Because of unrest: Peru declares a state of emergency

Status: 12/14/2022 8:44 p.m

Because of the increasingly violent protests, the Peruvian government has declared a nationwide state of emergency. Freedom of assembly and movement are suspended. The military will receive additional powers.

Amid the unrest that has been going on for days, the Peru government has declared a nationwide state of emergency. This is valid for 30 days, as Defense Minister Luis Alberto Otárola said. The police will maintain internal order with the support of the armed forces. The government is giving a “strong and emphatic” response to acts of violence, vandalism and road blockades.

Otárola said the state of emergency gives the military additional powers to work with the police to protect strategic infrastructure, private property and the security of all Peruvians. The right of assembly and freedom of movement are suspended. The government has not yet decided whether there will be a curfew.

The new President Dina Boluarte called for calm. “Peru must not be covered in blood,” she said. “We went through that experience back in the ’80s and ’90s and I don’t think we want to go back to that painful past.” At that time, several rebel groups had made Peru unsafe.

Killed several people

The protests are directed against the ousting of President Pedro Castillo. By dissolving the congress, the left-wing politician wanted to forestall a vote of no confidence in parliament. Both his cabinet and the opposition accused him of a coup d’etat, which is why the former village school teacher was removed from office and arrested in the middle of last week.

Since then, thousands of people have been demanding the resignation of Castillo’s successor Boluarte, the dissolution of parliament, early new elections and the release of the imprisoned ex-president. On Monday, the new Peruvian government had already declared a 60-day state of emergency in several parts of the country particularly affected by unrest and fired 26 regional prefects appointed by Castillo. In the south and south-east of the country, where Castillo has a particularly large number of supporters, there have been violent protests and clashes between demonstrators and police officers.

According to Human Rights Ombudsman Eliana Revollar, several people were shot dead, including two minors. Air and train traffic in various areas of the Andean country was suspended, and the police presence on the streets of the capital Lima was increased.

Boluarte for previous elections

Meanwhile, Boluarte spoke out in favor of bringing the elections in the country even further forward – now to December 2023. Last Sunday she had already called for the elections originally planned for 2026 to be brought forward to April 2024.

Meanwhile, ex-President Castillo, who has been arrested and charged with “rebellion and conspiracy”, has to remain behind bars for the time being. The Supreme Court rejected the appeal against his detention.

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