Peru Imposes State of Emergency Over Ongoing Protests; U.S. Embassy Issues Alert

The government of Peru declared a state of emergency on the country's highways, following the ongoing protests over rising prices.

According to Al Jazeera, the decree was published in the official newspaper of Peru on Thursday.

The state of emergency is scheduled to last at least a month, and the measure will allow the Peruvian forces to remove all the roadblocks placed by truckers, AFP reported, per CNA.

It can be recalled that hundreds of truckers and farmers have been blocking the highways of Peru for more than a week as they rally against the continuous rising costs in the country.

Al Jazeera mentioned that certain constitutional rights such as freedom of movement and assembly are also suspended due to the state of emergency.

"The police will keep control of internal order, with help from the armed forces," the decree reads.

U.S. Embassy in Peru Issues Demonstration Alert

On Thursday, the U.S. Embassy in Peru issued a demonstration alert for Americans who are present in the country.

The alert from the agency was issued after protests were scheduled to take place in the Lima Metropolitan Area, Plaza San Martin, Lima Central, Lima, and Plaza Dos de Mayo, also located in Lima Central.

The U.S. Embassy reminded the Americans to avoid the said areas, contending that demonstrations can be unpredictable and can turn violent at any moment.

The agency further warned the public to exercise caution, keep a low profile, and monitor the local media for updates.

Peru Protests

The protests in Peru, fueled by the rising costs in the country, were the effect of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the decision of global leaders to boycott Putin's country from the world's oil market, CNN reported.

The outlet pointed out that Peru imports most of its oil, leaving its economy to a spike just after it starts recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

On March 28, a group of transport workers and truck drivers' unions called for a strike to demand cheaper fuel. Other organizations also joined the protests, prompting other regions in Peru to close schools.

On late Monday, President Pedro Castillo issued a curfew until 11:59 on Tuesday. However, thousands of Peruvian protesters defied his order, prompting the chief executive to lift the mandate earlier than its scheduled ending.

Violence is also evident in the protests.

As of Wednesday, Peruvian authorities reported that at least six people died over days of protests.

Meanwhile, a clash between demonstrators and police in Ica, 20 km south of Lima, left one farmworker dead and at least 15 people injured. Al Jazeera mentioned that most of the injured were police officers.

As of Thursday, reports emphasized that at least 9 major roads in Peru were remained blocked by the protesters.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

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