A new day of protests in Peru against the government of Dina Boluarte left 18 dead on Monday in the southern region of Puno, on the border with Bolivia. According to the Ombudsman’s Office, 17 of them died in clashes between protesters and the police.
The demonstrations, which began in early December, demand the release of imprisoned former president Pedro Castillo and the anticipation of general elections. Castillo was deposed for trying to dissolve Congress on December 7 and replaced by Boluarte, who was his vice president.
With the figures for Monday, they already amount to 46 deaths related to the protests, 39 in clashes with the forces of order and seven due to traffic accidents or events related to road blockades. Previously, the deadliest day had been December 15, which left eight people dead.
The fatal victims of the clashes on Monday were young people between 21 and 35 years old, and a minor under 17 years of age, according to the records of the Puno Health Directorate. Three people aged 38, 50 and 55 also died. Four victims had yet to be identified.
At the end of Monday afternoon, the Ombudsman’s Office reported mobilizations, strikes and roadblocks in 25 provinces.
The government blamed the protesters for the violence in Puno. The Prime Minister, Alberto Otárola, stated in a televised message that “more than 9,000 people approached the airport and 2,000 of those people began an all-out attack against the police (…) generating an extreme situation that has produced deaths that we regret.” ”.
He also warned that authorities would not allow southern protesters to move toward Lima, calling the protests “a hangover from the coup” in reference to Castillo’s attempt to shut down Congress in December.
Otárola must go to Congress this Tuesday to present the government’s policies and ask for a vote of confidence, so that the ministerial cabinet is validated and continues in office. If he doesn’t make it, he must change his prime minister and team.
The violence forced Boluarte to suspend a meeting of the National Agreement, in which representatives of state entities, political parties and civil society organizations were going to seek a way out of the current political crisis.
“We couldn’t continue the session. (…) Two very brief conclusions have emerged from this session, very simple: No to violence and no more deaths,” Max Hernández, secretary of the National Agreement, told the press at the Government Palace, upon leaving the meeting.
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