Thousands of protesters join ‘conquest of Lima’ as government entrenches, calls for ‘calm’ and says to ‘remain steadfast’
Thousands of people have taken to the streets in the Peruvian capital Lima to demand the resignation of the president, Dina Boluarte, sparking a battle between protesters and police. All this after dozens of caravans of farmers from regions across the country arrived in the city in recent days to join the major national strike demanding elections in the country.
A month and a half after the outbreak of the social crisis that plunged Peru, the state of emergency that has lasted 30 days since Sunday and the death toll that has exceeded 50 since December 7, the strike celebrated a day of protests marked by the strong police deployment of more than 11,000 security guards. In the government’s desperation to avoid the lack of control over law and order, they have even resorted to the armed forces.
Despite the fact that the authorities had asked for calm – the president himself last Monday appealed to citizens to carry out the “takeover of Lima” “in peace” – there have been fierce clashes between the demonstrators and the security forces. the city, with street furniture being set on fire, some public transport shutting down and police deploying tear gas in an attempt to contain the riots.
“Where the hell are you? Dina, murderess!” they shouted in the Plaza de San Martín, the epicenter of the anti-government protests and from where the march to Congress would start. At least ten teams from the Lima fire department went to extinguish the fire in an office building in the said square, near the Palace of Justice, as reported by the RPP radio station. A group of neighbors confirmed that the incident was caused by a tear gas bomb falling on the roof, although the government later denied this.
The Ministry of Defense has already warned of the possible takeover of public and private institutions, such as Lima’s drinking water and sewage service or television antennas. During the protest, President Dina Boluarte gave a message to the nation. He attacked the demonstrators, noting: “Some bad citizens who try to violate the rule of law are causing chaos, disorder and seizing power.” He assured that “the government is steadfast and its cabinet more united than ever.” He closed his resignation completely.
The Peruvian National Police (PNP) has denounced attacks on law enforcement officers and the destruction of public and private property and is said to have therefore resorted to “legal use of force”. According to the latest report, 22 police officers and 16 civilians were injured in clashes during the marches in Lima and in other parts of the country during this last day of protests, according to ‘La República’.
“Despite the serious attacks our police have suffered and continue to suffer, they have not fallen for provocation and have responded to these attacks with determination, professionalism and prudence and will continue to do so in the days to come and that we have these marches. ” he said, expressed by the Prime Minister of Peru, Alberto Otárola, in a television report. Otárola has assured that the government is “in charge of the situation and ensuring the fundamental rights of the citizens”.
The pulse of the protesters against the president keeps Boluarte at a crossroads. Parliament is discussing the possibility of bringing forward presidential elections to April 2024, a date not happy with the country’s majority, who prefer them to be held this year.
Source: La Verdad
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