Peru protests reach capital Lima, but President Boluarte doubles down

By Lucas Berti

Thousands of Peruvians have continued to protest against interim President Dina Boluarte, and they reached the heart of the country yesterday, with clashes that sparked a fire near the historic Plaza San Martín, causing the partial destruction of one of the area’s buildings.

Protesters have been demanding Ms. Boluarte’s resignation since December 2022. The resulting conflict has left more than 50 people dead and led to the declaration of a state of emergency in several areas of the country.

Ms. Boluarte addressed the nation after the incidents, praising the police for their work, promising that the vandalism would not go “unpunished,” and denying any possibility of resigning, arguing that her cabinet is “more united than ever.”

Protests this week alone have resulted in at least three more deaths. One was in the southern town of Macusani, in the region of Puno, where 17 people died in a single day last week in similar circumstances. At least two more people were killed in the northern region of La Libertad, according to authorities and human rights activists. The airports of Cusco and Arequipa have reportedly suspended their operations due to the new invasions. 

Though some of the deaths were related to roadblocks, most were reportedly caused by violent police responses to street rallies, raising concerns among several human rights organizations. The UN and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) are closely monitoring the case. 

Most protests have taken place in rural areas, where support for former President Pedro Castillo is higher. Mr. Castillo was ousted and arrested after attempting to shut down the opposition-led Congress in what mainstream analysts called a “self-coup.”

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