Airports in Peru to resume operations after protests

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
18 Dec 2022 23:48
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The Minister of Transportation and Communications said that the airport in the city of Juliaca will start functionning on Monday.

A supporter of ousted Peruvian President Pedro Castillo holds a national flag in front of a cordon of riot police, in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022 (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Peru's Minister of Transportation and Communications Paola Lazarte said on Sunday that Peruvian airports are gradually resuming operations in light of violent clashes which saw several protesters injured and about 20 killed since Pedro Castillo's ouster from presidential duties.

"As for the Cusco airport, everything is going back to normal. We were able to restore operations with the help of the police and the armed forces. As for the airport in Ayacucho, it will most likely reopen on Tuesday, December 20," Lazarte told the Radio Programas del Peru (RPP) broadcaster.

The minister added that the airport in the city of Juliaca will start functioning on Monday.

As for Arequipa's airport, it is expected to resume operations in the coming days, adding that "work is being done at the Arequipa airport to resume operations and that a lighting team was sent yesterday to guarantee night flights."

La titular del MTC dio a conocer que se viene trabajando en el aeropuerto de Arequipa para reanudar operaciones y que ayer se envió un equipo de luces para garantizar los vuelos nocturnos. #PerúEnPaz pic.twitter.com/klDDUoPFhc
— Ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones (@MTC_GobPeru) December 18, 2022

Since December 6, demonstrators in Peru have been blocking the highly strategic Carretera Panamericana, the Pan-American Highway which stretches across the entire Americas and runs north–south through the whole length of Peru and connects all major cities in the country's coastal area.

Moreover, deaths have been reported at several airports where protestors clashed with law enforcement.

Health minister Rosa Gutierrez announced on Friday that 20 people had been killed since Castillo was arrested on December 7, with two cabinet ministers resigning over the deaths.

Protests against the coup government began to take place across Peru following the impeachment and removal of former President Pedro Castillo.

Peru's Supreme Court approved to detain of Castillo for 18 months before his trial, following the request of Supreme Prosecutor Uriel Teran on Wednesday.

If found "guilty", he could face up to 10 years in jail.