Status: 01/19/2023 1:54 p.m
People have died again in Peru during anti-government protests. A large demonstration with participants from all over the country is expected in the capital Lima. The tense situation also has serious consequences for tourism.
In Peru, more people have died in connection with the protests against the ousting of President Pedro Castillo. A 51-year-old woman died in a roadblock in northern La Libertad Municipality, the National Ombudsman’s Office has confirmed.
Two more fatalities are reported from the city of Macusani. They were killed by gunfire, said doctor Iván Fernández from the local health authority. After the deaths, protesters set fire to a police station and a courthouse. According to the police, the officers had to flee the burning station by helicopter.
Macusani is the capital of the province of Carabaya, which belongs to the administrative region of Puno in southern Peru. According to the national ombudsman, 50 people have died during the protests so far.
authorities on alert
According to the Peruvian Ministry of Health, the hospitals are on alert because of the protests. In the capital Lima, protests are expected during the day, to which people from all regions of the country are on their way.
The activists hope that the march will give new impetus to the protest movement that has been going on for weeks and that was sparked after Castillo’s dismissal. The former village school teacher and trade unionist was dismissed by parliament on December 7 and is in custody. The demonstrators are demanding the resignation of interim president Dina Boluarte, the dissolution of Congress and the release of Castillo.
When he took office in July 2021, Castillo announced social reforms. However, his term of office was characterized by frequent changes of cabinet and the permanent power struggle with parliament. Above all, the rural and poor population shows solidarity with Castillo.
tourism collapses
The protests have serious consequences for tourism. The Peruvian news agency Agencia Andina reported that 90 percent of bookings by the end of March had been cancelled, citing the Cusco region’s chamber of commerce. The city of Cusco is the starting point for tours to the famous Inca ruined city of Machu Picchu, which can receive thousands of visitors a day.
The Peruvian government declared a state of emergency in the capital Lima and in the areas around the cities of Cusco, Puno and Callao on Sunday. That Foreign Office advised against non-essential travel to Peru and strongly against travel to the Cusco, Arequipa, Puno, Puerto Maldonado and Apurímac regions.