The government in Peru has declared a state of emergency across the country in the face of increasingly violent protests against the ousting of President Pedro Castillo.
According to Foreign Minister Luis Alberto Otárola, this is valid for 30 days, as reported by the Peruvian news agency Andina. The police would maintain internal order with the support of the armed forces, said Otárola accordingly. The government is giving a “strong and emphatic” response to acts of violence, vandalism and road blockades.
With the dissolution of the congress, the left-wing politician Castillo wanted to forestall a vote of no confidence in parliament. Both his cabinet and the opposition accused him of a coup d’etat, which is why the former village school teacher was removed from office and arrested on Wednesday last week.
In the south and southeast of the South American country, where Castillo has a particularly large number of supporters, there have been violent protests and clashes between demonstrators and police officers in recent days. A state of emergency already applied to some regions.
According to Human Rights Ombudsman Eliana Revollar, several people were shot dead, including two minors. Air and train traffic in various areas of the Andean country was suspended, and the police presence on the streets of the capital Lima was increased. Thousands of people demanded the resignation of Castillo’s successor Dina Boluarte, the dissolution of parliament, early new elections and the release of the imprisoned ex-president. The Supreme Court rejected the appeal against his detention.
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