LIMA, Jan 15 (Portal) – Peru has extended for another month states of emergency in the capital Lima and two southern regions where deadly anti-government protests have sparked the country’s worst violence in 20 years.
Peru first declared a month-long nationwide state of emergency in mid-December shortly after demonstrations erupted against the ouster of former leftist President Pedro Castillo, who had attempted to dissolve Congress and rule by decree.
More than 40 people have been killed in violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces since early December.
The extended emergency measures, signed by President Dina Boluarte late Saturday, granting police special powers and restricting freedoms including the right of assembly, apply to Lima and the southern regions of Puno and Cusco.
A protester waves Peru’s flag as security forces stand guard during a protest to demand the dissolution of Congress and democratic elections, rejecting Dina Boluarte as Peru’s president after the ouster of left-wing President Pedro Castillo January 12, 2023 in Lima, Peru . Portal/ Alessandro Cinque/File Photo
In Puno, where nearly half the victims died, the restrictions include a 10-day curfew.
At a march in Lima on Saturday, demonstrators hoisted red-and-white national flags alongside black-edged banners as a sign of mourning. They also lashed out at Boluarte, Castillo’s former vice president, who the day before had apologized for the deaths and called for an investigation.
“She’s a hypocrite,” protester Tania Serra said, speaking over shouts from the crowd, which at times jostled with police officers in riot gear. “She says sorry, sorry, but she doesn’t come out to talk, she sends the police, the military, to kill.”
On January 12-13, a poll by Ipsos Peru, published Sunday in the Peru 21 newspaper, showed that 71% of Peruvians disapproved of Boluarte’s government, up from 68% in December.
The protesters demanded Boluarte’s resignation and the release of Castillo, who was arrested for “rebellion”.
Reporting by Marco Aquino; Additional reporting by Anthony Marina; Writing from Daina Beth Solomon; Edited by Daniel Wallis and Diane Craft
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