Peru declares a state of emergency due to nationwide unrest

Peru’s government has declared a state of emergency across the country over increasingly violent protests against the impeachment of President Pedro Castillo. According to Foreign Minister Luis Alberto Otárola, this is valid for 30 days, the Peruvian news agency Andina reported on Wednesday. The police would maintain internal order with the support of the armed forces, Otárola said. With this, the cabinet is responding “energetic and emphatic” to acts of violence, vandalism and roadblocks.

With the dissolution of the Congress, the left-wing politician Castillo wanted to prevent a vote of no confidence in parliament. Both his cabinet and the opposition accused him of a coup and so the former village school teacher was sacked and arrested last Wednesday.

In the south and southeast of the South American country, where Castillo has a particularly large following, there have been violent protests and clashes between demonstrators and police officers in recent days. A state of emergency was already in place in some regions.

According to human rights ombudsman Eliana Revollar, several people were shot dead, including two minors. Air and rail traffic in several parts of the Andean country was suspended and the police presence in 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. (saw/sda/dpa)