At least 20 injured and one killed as protests in Peru turn violent

At least 20 people have been injured and one individual has died this weekend in clashes between protestors and the police on Saturday in the Peruvian city of Andahuaylas. 

During the protests, at least 16 civilians and four police officers were wounded as the two groups clashed. Protesters fired slingshots and threw stones and the police, while the police responded with tear gas. 

At least one individual was killed during the protests, according to authorities, who are working to clarify the circumstances of the death. 

The Ombudsman’s Office said it was working with the city’s health personnel to ensure that the injured received appropriate medical care at the local hospital. However, he did not provide details of the nature of the injuries. The agency added that several people had been detained. 

The Ombudsman Office urged “the population not to resort to violent means during their protests” and asked the National Police that “any action to restore public order must be carried out within the framework of the law of use of force.”

#Peru
Las protestas de los simpatizantes del depuesto presidente Pedro Castillo no se detienen,la represión tampoco,por si fuera poco el departamento de APURÍMAC se declaró en insurgencia popular,así las cosas se complican para DINA BOLUARTE. pic.twitter.com/VEInLQTxuy

— CARLOS AGUIAR.geopolítica 🌐™️®️! (@CarlosAJimnez4) December 11, 2022

The protests come days after former President Pedro Castillo was removed from power for trying to dissolve Peru’s Congress and stage a coup d’etat. The same day, a majority of the South American country’s 130-person Congress voted to impeach Castillo for his actions. 

Castillo was arrested for the alleged crime of rebellion while he was on his way to seek asylum at the Mexican embassy. He is under a seven-day preliminary arrest ordered by the Supreme Court out of fears that he might seek asylum in another country. 

Peru’s Vice President, Dina Boluarte, was sworn in as the first female president of the country. On Thursday, Boluarte’s first day in office, the new president ruled out early elections. 

Andahuaylas is one of the Peruvian towns that began demonstrations on Friday in support of former President Castillo, according to the Ministry of Interior. 

Around three thousand protesters have been calling for a national strike, the resignation of President Boluarte, and new elections, according to the state media. Rural unions and other organizations are calling for an “indefinite strike” beginning on Tuesday.