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Demonstrator in front of police officers in Lima (January 12): Country in turmoil
Photo: SEBASTIAN CASTANEDA / REUTERS
There have been protests and violence in Peru for weeks.
The trigger was the impeachment and arrest of left-wing President Pedro Castillo on December 7th.
The demonstrators are demanding the resignation of his successor, Dina Boluarte, and the dissolution of parliament in order to hold new elections without delay.
The government has now declared a state of emergency in the capital Lima and three other regions because of the ongoing protests.
According to a decree published in the Official Gazette on Saturday evening, the 30-day state of emergency allows the Peruvian army to intervene to maintain order.
The decree also suspends several constitutional rights, such as freedom of movement and assembly.
More than 100 roadblocks obstructed traffic in Peru on Saturday.
The south of the country, where the main focus of the protests was, was particularly affected, but also the area around Lima.
At least 42 people have died in the nationwide unrest so far.
At least 531 people were injured, including 176 police officers.
According to the prosecutor, 329 people were arrested.
Airport near Machu Picchu also affected by protests
The protests also impacted Peru's main attraction, Machu Picchu, in the south-east of the country.
The Inca City is one of the most famous Unesco World Heritage Sites.
On Thursday, the authorities suspended operations at Cusco Airport near the ruined city because of the unrest.
Air traffic resumed on Saturday.
In the neighboring countries and also in the USA, there is great concern about the unrest in Peru.
Chile closed the border crossing.
The senior US diplomat for Latin America, Brian Nichols, wrote on Twitter that Washington was "deeply concerned by the ongoing violence in Peru" and regretted the injuries and deaths.
"We support the peace on all sides and the government's commitments to tackle the challenges (...)," said Nichols.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IAKHR) calls for an investigation into the suppression of the protests, since there are indications of "excessive use of force".
Peru's public prosecutor's office has since opened an investigation into "genocide" against President Boluarte and several other high-ranking officials.
After President Castillo was replaced at the end of last year, Congress cleared the way for a parliamentary dissolution, but the early elections are not scheduled to take place until 2024.
In a televised address on Friday evening, Boluarte further ruled out her resignation.
Boluarte expressed regret at the deaths caused by the anti-government protests.
"I apologize for the situation," she said, but declined to call a constituent assembly, as protesters are demanding.
Peru's interior minister, Victor Rojas, and women's minister, Grecia Rojas, resigned on Friday.
Boluarte immediately replaced the interior minister with Vicente Romero, a senior retired police officer.
Nancy Tolentino was appointed the new Minister for Women.
The new labor minister, Luis Alfonso Adrianzén, also took his oath of office.
His predecessor Eduardo García resigned on Thursday because of the government's handling of the protests.
Opposition MP Susel Paredes said on local radio that Boluarte was running out of time and that the resignation of Labor Minister García was "the beginning of the end" for the president.
mmq/AFP