Eviction and detention of hundreds of university students in protests in different Peruvian cities against President Boluarte

The protests continue in different locations of the Peruvian territory. This same Saturday, About 100 students were detained at the University of San Marcos.

In Lima, the police forced their way into the National University of San Marcos, breaking a huge fence with a riot vehicle, and detained dozens of indigenous protesters and students who were staying there overnight.

Students and human rights organizations went to the university headquarters to refuse police intervention.

Lawyers from the Puno region who arrived at the scene, such as Efraín Sullca, denounced that the presence of the defenders was not allowed and the number of detainees, the charges charged and where they will be taken are unknown. The protesters had spent the night there despite the refusal of the institution.

The university said that the Police acted “ex officio” because the occupiers did not fulfill the supposed promise to withdraw on Thursday.

The Minister of the Interior, Vicente Romero, stated on television Channel N that the intervention was ordered “in flagrante delicto” after reports from university authorities of the commission of crimes by some of the occupants.

He added that the detainees face accusations of acts against property and disturbance of the peace.

A spokesman for the Prosecutor’s Office, Alfonso Barrenechea, said that there are about 200 detainees and that they were taken to the Prefecture of Lima.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) urged “ensuring the legality and proportionality of the intervention and guarantees of due process” and stressed that bringing the detainees “before judicial authorities and fiscal supervision is essential to the protection of the rights of all persons”.

The Ombudsman denounced that he was not allowed to enter the university during the intervention. The same happened with opposition parliamentarians.

Entrance to Machu Picchu closed

Peru closed on Saturday indefinitely the entrance to the Inca citadel Machu Picchu, alleging security reasons before the protests calling for the resignation of President Dina Boluarte, which have already left 46 dead.

“The Inca trail network and the llaqta (citadel) of Machu Picchu have been closed due to the social situation and to safeguard the integrity of visitors,” the Ministry of Culture reported, noting that the measure will apply “until further warning”.

The Boluarte government made this decision after the railway service from the city of Cusco to Machu Picchu – the only means available between the two points – was suspended due to damage to the railway allegedly caused by protesters. At least 400 tourists were stranded.

Investigation for alleged genocide against Peruvian authorities opens

The authorities allege that the marches are promoted by radical leftist movements and social groups that have mobilized indigenous peasants from the south.

The protests began after the removal and detention of President Pedro Castillo on December 7 after he tried to dissolve the right-wing-controlled Parliament, which was about to remove him from power for alleged corruption.

The crisis also reflects the huge social gap that exists between the capital and the poor provinces that support Castillo and that saw in his election a form of revenge against Lima’s contempt. (YO)