Photo: Sebastian Castaneda/REUTERS/Deutsche Welle
The mobilizations and blockades of roads due to anti-government protests in Peru were felt this Saturday in 33 provinces of the country, which is equivalent to 16.9% of the national territory, according to data from the Ombudsman’s Office, which did not register clashes between protesters and the forces of the order.
According to the latest report from this autonomous body, social mobilizations are still concentrated in the south of the country, in regions such as Cusco, Apurímac, Madre de Dios, Puno, Arequipa and Tacna. Also, in this area of the national territory, roadblocks continue with greater intensity, which maintain “interrupted traffic” in 100 points throughout the country.
#ReportCrisisPolítica and social protest by @Defensoria_Peru. At 2:00 pm on 1/14/2023, we recorded 100 points of national roadblocks. In addition, we report attacks on public transport units to join protests in #Arequipa. 👉 https://t.co/jjKT64peeR pic.twitter.com/VzraNpz6Fu
– Peru Ombudsman (@Defensoria_Peru) January 14, 2023
In addition, the Ombudsman’s Office reported that during the day this Saturday, “marches for peace or in rejection of the stoppage of economic activities” were registered in the regions of Moquegua and Cusco due to the protests, which Only in the last week have they left a balance of 21 people dead.
The Cusco airport -the gateway to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu- resumed operations, after being closed since January 12 due to attempts by protest groups to occupy the airport facilities.
So far, the Ombudsman has not registered clashes in any of the protests, which experienced their deadliest day on January 9 in the city of Juliaca, located in the southern region of Puno, where 17 protesters died.