Demonstrators have entered Arequipa’s international airport during protests against the ousting of Peruvian President Pedro Castillo. The rioters destroyed security infrastructure and set fire to a sentry box, according to the Peruvian Ministry of Transport. The airport, one of the largest in the South American country, was closed for security reasons.
Peruvian television showed demonstrators walking down the airport runway. Security forces used tear gas. According to media reports, four people were injured. Riots also broke out in the capital Lima, where public prosecutor’s offices and radio and television stations were attacked. In addition, demonstrators in Arequipa captured a milk factory.
Arequipa is located in the south of the Andean country and, along with Apurímac and Ica, is one of the regions for which Interior Minister César Cervantes has declared a state of emergency. There had been deaths and injuries in protests and clashes with security forces. The ombudswoman for human rights, Eliana Revollar, spoke on Monday of seven deaths within two days, including two minors. All of the victims died from gunshots. There were 32 civilians injured and 24 injured police officers, Revollar said. “The situation in the country is very tense.”
Demonstrators blocked highways in several parts of the country, as reported by the media. There were protests mainly in rural areas in central and southern Peru, which are mostly considered strongholds of Castillo and his supporters. But also in Lima and other cities, thousands of people demanded the resignation of Castillo’s successor Dina Boluarte, the closure of parliament, early new elections and the release of the ex-president, who is in custody.
The left-wing politician was replaced by the previous Vice President on Wednesday. Castillo had wanted to forestall a vote of no confidence against himself by dissolving Congress at short notice – in order to set up an emergency government and govern by decree in the future. Many MPs saw it as an attempted coup. Castillo was deposed and arrested. He was “humiliated” and “kidnapped,” Castillo wrote on Twitter.
The ousted Castillo also received support from Mexico, Argentina, Colombia and Bolivia. A joint statement by the left-wing governments of these countries said on Monday that the previous president had been the victim of a “hostile and anti-democratic” movement since he took office last year.
In view of the protests, Boluarte is aiming for early presidential and parliamentary elections in April 2024. According to media reports, the government submitted a corresponding bill to Congress on Monday.
