The Peruvian government declared a state of emergency in the capital Lima due to protests against President Dina Boluarte that have claimed at least 42 lives in recent weeks.
The measure, which entered effective this Sunday, it will be valid for 30 days and authorizes the Army to intervene to maintain order.
The decree issued on Saturday night also declares the state of emergency in the regions of Cusco and Puno, as well as in the port of Callao, next to the capital.
There are also restrictions in the provinces of Andahuaylas, Tampopara and Tahuamanu, Mariscal Nieto and the Torata district, as well as on five national highways.
In addition, it was decreed “mandatory social immobilization” in the Puno region for 10 dayswhich implies that the inhabitants of that area must be confined to their homes between 8 in the afternoon and 4 in the morning.
continued protests
Supporters of ousted President Pedro Castillo have marched and erected barricades across much of the South American country since December, following his ouster over his attempt to dissolve Congress to rule by decree.
Protesters They demand new general elections this year and the dismissal of Boluarte.
For her part, the president gave a televised speech on Friday night in which refused to resign: “My commitment is with Peru.”
In this wave of protests in Peru at least 42 people have lost their lives, of which 17 died in clashes that occurred in the Puno region a week ago, in what was the most violent day ever recorded.
This Saturday, the blockades as a Protests on the highways throughout Peru continued, especially in the south, the epicenter of the riots, and around Lima, reports AFP.
Cusco’s airport, the gateway to the famous Machu Picchu site, reopened on Saturday after being shut down by an outbreak of protests. Authorities had suspended operations on Thursday as a preventative measure. In December he was stopped for five days.
Political instability
Last December 7, Castillo announced in a televised message his intention to dissolve Congress and to establish an emergency government that, according to what he said, would govern by decree.
His decision was rejected by numerous institutions in the country and even by caused several resignations in his cabinet government that same day.
The former president is preventive detention for a period of 18 months while he is undergoing legal proceedings for the alleged crime of rebellion.
A few hours later, Castillo was dinstituted by Congress through a presidential vacancy motion for “moral incapacity” and was arrested and brought before the courts.
These decisions, however, raised a wave of indignation among Castillo’s supporters who, since then, have been protesting to demand his release, as well as Boluarte’s resignation, new elections and the cchange of the Constitution.
The demonstrations have been harshly repressed by the security forces that have been questioned by human rights groups for not making a proportionate use of force.
For its part, the Army has accused the protesters of using homemade weapons and explosives.
Peru has faced political instability in recent yearsbeing Boluarte, 60, the sixth person to hold the presidency in five years.
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