeman who was burned alive by a mob, according to the Ombudsman’s Office.
IACHR asked to investigate the use of force
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) asked to investigate the use of force in the protests against President Dina Boluarte that left more than 40 dead, an observation mission in Lima announced.
Guatemalan lawyer Stuardo Ralón, head of the mission, demanded impartial investigations into indications that elements of the Armed Forces made “excessive use of force” in the repression of mobilizations.
He also asked that the possible presence of extremists in promoting the protests be clarified and stressed that citizen discontent is distorted when acts of vandalism occur.
This Friday there were new marches in Tacna, 1,220 km southeast of Lima, bordering Chile, a country that temporarily closed its passage on Thursday “due to demonstrations in the vicinity of the Peruvian border complex of Santa Rosa,” reported the Chilean authorities.
Regional governors and several professional associations in Peru joined the request for the resignation of President Boluarte.
“How many more deaths will Dina Boluarte’s permanence in the presidency cost? That is what all Peruvians, left or right, should ask ourselves. No charge can be above human life,” Puno Governor Richard Hancco told the press.
But the prime minister, Alberto Otárola, has flatly ruled out the possibility of Boluarte resigning.
immediate elections
The roadblocks, especially in the historically marginalized south of the country, have also extended to areas of the jungle. In the Amazon region of Madre de Dios, on the border with Brazil and Bolivia, there were mobilizations and a mob threw stones, causing some damage to the house of a congressman on Thursday night.
“Closing of Congress Now. New Constitution”, “Dina, assassin, enemy resignation”, are the slogans stamped on the banners that are raised in marches and blockades, which on Thursday were felt in the center of Lima, where some incidents with the forces of order were registered. .
The demands include the request for immediate elections this year, instead of April 2024, as well as the call for a Constituent Assembly that leftist parties and peasant organizations have been demanding since 2021.
Added to this are the demands for justice and punishment for those responsible for the 42 deaths recorded in clashes with law enforcement, since the start of the protests more than a month ago.
In addition, there are 531 injured -355 civilians and 176 police officers- and 329 detainees, according to the prosecutor’s office, which this week requested an investigation for “genocide” against Boluarte and members of his cabinet.
paralyzed tourism
In the midst of the intense crisis, for the moment with no prospect of resolution, in Cusco the authorities had to close the airport for security reasons in the face of an escalation of violent protests since the beginning of this week, which also caused the suspension of train operations to Machu Picchu, international tourist attraction.
The tragic death toll prompted a call from the United States for “restraint” on all sides.
The leftist Castillo was dismissed by Congress and imprisoned on December 7 after a failed self-coup, when he tried to close parliament, intervene in justice and govern by decree. He is serving 18 months in pretrial detention handed down by a judge on charges of rebellion.
Compatriots: since my arbitrary and illegal confinement and, before the visit of the High Level Mission of the @IACHRI publish this letter where my legal team and I request a new hearing at the Barbadillo prison to give them details of my unjust imprisonment and political persecution pic.twitter.com/X25bUbmB5H
— Pedro Castillo Terrones (@PedroCastilloTe) January 13, 2023
Until now, the northern regions of Peru, where a large part of the industries that are pillars of the Peruvian economy, mining and agro-exports, are based, have remained without demonstrations. (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
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