Riots in Peru: Government confirms eight dead in protests

Many protests are escalating in Peru: So far, eight people have died in demonstrations against the removal of the previous President Castillo. The state of emergency applies nationwide - this also has consequences for tourists at Machu Picchu. According to the government, eight people have died in various parts of Peru so far in the increasingly violent protests against the dismissal of President Pedro Castillo. Another 19 people were hospitalized in the capital of Peru, Lima and in the regions of Apurímac, Huancavelica, Arequipa and La Libertad, according to the Peruvian Ministry of Health. The human rights ombudswoman, Eliana Revollar, spoke of seven deaths within two days on Monday, under them two minors. All of the victims died from gunshots.

Hundreds of tourists are stuck

At the world-famous Inca site Machu Picchu, 800 tourists are currently stuck, the authorities said. The railway line between the World Heritage Site and the city of Cusco had previously been closed due to violent protests. The 100 km long railway line is the easiest and most frequently used way to get to or from Machu Picchu.

Inca Rail and Peru Rail, the Peruvian state railway, gave security concerns as the reason for the blocking and referred to calls for demonstrations by various organizations in Cusco.

The Inca Trail and alternative treks to Machu Picchu have closed it.

A nationwide state of emergency

The government had previously declared a nationwide state of emergency. This is valid for 30 days, as Defense Minister Luis Alberto Otárola said. The police will maintain internal order with the support of the armed forces.

Otárola said the state of emergency gives the military additional powers to work with the police to protect strategic infrastructure, private property and the security of all Peruvians. The right of assembly and freedom of movement are suspended. The government has not yet decided whether there will be a curfew.

The new President Dina Boluarte called for calm. "Peru must not be covered in blood," she said. "We went through that experience back in the 1980s and 1990s and I don't think we want to go back to that painful past." At that time, several rebel groups had made Peru unsafe.

Boluarte hints at earlier elections

In an effort to calm the tense situation, she hinted that the presidential and parliamentary elections would even be brought forward to December 2023. In view of the protests, Boluarte initially said he wanted early elections in April 2024 instead of the regular date of 2026.

Former President Castillo was removed after trying to dissolve Congress. The left-wing politician wanted to forestall a vote of no confidence in Parliament.

Both his cabinet and the opposition accused him of a coup d'état, which is why the former village school teacher was removed from office and arrested on Wednesday last week. Since then, there have been too many violent protests, especially in rural areas where Castillo has a particularly large number of supporters.