A total of four people have passed away in Peru during the strike of carriers, who has completed a week this Monday, although none of them lost their lives in clashes with the authorities, Defense Minister José Luis Gavidia confirmed. Speaking to a local television, Gavidia explained that the deceased are four, two of them perished due to traffic accidents, a minor who fell into a river and the last one was transferred to an emergency and could not reach a health center. During this day, at least eleven of the 25 regions of Peru suffered partial and temporary blockades of road traffic, due to the protest of transporters that was the scene in addition to the burning of several toll booths and tires.
Congress summons the president
Due to these protests, the Board of Spokespersons of the Congress agreed to invite the Peruvian president, Pedro Castillo, and several ministers to a meeting in Parliament this Tuesday to analyze the proposals and measures to find a solution to the demonstrations. In several regions, transport has been temporarily suspended in some sections due to the presence of pickets by demonstrators who prevent circulation in protest at the rise in fuel prices, despite the measures adopted by the Executive, such as the exoneration of taxes on gasoline until June.
The Council of Ministers has met in an extraordinary manner on this day to adopt additional measures that guarantee safety on the roads and cities, and, as a result of that session, the Minister of Culture, Alejandro Salas, announced that a declaration of emergency in places where protests can spill over. Throughout the day there was rumors of looting and vandalism in Lima, which were denied by the merchants themselves, although several stores and bank branches closed their establishments earlier due to rumours. Due to this situation of insecurity on the roads, the Ministry of Education decided to suspend face-to-face school classes in the Lima metropolitan area for the afternoon and night shifts this Monday and Tuesday.
The Executive has launched a dialogue table to meet with the unions of transporters and farmers in Huancayo, where the protests were concentrated over the weekend, and announced a Decentralized Council of Ministers in that city next Thursday. The unemployment demands to eliminate what they classify as unfair competition from foreign carriers and direct cargo reservation for national guilds. In addition, the elimination of the selective consumption tax (ISC) on fuels, which has already been applied, and the revision of highway and toll concession contracts are urgently needed.