• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Latin America
  4. Peru closes Machu Picchu due to protests
Latin America

Peru closes Machu Picchu due to protests

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 21 Jan 23:19

Peru's Ministry of Culture announces the closure of Machu Picchu in light of protests against President Dina Boluarte after the ousting of her predecessor leftist president.

  • The Machu Picchu archeological site is devoid of tourists while it's closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, in the department of Cusco, Peru, October 27, 2020 (AP Photo)
    The Machu Picchu archeological site is devoid of tourists while it's closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, in the department of Cusco, Peru, October 27, 2020 (AP Photo)

Peru closed on Saturday the country's famed tourist attraction site, Machu Picchu, amid ongoing protests against the government, the Ministry of Culture said on Saturday after tourists were left stranded near the Inca citadel in light of the unrest brought upon by a coup d'etat.

Demonstrations demanding the resignation of Peruvian President Dina Boluarte have been ongoing since early December, leaving 54 people dead and prompting the government to impose a state of emergency in violence-hit areas.

The government extended by 30 days a state of emergency from midnight Saturday for Lima, Cusco, Callao, and Puno, authorizing the military to back up police actions to "restore public order." It suspended constitutional rights such as freedom of movement and assembly, according to a decree published in the official gazette.

In Puno, the government declared a night curfew for ten days, from 8:00 pm to 4:00 am. On his part, Peruvian Prime Minister Alberto Otarola called on protesters to "radically change" their tactics and opt for dialogue.

Ahead of the closure of the tourist attraction site, rail services to Machu Picchu had already been suspended due to the track being damaged by demonstrators.

"The closure of the Inca trails network and the Machu Picchu citadel has been ordered due to the social situation and to preserve the safety of visitors," the Ministry of Culture said in its Saturday statement.

Tourists "cannot leave because the railway has been damaged in different places," Tourism Minister Luis Fernando Helguero said on Friday. "Some tourists have chosen to walk to Piscacucho, but that takes six hours or more and very few people can do it."

Protesters are trying to keep up pressure on the Peruvian government, defying the ongoing state of emergency.

After demands for her resignation, Boluarte said she would not resign after another day of protests and roadblocks across the country, as well as the arrest of a trade union leader with alleged ties to Maoist rebels.

“Some voices coming from the violent and radical groups demand my resignation, bringing people to chaos, disorder, and destruction. I say to them responsibly that I will not step down,” Boluarte said while speaking to the nation in a late-night broadcast on state TV on January 14.

The South American country has been rocked by more than a month of protests, mostly in the southern and eastern areas, since the ouster and arrest of Boluarte's left-wing predecessor Pedro Castillo on December 7 after attempting to dissolve the nation's legislature and rule by decree.

At least 54 people got killed during clashes with security forces, including a police officer who was burned alive in a vehicle, and hundreds more got injured.

  • Machu Picchu
  • Pedro Castillo
  • Dina Boluarte
  • Peru

Trending Now

All
Two teenagers were killed in clashes with police in the southern city of Andahuaylas.

Peru President declares state of emergency, announces early elections

Most Read

Neo-compradors: the leftist foot soldiers of Imperialism

Neo-compradors: the leftist foot soldiers of Imperialism

  • MENA
  • 2 Feb
Eastern Mediterranean very dangerous at seismic level: Hoogerbeets

Eastern Mediterranean very dangerous at seismic level: Hoogerbeets

  • MENA
  • 7 Feb
Western selective humanitarianism, Syria earthquake falls on deaf ears

Western selective humanitarianism, Syria earthquake falls on deaf ears

  • MENA
  • 6 Feb
Donetsk People's Republic head Denis Pushilin peaks during a news conference on February 23, 2022. (Reuters)

DPR Chief warns Ukrainian forces use drone-dropped chemical weapons

  • Europe
  • 6 Feb

Read this

All
Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau
Palestine

Barcelona suspends relations with Israeli occupation

  • 8 Feb
Screenshot showing the previous summary of the New York Times news article discussing the aid effort to Syria, February 7, 2023 (Social Media)
MENA

NYT makes U-turn after saying Syria can't receive aid due to sanctions

  • 8 Feb
The Lebanese delegation, headed by Lebanese caretaker Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib, meets with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in Damascus, Syria, February 8, 2023 (SANA)
MENA

Lebanon sends official delegation to Syria following earthquake

  • 8 Feb
UN security council session on Russia's military operation. (Twitter)
US & Canada

Ukraine war 'illegal' but not 'unprovoked': Pink Floyd lead singer

  • 8 Feb
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS