Nearly 50 injured in anti-Boluarte march in Juliaca, Peru

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
10 Feb 2023 10:33
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A local medical agency says 23 protesters, including three minors, sustained injuries, one of which was a gunshot wound to the leg.

A march to demand justice for the 18 civilians killed, Juliaca, Feb. 9 (Reuters)

Almost 50 people were injured in Peru in violent confrontations between law enforcement and anti-government protesters outside an airport Thursday, a month after 18 demonstrators were killed at the same location.

A march had been organized in the city of Juliaca, Peru's southern Puno region, to demand justice for the 18 civilians killed on January 9, and protesters tried to enter the Inca Manco Capac airport.

A local medical agency reported that 23 protesters, including three minors, sustained injuries, one of which was a gunshot wound to the leg. The national police claimed that 25 officers were injured in the clashes.

Peru has been shaken by two months of protests by supporters of former president Pedro Castillo, who was impeached and arrested after attempting to dissolve parliament and rule by decree.

Protesters demand that Castillo's successor, Dina Boluarte, step down and that fresh elections be held.

In Arequipa, also in the south, hundreds of people marched Thursday to the Plaza de Armas square. There were also protests in Ayacucho and Pucallpa.

Further north, in the capital Lima, some 2,000 workers of the main Peruvian union, CGTP, marched through the streets toward the heavily-guarded Congress.

Earlier in Juliaca, hundreds had gathered for a march that combined cries of grief, anti-government slogans, and protest chants.

At least 47 civilians and one police officer have been killed nationwide in clashes since the protests broke out, according to Peru's human rights ombudsman.

Officials said 62 national roads remained blocked as of Thursday.

On Sunday, the Peruvian government expanded and prolonged a state of emergency. Seven southern Peruvian regions -- Madre de Dios, Cusco, Puno, Apurimac, Arequipa, Moquegua, and Tacna -- fall under the measure, which will remain in place for 60 days, according to a notice in the government gazette.

The measure authorizes the military to back up police actions to "restore public order." It also suspends constitutional rights, such as freedom of movement and assembly.

The decree provides for an 8:00 pm to 4:00 am curfew for 10 days in the department of Puno, the epicenter of the demonstrations, where 18 civilians and a policeman died in clashes on January 9.