Thousands of tourists have been stranded in the Peruvian city of Cusco because of the protests. Now they can be flown out.
After increasingly violent protests, Peru’s tourism ministry is having thousands of stranded tourists taken away from the city of Cusco, which is the starting point for tours to the famous Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. “I’m in Cusco to oversee the evacuation after the airport reopened today,” Peru’s Andina news agency quoted Tourism Minister Luis Fernando Helguero as saying on Friday evening (local time).
The background to the protests is the dismissal of left-wing President Pedro Castillo a week and a half ago. Up to 4,500 stranded tourists and other people who had to go to the capital Lima have already been flown out, Helguero said.
Situation of tourists in Machu Picchu more difficult
“I think that on Saturday, Sunday at the latest, all stranded tourists will leave.” The situation for tourists in Machu Picchu is more difficult, said Helguero, also because the train route was damaged. A large group of tourists had to walk 29 kilometers to the next town.
The ruins of Machu Picchu are one of the most important tourist attractions in South America and have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. The city was built by the Incas in the 15th century and receives thousands of visitors a day. The main access is from Cusco. The train service to Machu Picchu was suspended on Tuesday for security reasons because of the protests. Operations at the airport were also suspended.
Boluarte refuses to resign
In the region in the south of the Andes, which is considered the stronghold of ex-President Castillo and his supporters, there have been road blockades and sometimes violent protests as well as clashes between demonstrators and the police in recent days. But also in Lima and other cities, thousands of people demanded the resignation of Castillo’s successor Dina Boluarte, the closure of parliament, early new elections and the release of the ex-president from custody.
However, Boluarte, who took office just a week and a half ago, is refusing to resign. In a televised speech on Saturday, Boluarte announced that he was “determined” to remain in office. She appealed again to Parliament to call for early elections. However, a corresponding bill failed in the conservative-leaning Congress.
Two ministers resign
Castillo was deposed by Parliament about a week ago. He had previously attempted to dissolve parliament, contrary to constitutional provisions, in order to forestall impeachment proceedings. Because of the unrest, two ministers in Boluarte’s government tendered their resignations. “This morning I submitted my resignation. There is no justification for the deaths of compatriots,” tweeted Education Minister Patricia Correa.
The government has declared a 30-day state of emergency, allowing soldiers to assist police in maintaining public safety and restricting civil liberties. At least 17 people were killed in clashes, the Ombudsman’s office said.
Castillo was elected head of state in July 2021 as a political outsider. Since then, the left-wing politician has been in a constant power struggle with the conservative-dominated Congress, which ultimately ousted him for “moral incompetence”. After Castillo’s dismissal, Boluarte, his previous deputy, was sworn in as the new president.