New Delhi: The Peru government declared a state of emergency in the capital Lima and three other regions late Saturday in response to protests against President Dina Boluarte that have resulted in at least 42 deaths in recent weeks, news agency Agence France-Presse reported.
According to a decree published in the official gazette, the measure, in force for 30 days, authorizes the army to intervene to maintain order and suspends several constitutional rights such as freedom of movement and assembly.
Apart from the capital city, the state of emergency extends to the districts of Cusco and Puno, as well as the port of Callao, which is next to Lima.
More than 100 roadblocks blocked traffic across Peru on Saturday, mainly in the south, which has been the epicenter of the protests, and also around Lima, reported AFP.
However, the authorities have reopened Cusco International Airport, which is vital to Peru’s tourism industry.
According to AFP, the mass anti-government demonstrations first broke out in early December, after then-president Pedro Castillo was ousted from office for attempting to dissolve Congress and rule by decree, seeking to prevent an impeachment vote against him.
Castillo’s supporters have marched and barricaded streets around the South American country demanding new elections and the removal of current leader Boluarte.
While Boluarte has apologised for the violence, on Friday the 60-year-old, who is from the same left-wing party as Castillo, insisted she would not resign amid the turmoil, and rejected the possibility of calling a constitutional assembly as demanded by protesters.
Peru has seen political upheaval in recent years, with Boluarte, 60, becoming the country’s sixth president in five years.
Castillo, who was being probed in multiple fraud cases throughout his term, has been remanded in custody for 18 months on charges of rebellion.
(With inputs from AFP)
