Peru: Parliament rejects elections in 2023 despite protests, two ministers resign
Protesters react as soldiers march towards them amid violent protests following the ousting and arrest of former President Pedro Castillo, in Ayacucho, Peru December 15, 2022. REUTERS - STRINGER
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Since Pedro Castillo's failed coup and his dismissal more than a week ago, the mobilizations have not stopped.
At least 18 people, including minors, have died in protests, according to the health ministry.
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This assessment led the Minister of Culture and the Minister of Education to resign on Friday, reports
our correspondent in Lima
,
Juliette Chaignon.
They only stayed in power for a week.
On social networks, the Minister of Culture spoke of an “
unsustainable
” government position, faced with “
the irreparable loss of
Peruvian brothers and sisters”.
Several preliminary investigations into the deaths of protesters have been opened, according to the prosecution.
Thursday, in Ayacucho, in the center of the country, was particularly shocking.
Seven demonstrators were killed
that day and fifty were injured.
The Defender of Peoples is concerned about the use of tear gas dropped by helicopters and live ammunition.
"
Peru must end violence against children during demonstrations and investigate such violence
," urged the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
In recent days, in the country, around fifteen public buildings have also been set on fire by demonstrators whose main demand is the dissolution of Congress.
Several associations for the defense of human rights are therefore calling on the government and Congress to resolve
the crisis
.
"
Constituent Assembly
"
On the political side, the deputies rejected for the first time the possibility of advancing the elections to December 2023. Other debates are to come, but the new president Dina Boluarte is in a difficult situation.
"
The next step is the resignation of Dina Boluarte, and a democratic transition
," said leftist MP Ruth Luque, who abstained, adding that she preferred a referendum on a "
Constituent Assembly
".
"
Ms. Boluarte must resign because of the number of deaths
," said centrist MP Susel Paredes, who voted in favor.
The president convened Friday for the second time in less than three days the Council of State, which includes the heads of the three powers: executive, legislative and judicial, while the demonstrations continued in particular in Arequipa (south), Huancayo ( center), Cuzco (south-east), Ayacucho (south) or Puno (Bolivian border).
"
5,000 tourists
"
Five airports were still closed on Friday in the south of the country, Andahuaylas, Arequipa, Puno, Ayacucho and Cuzco, the country's tourist capital.
The latter reopened in the early afternoon.
This allowed the start of the evacuation of stranded tourists, according to images released by the Ministry of Defense.
And in the morning, Darwin Baca, mayor of Machu Picchu, told AFP that "
5,000 tourists
" were stranded in Cuzco.
Several hundred are on the site itself, according to the municipality.
The army will send a helicopter on Saturday which will provide "
four humanitarian flights for the transfer of tourists
" from Machu Picchu to Cuzco, according to a source from the municipality who specifies that priority will be given to families with "
children and vulnerable people
".
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