The situation in Peru worsens: the country was born militarized, with a curfew and more than 16 dead

Given the growth of protests by defenders of the former president of Peru, Peter Castillodismissed and held in custody, the new president Dina Bolarte declared a state of emergency, which suspended rights such as assembly and free transit, and sent armed forces to cooperate with the police, which aggravated the crisis. In ayacuchosouth of that country, 8 people died.

Police have cleared checkpoints in the north and south of the country, but due to the increase in violence in protests has issued curfew in 15 provinces. For five days, in some regions, the measure starts at 18:00, in others at 19:00, and even at 20:00 and lasts until 4:00. it involves total restriction of movementwith the exception of some professions such as health care.

Boluarte, who was Castillo’s vice president and took office after the now former president was removed from Congress, tried to calm the protests by announcing early elections in April 2024. It was not enough and two days ago he anticipated that they could have been held in December 2023.

But also to control the protests sent to the militarywhich further aggravated the crisis on a bloody Thursday.

In ayacucho, protesters tried to take over the Alfredo Mendívil Duarte airport, 560 kilometers southeast of Lima. They clashed with the Police who repressed and, as confirmed by the Regional Health Directorate of Ayacucho (Diresa), eight people died and 52 were injured.

With the news of the first deaths, the anger intensified and the demonstrators stormed the public prosecutor’s building, where they set fire to the main gate, offices and vehiclesas well as the seat of the Public Prosecutor’s Office and of the justices of the peace.

But the outlook could be worse. The regional governor of Ayacucho, Carlos Rua, indicated that two of the wounded must be evacuated urgently to Lima. “The number of dead could increaseRua said.

With the first two killed by the repression, the Guarantor, an autonomous body. launched a strong request to the government.

“After the deaths of two people and dozens injured during protesters’ attempt to take control of the airport, we demand that the Joint Command immediately cease the use of firearms and tear gas dropped from helicopters,” he urged.

After midnight and with the number of victims in Ayacucho, Boluarte spoke on social networks.

“We mourn the tears of mothers in Ayacucho and grieve the pain of families across the country. Today, in a sad day of violence, we mourn once again the deaths of Peruvians. My deepest condolences to the relatives. I renew my call for peace,” he wrote.

But before that message, the president elaborated on the measures with the curfew for the most troubled regions of Cusco, Arequipa, Ica, La Libertad, Apurímac, Puno, Huancavelica and Ayacucho.

It governs the provinces of Arequipa, Virú, Ica, Pisco, Andahuaylas, Chincheros, Cisco, La Convención, Chumbivilcas, Espinar, Carabaya, San Roman, Tayacaja, Angaraes and Cangallo.

In parallel with the violent protests and police repression, in some cities where demonstrations took place there were successive marches of people in white T-shirts to demand an end to the violence.

Protesters in Castillo are demanding not only the temporary closure of Congress, elections now and a Constituent Assembly, but also the release of the former president, who received an adverse court ruling Wednesday night for which he will serve 18 months in pretrial detention .

From the place of detention, Castillo feeds the protests various cards who posts on social media. And tensions are expected to continue to escalate since the court ruling.

The crisis also affects other regions and affects one of the most profitable businesses in Peru, Tourism. The Cusco airport has been closed for five days and the regional governor Jean Paul Benavente García has highlighted that there are more than 6 thousands of tourists stranded in the Cusco region.

Curfew details

The decree decreeing the curfew from the afternoon to four in the morning in 15 provinces states: “Declaring the compulsory social immobilization of all people in their homes for the duration of five calendar days, as part of the state of emergency social immobilization”

“People can travel on publicly used roads for the acquisition, production and supply of foodwhich includes storage and distribution for sale to the public,” he adds.

The curfew exempts strictly necessary personnel, which includes: health services, medicines, water services, sanitation, agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, transport, surveillance and security, deliveries, restaurants and hotels.

Also exempt are “financial services, electricity, gas, fuel, telecommunications and related activities, cleaning and solid waste collection, funeral services and related activities”.

Lima, special envoy

ap