Last Update: February 06, 2023, 07:01 IST
A man reacts as police officers stand by during an anti-government protest following the ousting of Peru’s former President Pedro Castillo in Lima, Peru (Image: Reuters)
At least 48 people have died in the two-month-old uprising, in which protesters have demanded the ouster of Peruvian President Dina Boluarte.
Peru’s government on Sunday declared and expanded a state of emergency to deal with a two-month-old rebellion against President Dina Boluaarte, which has left 48 dead in clashes between protesters and security forces.
According to a notice in the government gazette, seven southern Peruvian regions – Madre de Dios, Cusco, Puno, Apurimac, Arequipa, Moquegua and Tacna – will fall under the measure, which will remain in place for 60 days.
On 13 January, the government extended the state of emergency for Lima, El Callao, Cusco and Puno for another 30 days.
With the new extension not covering the capital Lima, nor El Callao – which hosts the country’s main airport and sea terminals – the state of emergency there will expire in mid-February.
The measure authorizes the military to support police action to restore public order. It also suspends constitutional rights such as freedom of movement and assembly.
The decree provides for a curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. for 10 days in Puno department, the epicenter of anti-government protests, where 18 civilians and a policeman were killed in clashes on January 9.
Peru has been embroiled in a political crisis with almost daily demonstrations since December 7, when then-President Pedro Castillo was arrested after attempting to dissolve Congress and rule by decree.
Roadblocks set up by protesters have caused shortages of food, fuel and other basic goods in many areas of the Andean nation.
The protesters are demanding the dissolution of Congress, a new constitution and the resignation of Boluaarte, leaving Castillo as vice president.
Several attempts to pass a bill to allow early elections through Peru’s legislature have failed, the latest on Friday, which stalled any debate on the subject until August.
This was followed by violent protests in the streets in central Lima on Saturday.
The demonstrations are driven by poor southern, indigenous Peruvians who see Castillo as an ally in their fight against poverty, racism and inequality, who is also from humble origins and has indigenous roots.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)