Incidents in the demonstration of supporters of Pedro Castillo in Peru

The day after the attempted self-coup of Peter Castillo and his firing as president of Peru, a thousand protesters mobilized in support of the now former president. They demanded his release and the dissolution of Parliament. Towards the end of the act there was clashes with the policewho arrested three people.

Tension was growing in the concentration in Plaza San Martín, in downtown Lima, where the militants of the Peruvian left referent had arrived. What began as a show of defense of Castillo, with preparations for a march this Friday, has culminated between bullfights, riots and tear gas.

“People are demanding that you withdraw,” one of the speakers exclaimed. In the meeting they defined the details for another mobilization this Friday at 17:00 In addition to the abolition of the Congress and the release of Castillo, they called for the resignation of the current president, former vice president Dina Boluarte. The appointment will be in the same square where they met this Thursday. There they will decide whether to go to Congress or the Palace of Justice.

It was after 19:00, the deconcentration had already begun. The businesses and restaurants in the area had closed their shutters. Suddenly they heard: “Smoke is coming! Smoke is coming!” In the distance could be seen the figure of men in uniform advancing towards the square. They were accompanied by crackling sounds. “Bring vinegar!” was the desperate plea to combat the effects of tear gas.

Running, yelling and insulting the Police. The demonstrators, who had expressed themselves peacefully until then, dispersed in a disorderly manner. They brought the banners with them. “Pedro Castillo, Peru is with you!” and “If there is no liberation, there will be a revolution!” were some of the inscriptions.

“Dina doesn’t represent me,” was another castillo proclamation. Dina Boluarte was Pedro Castillo’s running mate in the 2021 election. The vice president distanced himself from the former president when he dissolved parliament and set up an emergency government, in what was described as a self-coup just hours later that Congress faced a vacancy motion.

Hours later, he was removed by Congress and replaced by Boluarte.

Castillo is still held in the Barbadillo prison, the same one where the dictator Alberto Fujimori is being held. 800 people came, in addition to the Mexican ambassador in Peru and some former ministers, according to their militants.

Earlier Thursday, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Castillo communicated with him immediately after carrying out the own coup. He did it to start the political asylum process in that country. However, as the president of Mexico himself said, the proceedings were complicated because opponents quickly blocked roads near the Mexican embassy in Lima. “You can see that he has already tapped the phone,” explained López Obrador.

Finally, this Thursday, Castillo’s lawyer formally asked for political asylum in Mexico.

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