Peru ‘repairs roads’ and protest violence ‘decreases’ after ex-president is ousted

Peruvian officials had hoped on Sunday that violent protests would begin to subside after President Pedro Castillo was ousted, as Pope Francis called for dialogue and reforms to protect democracy in the United States.

Prime Minister Pedro Angulo said: “The information we have is that the measures we have taken are working, that is, roads have been improved, airports have been activated and the violence of demonstrators in the streets has also decreased.” , the state channel TV to Peru.

Protests – more concentrated south of the Andes, a region hit by poverty, inequality and deferred social demands – are demanding the release of Castillo, who was arrested after his failed self-coup attempt and investigated for the riot.

They also demand the resignation of her successor, Dina Boluarte, the dissolution of Parliament, and an emergency general election.

Boluarte has already announced that he will remain “resolute” in the post and has demanded that Congress speed up the approval of the early general election; this is a claim that 83% of citizens claim that the crisis can be alleviated.

Parliament has to re-vote on Tuesday 20 December on the project to advance the 2026 elections to 2023, which failed to receive the required votes last week.

The conflict stems from the fact that parts of Congress, especially those who support Castillo, want to include a Constituent Assembly meeting to prepare a new Magna Carta to replace the 1993 one, which is a consensus possibility.

According to the Office of the Ombudsman, at least 19 people were killed and 569 injured in clashes with security forces at the protests. This Sunday, there were still some clashes between protesters and police in the northwest of the country.

“We call on Peru’s democratic institutions to carry out the necessary reforms during this difficult time,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Twitter on Sunday, regarding a meeting with Boluarte on Friday.

Blinken stated that Washington will continue to support the Peruvian presidency and the country.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis prayed in his Angelus this Sunday for Peru to “stop the violence” and “take the path of dialogue to overcome the political and social crisis”.

humanitarian corridors

This Sunday, representatives of the Peruvian Defensoria encouraged dialogue with the demonstrators in coordination with the authorities in Ucayali, Aguaytia (northwest, Peruvian jungle), and 5 civilians and 6 police officers were injured in the clashes.

In some cases, such as in Ayacucho (south), the deaths last Friday were the result of clashes with the military, which had the mandate to control internal security under the state of emergency.

At the time, the Ombudsman requested a criminal investigation because of reports of direct shooting at the body by military personnel. Among the victims were minors.

Relatives of some of those who lost their lives in Ayacucho carried their coffins in a square in the capital Huamanga on Saturday, demanding the punishment of those responsible.

This Sunday, the Ombudsman asked the government to implement humanitarian corridors to transport people stranded or left alone due to road closures during the protests, many of whom need medical care.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights said in a statement this Sunday that it “accepted openness to create channels of dialogue as a way to address social conflict” and announced a visit to Peru on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Good way”

Earlier last week, demonstrations resulted in the blockade of a hundred roads and several airports, which in some cases caused damage due to vandalism.

But after police and military intervention since Friday, these sites have been unlocked.

“I think we’re on a good track, as the president has said before, that the measures taken are helping to reduce the conflict,” the prime minister told Radio RPP.

He explained that several ministers went to conflict zones “to promote dialogue and reach consensus”.

This Sunday, Transport Minister Paola Lazarte said airport operations will resume in Juliaca (southeast) on Monday and Ayacucho on Tuesday. On Friday, Cusco airport reopened.

In the case of Arequipa (south), the airport is still closed. However, we have done restoration and repair work on the perimeter fence, which we will finish tomorrow (Monday).

Cusco’s Machu Picchu Inca citadel, where 200 tourists stranded due to closed roads were evacuated on Saturday, has remained closed “until further notice” since last week, the Culture Ministry reported.