The Peruvian government declared a state of emergency on Saturday, January 14, in the capital, Lima, and in several other regions due to demonstrations against President Dina Boluarte which have left at least 42 people dead in the country for five weeks.
This measure, in force for thirty days, authorizes the army to intervene to maintain order and leads to the suspension of several constitutional rights such as freedom of movement and assembly and the inviolability of the home, according to a decree published Saturday evening in the Official newspaper.
In addition to the capital, the departments of Cuzco and Puno (South) are notably subject to a state of emergency, as is the port of Callao, next to Lima.
More than a hundred roadblocks blocked traffic across Peru on Saturday, mainly in the south, the epicenter of the protest, but also around Lima.
“Traitor”
The authorities, however, reopened the international airport of Cusco on Saturday, which is vital for the Peruvian tourist sector.
The protests erupted after the dismissal and arrest on December 7 of Socialist President Pedro Castillo, accused of having attempted to perpetrate a coup by wanting to dissolve Parliament, which was about to oust him from power.
Mme Boluarte, who was the vice-president of Mr. Castillo, succeeded him, in accordance with the Constitution, and comes from the same left-wing party as him. But the demonstrators, who see in her a “treacherous”demand his departure as well as immediate elections.
For now, M.me Boluarte refuses to resign.