Peru Clashes Amid Anti-Government Protests Leave at Least 13 Dead
At least 13 Peruvians died Monday as protests seeking immediate resumption of elections in rural areas in southeast Peru still loyal to ousted President Pedro Castillo.
According to Associated Press, 12 people died amid a clash between police forces and demonstrators in Juliaca, close to the Bolivian border. Peru's top human rights agency has demanded an inquiry into the fatalities.
Since the turmoil started in early December after Castillo's dismissal and detention for an unsuccessful attempt to dissolve Congress and prevent his impeachment, this is the highest death toll.
According to reports, a 17-year-old was among 12 people killed in Juliaca. A protest blocking a roadway in the adjacent city of Chucuito caused the death of the 13th victim.
Dina Boluarte, Castillo's successor and his former running mate, has backed a proposal to move the 2024 elections for president and congress initially scheduled for 2026.
She also supported a judicial probe if security forces acted with excessive force.
However, despite attempts to calm the unrest, it has returned forcefully in some of Peru's poorest regions, where support for Castillo's unconventional administration had previously been highest, following a brief respite over the Christmas and New Year's holidays.
Around 13% of Peru's provinces reported demonstrations on Monday, with many having barricades that prevented trucks from transporting products to market.
The death toll in clashes with security forces now climbed to 34 as of Monday, while hundreds more have been treated for injuries.
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Peru Bars Evo Morales Amids Increasing Tension
Evo Morales, the socialist ex-president of Bolivia, was denied entry to Peru. Morales criticized this decision as an assault aimed to divert attention away from Peru's human rights violations.
On Monday, the government of Peru issued a statement announcing its intention to ban Morales and eight other Bolivians, all of whom remain unnamed, Al Jazeera reported.
That comes after weeks of violent demonstrations in Peru against Dina Boluarte.
Pedro Castillo, who had been in power for less than two years, attempted to illegally dissolve Congress in December, setting up a new political crisis in the South American nation before an impending impeachment vote.
The southern areas of Peru, which have historically been left-leaning strongholds along the border with Bolivia, have been the sites of some of the most significant pro-Castillo rallies.
Dina Boluarte Says She Couldn't Grant Protesters' Demands
The Peruvian Ombudsman Office said the police and military forces should not be attempting to mediate the confrontations, as that was the responsibility of Congress and the central government.
It urged protesters to desist from damaging property or hindering the transit of ambulances. It demanded that police comply with international norms in using force and that investigations be conducted into the fatalities.
According to an earlier report from Monday, an infant died while being transported by ambulance from the town of Yunguyo to a nearby hospital due to a roadblock.
Dina Boluarte said she could not grant any of the demonstrators' critical requests during a "national accord" meeting with leaders from the country's regions and other political institutions earlier on Monday, US News reported.
She urged people to "reflect" on their lives.
"The only thing that was in my hands was moving forwards the elections, which we have already proposed," she noted. "What you are asking for is a pretext to continue generating chaos in the cities."
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has announced that it will visit Peru from Wednesday to Friday, making stops in Lima and other towns to assess the situation.
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Bert Hoover
WATCH: Anti-Government Protests Continue in Peru - From AP Archive