"
We are not at war, we are united
" against the government, proclaim their placards: on Lake Titicaca, in the Andes mountain range, the Uros indigenous people joined their voices this week to the demonstrations which are spreading all over Peru to demand the departure of President Dina Boluarte.
With Peruvian flags hanging from their motor rafts and traditional boats, the "
caballitos de totora
" (little reed horses), hundreds of Uros, inhabitants of the famous floating islands of Lake Titicaca, sailed for more than two hours to take part in protests in the city of Puno on the shores of the lake on Tuesday, 1,350 km south of Lima.
This demonstration aims to make it clear that they do not want to "
stay away from this struggle
", said Rita Suana, a participant, to AFP.
Sixth week of crisis
From the islands of Uros and that of Taquile, they made a point of expressing their dissatisfaction against the government.
The crisis, which has lasted for six weeks, has already killed 46 people, including 18 in Puno, the scene of the most violent demonstrations.
On the waters of Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,812 m above sea level, located on the border of Peru and Bolivia, this ancestral community related to the Aymara people is also demanding the resignation of the president.
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Dina Boluarte has been in power since December 7 after the dismissal of left-wing president Pedro Castillo, a former rural teacher of indigenous origin who promised to improve the lot of the poorest Peruvians.
“We demand the resignation”
Kevin Huatta, a resident of the island of Taquile, does not want President Boluarte.
“
More than 40 days of strikes are hurting Taquile Island.
We live from tourism.
We are asking for the resignation
,” he told AFP.
Ms. Boluarte "
does not represent women
", adds Rita Suana.
“
She gave us a bad image because she said,
'
when Castillo leaves, I leave with him, I quit
'
.
But so far, she has not resigned
”.
Once they reached the Plaza de Armas in Puno, the protesting Uros gathered at the door of a church to continue to express their anger.
