UPDATED
Peru's former President Castillo denies charges as protest death toll rises
Story by Claudia Rebaza • CNN
Peru’s former President Pedro Castillo has denied allegations of conspiracy and rebellion, following his dramatic ouster and arrest last week. His appearance in court on Tuesday came amid ongoing protests by Castillo’s supporters that have seen at least six killed.
Castillo was impeached and arrested on Dec. 7, after he announced plans to dissolve Congress and install an emergency government ahead of a looming impeachment vote by lawmakers.
Dina Boluarte, his former vice president, has since become president. On Monday, Boluarte proposed bringing general elections forward two years to April 2024 during a televised speech.
Castillo appeared in a virtual court hearing on Tuesday to appeal his seven-day detention order, an appeal which was ultimately rejected by Judge Cesar San Martin.
During the hearing Castillo told San Martin, “I have never committed the crime of conspiracy or rebellion” and described his detention as arbitrary and unjust.
Dressed in a blue jacket and sitting next to his lawyer Ronald Atencio, Castillo also said, “I will never resign and abandon this popular cause.”
“From here I want to urge the Armed Forces and the National Police to lay down their arms and stop killing these people thirsty for justice. Tomorrow at 1:42 p.m. I want my people to join me…” he also said, before being interrupted by the judge.
Since last week, demonstrations have erupted in cities across the country in support of Castillo, sometimes marked by clashes with Peru’s security forces,
At least six people have died in the demonstrations, including two minors, Peru’s ombudsman’s press office said on Tuesday. And at least 47 individuals were hospitalized as a result of protests in the cities of Lima, Apurímac, Huancavelica and Arequipa, Peru’s Health Ministry tweeted.
Peru's former President Castillo denies charges as protest death toll rises© Provided by CNNProtests in Arequipa, southern Peru, on Monday. - Denis Mayhua/picture alliance/Getty Images
Demonstrators have called for a general election, the dissolution of Congress, and the creation of a new constituent assembly, according to the radio and television broadcaster Radio Programas del Perú.
Boluarte on Tuesday called for calm to be restored to the country, and said that she had instructed police not to use any lethal arms against protesters.
“Everyone has the right to protest but not to commit vandalism, burn hospitals, ambulances, police stations, assault airports, (these) are not normal protests, we have reached the extreme,” Boluarte added.
Travel disrupted
Trains to and from Machu Picchu will be suspended from Tuesday due to Peru’s protests, railway operator PeruRail said in a statement.
“We regret the inconvenience that these announcements generate for our passengers; however, they are due to situations beyond the control of our company and seek to prioritize the safety of passengers and workers,” the statement read.
At least seven dead as Peru protests disrupt flights and train travel© Provided by CNNDemonstrators clash with police in the Peruvian capital Lima on Monday. - Aldair Mejía/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Flights have also been disrupted due to protests, with LATAM Airlines Peru announcing the temporary suspension of services to and from airports in the cities of Arequipa and Cuzco.
Protesters attempted to storm the terminal at Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cuzco on Monday, according to the Peruvian Corporation of Airports and Commercial Aviation (CORPAC).
So far there have been no reports of injuries, arrests or damage to the airport, according to CORPAC.
At least seven dead as Peru protests disrupt flights and train travel© Provided by CNNProtestors at the Alfredo Rodriguez Ballon international airport in Arequipa on Monday. - Diego Ramos/AFP/Getty Images
LATAM called on Peruvian authorities to take “corrective measures to ensure safety” for the operation of its flights.
“We regret the inconvenience that this situation beyond our control has caused our passengers,” it added.
Peru’s National Police said that, as of Monday evening, there were blockades on national roads in at least 11 regions of the country.
In addition, the government has declared a state of emergency in seven provinces in the Apurimac region in south-central Peru.
A country on the brink
Peru has been racked with political instability in recent years, with many Peruvians calling for political change, according to a September poll by the Institute of Peruvian Studies, which found 60% of those surveyed supported early elections to refresh both the presidency and Congress.
It is unclear if Boluarte’s ascendancy to the presidency can gain widespread political buy-in.
Boluarte “does not have a recognized political career,” said Fernando Tuesta Soldevilla, professor of political science at Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. “And without partisan support, political party or social organization behind her, she is weak from the beginning.”
“Everyone knows when Dina Boluarte’s government began, but no one can be sure how long it will last,” he told CNN.
CNN’s Andy Ortiz, Hira Humayun, Sahar Akbarzai and Gerardo Lemos contributed to this report.
Story by Claudia Rebaza • CNN
Peru’s former President Pedro Castillo has denied allegations of conspiracy and rebellion, following his dramatic ouster and arrest last week. His appearance in court on Tuesday came amid ongoing protests by Castillo’s supporters that have seen at least six killed.
Castillo was impeached and arrested on Dec. 7, after he announced plans to dissolve Congress and install an emergency government ahead of a looming impeachment vote by lawmakers.
Dina Boluarte, his former vice president, has since become president. On Monday, Boluarte proposed bringing general elections forward two years to April 2024 during a televised speech.
Castillo appeared in a virtual court hearing on Tuesday to appeal his seven-day detention order, an appeal which was ultimately rejected by Judge Cesar San Martin.
During the hearing Castillo told San Martin, “I have never committed the crime of conspiracy or rebellion” and described his detention as arbitrary and unjust.
Dressed in a blue jacket and sitting next to his lawyer Ronald Atencio, Castillo also said, “I will never resign and abandon this popular cause.”
“From here I want to urge the Armed Forces and the National Police to lay down their arms and stop killing these people thirsty for justice. Tomorrow at 1:42 p.m. I want my people to join me…” he also said, before being interrupted by the judge.
Since last week, demonstrations have erupted in cities across the country in support of Castillo, sometimes marked by clashes with Peru’s security forces,
At least six people have died in the demonstrations, including two minors, Peru’s ombudsman’s press office said on Tuesday. And at least 47 individuals were hospitalized as a result of protests in the cities of Lima, Apurímac, Huancavelica and Arequipa, Peru’s Health Ministry tweeted.
Peru's former President Castillo denies charges as protest death toll rises© Provided by CNNProtests in Arequipa, southern Peru, on Monday. - Denis Mayhua/picture alliance/Getty Images
Demonstrators have called for a general election, the dissolution of Congress, and the creation of a new constituent assembly, according to the radio and television broadcaster Radio Programas del Perú.
Boluarte on Tuesday called for calm to be restored to the country, and said that she had instructed police not to use any lethal arms against protesters.
“Everyone has the right to protest but not to commit vandalism, burn hospitals, ambulances, police stations, assault airports, (these) are not normal protests, we have reached the extreme,” Boluarte added.
Travel disrupted
Trains to and from Machu Picchu will be suspended from Tuesday due to Peru’s protests, railway operator PeruRail said in a statement.
“We regret the inconvenience that these announcements generate for our passengers; however, they are due to situations beyond the control of our company and seek to prioritize the safety of passengers and workers,” the statement read.
At least seven dead as Peru protests disrupt flights and train travel© Provided by CNNDemonstrators clash with police in the Peruvian capital Lima on Monday. - Aldair Mejía/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Flights have also been disrupted due to protests, with LATAM Airlines Peru announcing the temporary suspension of services to and from airports in the cities of Arequipa and Cuzco.
Protesters attempted to storm the terminal at Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cuzco on Monday, according to the Peruvian Corporation of Airports and Commercial Aviation (CORPAC).
So far there have been no reports of injuries, arrests or damage to the airport, according to CORPAC.
At least seven dead as Peru protests disrupt flights and train travel© Provided by CNNProtestors at the Alfredo Rodriguez Ballon international airport in Arequipa on Monday. - Diego Ramos/AFP/Getty Images
LATAM called on Peruvian authorities to take “corrective measures to ensure safety” for the operation of its flights.
“We regret the inconvenience that this situation beyond our control has caused our passengers,” it added.
Peru’s National Police said that, as of Monday evening, there were blockades on national roads in at least 11 regions of the country.
In addition, the government has declared a state of emergency in seven provinces in the Apurimac region in south-central Peru.
A country on the brink
Peru has been racked with political instability in recent years, with many Peruvians calling for political change, according to a September poll by the Institute of Peruvian Studies, which found 60% of those surveyed supported early elections to refresh both the presidency and Congress.
It is unclear if Boluarte’s ascendancy to the presidency can gain widespread political buy-in.
Boluarte “does not have a recognized political career,” said Fernando Tuesta Soldevilla, professor of political science at Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. “And without partisan support, political party or social organization behind her, she is weak from the beginning.”
“Everyone knows when Dina Boluarte’s government began, but no one can be sure how long it will last,” he told CNN.
CNN’s Andy Ortiz, Hira Humayun, Sahar Akbarzai and Gerardo Lemos contributed to this report.
Story by By Marco Aquino and Adam Jourdan
Protest demanding the dissolution of Congress and to hold democratic elections, in Lima© Thomson Reuters
LIMA (Reuters) - As Peru careers from one political crisis to another, the country has exploded in protest, with at least seven dead in the last week and the smoke of fires and tear gas hanging over city streets. A way out seems distant.
Protest demanding the dissolution of Congress and to hold democratic elections, in Lima© Thomson Reuters
The spark of the current unrest was the ouster and arrest of leftist leader Pedro Castillo after he tried to dissolve Congress illegally. It followed a months-long standoff where lawmakers impeached him three times, the final time removing him from office.
Peru has been one of the economic stars of Latin America in the 21st century, with strong growth lifting millions out of poverty. But the political turmoil is increasingly threatening to derail its economic stability, with ratings agencies warning of downgrades, blockades impacting major mines in the world's no. 2 copper producer, and protesters demanding Congress and new president Dina Boluarte step down.
Protest demanding the dissolution of Congress and to hold democratic elections, in Lima© Thomson Reuters
For those watching closely it should be little surprise. Voters are fed up with the constant political infighting that has seen six presidents in the last five years and seven impeachment attempts.
The heavily fragmented unicameral Congress is loathed - with an approval rating of just 11%, according to pollster Datum. That is below Castillo's, which despite a string of corruption allegations was 24% just before he was removed.
"The Peruvian people are just exhausted from all the political machinations, the crime, uncertainty and stalling growth," said Eric Farnsworth, a vice president at the Council of the Americas and Americas Society.
He said Boluarte's pledge to hold early elections in April 2024 could help calm things in the short run, but that would not solve entrenched issues of a divided electorate and infighting between the presidency and Congress.
"It's a toxic soup, with a weak president, a dysfunctional Congress, the deposed president seeking to generate a popular resistance to his legitimate removal, an agitated populace, and little vision from anyone on how to get out of this mess.
Peru's constitution makes it relatively easy for an unhappy legislature to initiate an impeachment, while a lack of dominant political parties - the largest, Popular Force, controls just 24 of 130 seats - means agreement is thin on the ground. Corruption has also been a frequent problem.
Protests despite a government proposal to bring forward elections, in Lima© Thomson Reuters
The only way many Peruvians feel they can make their voices heard is in the street. In recent days, protesters have blocked roads, set fires, and even taken over airports. Police have come under criticism from human rights groups for use of firearms and teargas. At leave seven people, mostly teenagers, have died.
Demonstrations demanding dissolution of Peru's Congress and democratic elections, in Cuzco© Thomson Reuters
There are echoes of protests in 2020, when thousands took to the streets after the impeachment and ouster of popular centrist leader Martin Vizcarra, who was succeeded by Congress leader Manuel Merino. After two died he also was forced to resign.
Castillo, less popular but with a support base in rural regions that helped him to a narrow election win last year, has looked to stoke things from jail, where he is being held while he is investigated over accusations of rebellion and conspiracy.
On Monday, he called Boluarte, his former vice president, a "usurper" in a written letter to the Peruvian people where he claimed to still be the country's legitimate leader.
"What was said recently by a usurper is nothing more than the same snot and drool of the coup-mongering right," he wrote, adding a call - long popular among a younger generation of Peruvians - for a new constitution.
"The people should not fall for their dirty games of new elections. Enough abuse! A Constituent Assembly now! Immediate freedom!" he wrote.
Boluarte, a former member of Castillo's far-left party who fell out with its leader and criticized Castillo after his attempt to dissolve Congress, has called for calm around the country and pledged a government of all stripes. But she faces a tough reality, caught between protesters and a hostile parliament.
With the recent history of Peruvian leaders littered with impeachment and jail, it is questionable whether Boluarte can hang on until new elections are held.
"Dina Boluarte is a murderer. Five people have died, and they say nothing. Nothing matters to her, she is shameless, treacherous," said Guadalupe Huaman, a Castillo supporter protesting with a Peruvian flag and hard hat in Lima.
Cutting Peru's outlook to negative and threatening a potential downgrade, ratings agency S&P said in a report on Monday that there seemed to be little to be hopeful about.
"The way Peru's most recent change in power occurred reflects heightened political deadlock, and it increases risks ahead," it said.
Farnsworth voiced similar concerns. While Peru had a history of volatile politics, it was unclear how things would resolve this time, he said.
"I think this time is somehow different," he said. "There is no real path forward it seems."
(Reporting by Marco Aquino and Adam Jourdan, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
Protest demanding the dissolution of Congress and to hold democratic elections, in Lima© Thomson Reuters
LIMA (Reuters) - As Peru careers from one political crisis to another, the country has exploded in protest, with at least seven dead in the last week and the smoke of fires and tear gas hanging over city streets. A way out seems distant.
Protest demanding the dissolution of Congress and to hold democratic elections, in Lima© Thomson Reuters
The spark of the current unrest was the ouster and arrest of leftist leader Pedro Castillo after he tried to dissolve Congress illegally. It followed a months-long standoff where lawmakers impeached him three times, the final time removing him from office.
Peru has been one of the economic stars of Latin America in the 21st century, with strong growth lifting millions out of poverty. But the political turmoil is increasingly threatening to derail its economic stability, with ratings agencies warning of downgrades, blockades impacting major mines in the world's no. 2 copper producer, and protesters demanding Congress and new president Dina Boluarte step down.
Protest demanding the dissolution of Congress and to hold democratic elections, in Lima© Thomson Reuters
For those watching closely it should be little surprise. Voters are fed up with the constant political infighting that has seen six presidents in the last five years and seven impeachment attempts.
The heavily fragmented unicameral Congress is loathed - with an approval rating of just 11%, according to pollster Datum. That is below Castillo's, which despite a string of corruption allegations was 24% just before he was removed.
"The Peruvian people are just exhausted from all the political machinations, the crime, uncertainty and stalling growth," said Eric Farnsworth, a vice president at the Council of the Americas and Americas Society.
He said Boluarte's pledge to hold early elections in April 2024 could help calm things in the short run, but that would not solve entrenched issues of a divided electorate and infighting between the presidency and Congress.
"It's a toxic soup, with a weak president, a dysfunctional Congress, the deposed president seeking to generate a popular resistance to his legitimate removal, an agitated populace, and little vision from anyone on how to get out of this mess.
Peru's constitution makes it relatively easy for an unhappy legislature to initiate an impeachment, while a lack of dominant political parties - the largest, Popular Force, controls just 24 of 130 seats - means agreement is thin on the ground. Corruption has also been a frequent problem.
Protests despite a government proposal to bring forward elections, in Lima© Thomson Reuters
The only way many Peruvians feel they can make their voices heard is in the street. In recent days, protesters have blocked roads, set fires, and even taken over airports. Police have come under criticism from human rights groups for use of firearms and teargas. At leave seven people, mostly teenagers, have died.
Demonstrations demanding dissolution of Peru's Congress and democratic elections, in Cuzco© Thomson Reuters
There are echoes of protests in 2020, when thousands took to the streets after the impeachment and ouster of popular centrist leader Martin Vizcarra, who was succeeded by Congress leader Manuel Merino. After two died he also was forced to resign.
Castillo, less popular but with a support base in rural regions that helped him to a narrow election win last year, has looked to stoke things from jail, where he is being held while he is investigated over accusations of rebellion and conspiracy.
On Monday, he called Boluarte, his former vice president, a "usurper" in a written letter to the Peruvian people where he claimed to still be the country's legitimate leader.
"What was said recently by a usurper is nothing more than the same snot and drool of the coup-mongering right," he wrote, adding a call - long popular among a younger generation of Peruvians - for a new constitution.
"The people should not fall for their dirty games of new elections. Enough abuse! A Constituent Assembly now! Immediate freedom!" he wrote.
Boluarte, a former member of Castillo's far-left party who fell out with its leader and criticized Castillo after his attempt to dissolve Congress, has called for calm around the country and pledged a government of all stripes. But she faces a tough reality, caught between protesters and a hostile parliament.
With the recent history of Peruvian leaders littered with impeachment and jail, it is questionable whether Boluarte can hang on until new elections are held.
"Dina Boluarte is a murderer. Five people have died, and they say nothing. Nothing matters to her, she is shameless, treacherous," said Guadalupe Huaman, a Castillo supporter protesting with a Peruvian flag and hard hat in Lima.
Cutting Peru's outlook to negative and threatening a potential downgrade, ratings agency S&P said in a report on Monday that there seemed to be little to be hopeful about.
"The way Peru's most recent change in power occurred reflects heightened political deadlock, and it increases risks ahead," it said.
Farnsworth voiced similar concerns. While Peru had a history of volatile politics, it was unclear how things would resolve this time, he said.
"I think this time is somehow different," he said. "There is no real path forward it seems."
(Reporting by Marco Aquino and Adam Jourdan, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
LIVE: Peruvian protesters demand election after former president’s impeachment
2 Killed, 4 Injured In Peru As Protests Demanding Elections Turn Violent
Violence erupts in deadly protests in Peru
Protests grow in support of Peru's ousted president Pedro Castillo
LIMA (Reuters) - Peru's armed forces will take control of the "protection" of key infrastructure like airports and hydroelectric plants as protests continue across the country, the country's defense minister said Tuesday.
Protests despite a government proposal to bring forward elections, in Lima© Thomson Reuters
The government will also declare the country's highway system under a state of emergency in order to guarantee free transit, Defense Minister Alberto Otarola said.
(Reporting by Marco Aquino; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by Sarah Morland)
The general of the Peruvian National Police, Víctor Zanabria, justified on Tuesday that the acts of violence directed against agents "increase the risks and possibly death", after seven deaths were confirmed in clashes with security forces in the protests in support of former president Pedro Castillo.
Demonstrators march in Lima demanding the release of former president Pedro Castillo and the closure of the Peruvian Congress. - Gian Masko/dpa
"Acts of violence against police personnel increase the risk and possibly death. We have the ownership of the use of force", said Zanabria, who said that they will increase the level of response and will begin to use rubber bullets "given the level of violence".
However, General Zanabria's announcement contrasts with the statements of the President, Dina Boluarte, who assured this same Tuesday that she has given orders to the police not to use any lethal weapon, not even rubber bullets", reports the Peruvian newspaper 'La Republica'.
Related video: Violent protest erupts in Peru demanding re-election (WION)
Duration 0:54
View on Watch
Peruvian protests against new President Boluarte enter fourth day
Zanabria has detailed that more than 5,000 members of the National Police have been permanently deployed in different points of the historic center of Lima to contain the protests that for days have been registered in the capital in support of Castillo, imprisoned and accused a few days ago of a crime of rebellion.
For now, the new government of Boluarte has ruled out the presence of the Army in the streets of the country. "There will be no militarization and repression of the Armed Forces", said the Minister of Defense, Alberto Otárola.
Castillo has been in prison since last Wednesday, December 7, awaiting a judicial decision to confirm or not his release while he is being investigated for an alleged crime of rebellion after unsuccessfully announcing his intention to dissolve Congress and call legislative elections to initiate a new constituent process to change the Magna Carta inherited from Fujimori's regime.
The arrest took place when he was about to go to the Mexican Embassy to request asylum. In the meantime, Congress approved his dismissal through a motion of censure, the third he has faced since he took office a little more than a year and a half ago.
Since then, there has been a succession of protests in support of him and in favor of shutting down a Congress that from day one has been maneuvering to get him out of office. The current toll is seven dead and fifty injured between police and demonstrators. The new government of Dina Boluarte has called for dialogue and has convened a crisis cabinet to deal with the situation.
Peru: Seven dead and 119 police officers injured in demonstrations against the Peruvian government
Peruvian authorities have confirmed the death of at least seven people as a result of clashes between the country's police and demonstrators in ongoing protests in southern Peru demanding the release of former president Pedro Castillo and the calling of presidential elections.
Archive - Protests in Lima (FILE) - MARIANA BAZO / ZUMA PRESS / CONTACTOPHOTO© Provided by News 360
Of the total number of deaths, six have taken place in the Department of Apurimac, while another has occurred in Arequipa, as reported by the regional health directorates of both regions in statements reported by the radio station RPP.
Among the dead are two minors, aged 15 and 16, who reportedly lost their lives in demonstrations in the towns of Andahuaylas and Chincheros, both in Apurimac.
Likewise, the Regional Government of Apurimac has detailed that 28 people have been reported injured on Monday.
For its part, the Regional Health Management of Arequipa has reported that 26 people have been injured during the protests, of which 16 are men and eight are women.
In addition to the civilians, up to 119 police officers have been injured throughout the country, among whom one remains seriously injured and six have been held hostage for several hours, a police official told RPP.
Likewise, 15 police officers have been injured after being attacked with pyrotechnic devices and explosives during a confrontation in Andahuaylas, in Apurimac, the Peruvian National Police said in a statement.
Thousands of people are protesting in the south of the country against the dismissal of Pedro Castillo, asking the new government to call for presidential elections.
The clashes between police and demonstrators have led the president of the Andean country, Dina Boluarte, to declare a state of emergency in three regions of the country: Ica, Arequipa and Apurimac.
"I announce the declaration of a state of emergency in areas of high social conflict. I have given instructions to peacefully recover the control of internal order, without affecting the fundamental rights of the citizens," said the newly appointed Peruvian president in a televised speech on Sunday night.
60 DAY STATE OF EMERGENCY
Peruvian authorities have confirmed the death of at least seven people as a result of clashes between the country's police and demonstrators in ongoing protests in southern Peru demanding the release of former president Pedro Castillo and the calling of presidential elections.
Archive - Protests in Lima (FILE) - MARIANA BAZO / ZUMA PRESS / CONTACTOPHOTO© Provided by News 360
Of the total number of deaths, six have taken place in the Department of Apurimac, while another has occurred in Arequipa, as reported by the regional health directorates of both regions in statements reported by the radio station RPP.
Among the dead are two minors, aged 15 and 16, who reportedly lost their lives in demonstrations in the towns of Andahuaylas and Chincheros, both in Apurimac.
Likewise, the Regional Government of Apurimac has detailed that 28 people have been reported injured on Monday.
For its part, the Regional Health Management of Arequipa has reported that 26 people have been injured during the protests, of which 16 are men and eight are women.
In addition to the civilians, up to 119 police officers have been injured throughout the country, among whom one remains seriously injured and six have been held hostage for several hours, a police official told RPP.
Likewise, 15 police officers have been injured after being attacked with pyrotechnic devices and explosives during a confrontation in Andahuaylas, in Apurimac, the Peruvian National Police said in a statement.
Thousands of people are protesting in the south of the country against the dismissal of Pedro Castillo, asking the new government to call for presidential elections.
The clashes between police and demonstrators have led the president of the Andean country, Dina Boluarte, to declare a state of emergency in three regions of the country: Ica, Arequipa and Apurimac.
"I announce the declaration of a state of emergency in areas of high social conflict. I have given instructions to peacefully recover the control of internal order, without affecting the fundamental rights of the citizens," said the newly appointed Peruvian president in a televised speech on Sunday night.
60 DAY STATE OF EMERGENCY
A day after Boluarte announced the declaration of a state of emergency in the south of the country due to the turbulent protests, the Executive has detailed that the measure will last for 60 days.
This state of emergency will be maintained for a little more than two months in the departments of Ica, Arequipa and Apurimac, as reported by Andina news agency.
In this context, the Peruvian National Police will be able to maintain "the control of internal order", all this with the support of the Armed Forces, according to a decree published this Monday afternoon by the Executive.
This state of emergency will be maintained for a little more than two months in the departments of Ica, Arequipa and Apurimac, as reported by Andina news agency.
In this context, the Peruvian National Police will be able to maintain "the control of internal order", all this with the support of the Armed Forces, according to a decree published this Monday afternoon by the Executive.
No comments:
Post a Comment