“Dina, listen, the Chancas are coming,” shout the peasants of this ethnic Peruvian group with a warlike reputation in Humay, 200 kilometers south of Lima. Blocked by the police, they want to move to the capital to ask for the resignation of President Dina Boluarte, the dissolution of Parliament and immediate elections.
These nearly 200 people detained in Humay, at the foot of the Andes, finally managed to reach Lima at dawn this Tuesday after a 40-hour journey by truck and bus. Now they are waiting for the slogans to demonstrate in the capital, one of them said in the morning.
Thousands of protesters, mostly from southern areas of the country, have gathered in Lima in recent days to give more weight to their movement that began on December 7 after the removal of President Pedro Castillo, a former rural teacher of indigenous people who came to power in July 2021.
Castillo was jailed last month after a failed coup attempting to dissolve Congress and rule by decree.
The marches that have since arisen and the hard clashes with the police have already caused half a hundred deaths. The government has declared a state of emergency in part of the territory in an attempt to stop the demonstrations. This allows the government to send the military to strengthen the police.
blockade protesters
Police have received instructions to stop the advance of protesters in Humay towards the capital, where a large concentration is expected this Thursday, after Castillo’s followers called a national strike for that day.
A line of crash cops wearing helmets and shields prohibit traffic and others protect the local police station.
The four drivers of the group of demonstrators were arrested for “vehicle insurance and roadworthiness problems”, according to police officer Alex Escalante Salazar, who denies any obstacle to the movement and even claims that he did everything possible to speed up the “process”.
“The police are preventing us from reaching Lima. The coup plotter probably gave them the order to attack us on the way,” said Julián Huaman, a 30-year-old farmer, waving a banner with the flag of the Apurimac region which refers to the President Boluarte.
“They’ve already blocked us at the top (of the mountain). They’ve searched us all, made us open our bags, but our hands are clean,” explains one of the leaders, Abdón Félix Flores Huamán, a 30-year-old farmer with a sociology degree.
long march
The group left Andahuaylas on Sunday afternoon, one of the epicenters of the demonstrations., where two people died in December. “Everyone in the communities donated one or two soles (between 25 and 50 cents). With that money we got to Lima,” he says.
The authorities warn that the protesters are “manipulated” and “financed by illegal mining or drug trafficking”.
In Humay, protesters shout slogans hostile to the president: “Traitor”, “murderer”.
Dialogue?
Boluarte was the vice president of Pedro Castillo (and of the same party) and succeeded him under the Constitution. She is also from Apurímac.
In one of her speeches, she invited all Peruvians to come to Lima to talk to her. The inhabitants of Andahuaylas tried to take him at his word.
“Dina Boluarte said she wants to see us in Lima, so she will see us in Lima,” says Anastasia Lipe Quispe, 63, defiantly.
She is traditionally dressed in an Andean female hat, an indigenous shawl and a long skirt that covers her legs protected by high stockings.
ensures that he will not be intimidated by police barriers on the routes. “We’ll go to Lima no matter what. On foot if necessary. We have our own corn and our own cheese” for the journey, she adds determinedly.
The police barrier was finally raised after midnight on Monday.
the social gap
The crisis is also a reflection of the huge gap between the capital and the poor provinces, which supported President Castillo and they saw in his election a form of revenge for the contempt received from Lima.
“This is a struggle of the Chanca nation. A struggle of the Quechua, of the Aymara against a state that has been a republic for 200 years and that continues to marginalize. The struggle is against racism,” says Germán Altamirano, a 75-year-old farmer who he wears his traditional hat with colorful patterns.
On Monday evening, the features appear drawn, fatigue can be seen on the faces after 24 hours of travel. Humay’s women bring a huge plate full of noodles. A line forms to eat.
“We have come together to support our brothers in the struggle. We want Dina Boluarte to be removed, the Congress and a Constituent Assembly to be closed”, explains Maria, without giving her last name.
Requests are also cheap. The Andean regions have the impression of being neglected by the richest capital. Several protesters accuse the “multinationals”, especially the mining companies, of “plundering” the country without investing in that sector.
“Life is hard in Peru. Right now it is very chaotic. A farmer earns 930 soles ($235) and some have up to 2 family members” at the head, Abdón Félix stressed.
“If a Peruvian is unable to give his life for his country, he is not a Peruvian, we will continue to fight for our brothers who have already given their lives. We are also willing,” said Felix.
“It’s the starting point for that to change,” the man said.
Source: AFP
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Source: Clarin
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.
