Issued on: 12/01/2023 -
04:58 Video by:Tom Burges WATSON
Protests against Peruvian President Dina Boluarte’s government that have left 48 people dead since they began a month ago spread through the south of the Andean country on Wednesday with new clashes reported in the tourist city of Cusco. For more on the deadly clashes, FRANCE 24 is joined by Dr. Amalendu Misra, Senior Lecturer and Professor of International Politics at Lancaster University.
Peru families mourn protest dead after worst violence in decades
mmj/kb 12.01.2023, 09:03
Dozens of people attend a large mass for those who died this week during the protests, in the Plaza de Armas in Juliaca, Peru, 11 January 2023. Photo: EPA/Stringer
A funeral procession marched through the streets of Juliaca, Puno region, on Wednesday with Peruvians carrying coffins of the 17 civilians who died in protests in the area earlier this week, the worst outbreak of violence the Andean country has seen in over two decades.
The violence continued as families mourned their dead, with the country's ombudsman reporting another casualty in clashes in the Andean city of Cusco, that of local community leader Remo Candia Guevara.
“We demand an immediate investigation to find those responsible for the death and proceed to the respective sanctions,” it said in a statement.
Protests have been rattling the country since the abrupt ouster of leftist President Pedro Castillo in early December, with a total of 41 people killed, almost half of them in the city of Juliaca on Monday, including one police officer.
Thousands of people in Juliaca paid tribute to the dead. Coffins were carried through the streets before their burial along with photographs of the faces of the victims, flowers were laid, Peruvian flags waved, and banners displayed blaming the new government for the violence.
“The bloodshed will never be forgotten,” was on the lips of some who cried out their anger while carrying black flags at a march in the region that borders Bolivia and was the focus of the most recent protests.
The violence was a harsh litmus test for Peru's democracy. So far, the test has been hardly passed as the unrest transmogrified into the country’s worst conflict since the late 1990s when Peru was torn by violence between the Shining Path rebel group and the state. As many as 69,000 were killed, died or went missing over two decades amidst the conflict.
In 2009, protests saw 33 Peruvians killed after indigenous groups in the northern jungle region clashed with police during the government of former President Alan García.
The protesters’ demands are the resignation of new President Dina Boluarte, snap general elections, a new Constitution and the release of Castillo, who was ousted and arrested for “rebellion” after trying to illegally shutter Congress.
Boluarte seem cooperative
Wednesday saw a meeting between a mission from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and Boluarte, whose Cabinet survived a confidence vote by Congress on Tuesday, to assess the crisis.
“We will be verifying the human rights situation, the idea is to hear from the broadest possible range of all voices,” IACHR representative Edgar Stuardo Ralón told reporters.
Facing a preliminary investigation by state prosecutors over the deaths, Boluarte seemed inclined to cooperate, saying in a statement after the meeting that the government would give the commission all the support needed to find out what had happened.
Peruvian police and armed forces have been accused by human rights groups of using deadly firearms and launching tear gas canisters from helicopters. But as the army claims, the demonstrators have not gone the peaceful path of protest, instead resorted to using weapons and homemade explosives.
source: REUTERS, TVP WORLD
mmj/kb 12.01.2023, 09:03
Dozens of people attend a large mass for those who died this week during the protests, in the Plaza de Armas in Juliaca, Peru, 11 January 2023. Photo: EPA/Stringer
A funeral procession marched through the streets of Juliaca, Puno region, on Wednesday with Peruvians carrying coffins of the 17 civilians who died in protests in the area earlier this week, the worst outbreak of violence the Andean country has seen in over two decades.
The violence continued as families mourned their dead, with the country's ombudsman reporting another casualty in clashes in the Andean city of Cusco, that of local community leader Remo Candia Guevara.
“We demand an immediate investigation to find those responsible for the death and proceed to the respective sanctions,” it said in a statement.
Protests have been rattling the country since the abrupt ouster of leftist President Pedro Castillo in early December, with a total of 41 people killed, almost half of them in the city of Juliaca on Monday, including one police officer.
Thousands of people in Juliaca paid tribute to the dead. Coffins were carried through the streets before their burial along with photographs of the faces of the victims, flowers were laid, Peruvian flags waved, and banners displayed blaming the new government for the violence.
“The bloodshed will never be forgotten,” was on the lips of some who cried out their anger while carrying black flags at a march in the region that borders Bolivia and was the focus of the most recent protests.
The violence was a harsh litmus test for Peru's democracy. So far, the test has been hardly passed as the unrest transmogrified into the country’s worst conflict since the late 1990s when Peru was torn by violence between the Shining Path rebel group and the state. As many as 69,000 were killed, died or went missing over two decades amidst the conflict.
In 2009, protests saw 33 Peruvians killed after indigenous groups in the northern jungle region clashed with police during the government of former President Alan García.
The protesters’ demands are the resignation of new President Dina Boluarte, snap general elections, a new Constitution and the release of Castillo, who was ousted and arrested for “rebellion” after trying to illegally shutter Congress.
Boluarte seem cooperative
Wednesday saw a meeting between a mission from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and Boluarte, whose Cabinet survived a confidence vote by Congress on Tuesday, to assess the crisis.
“We will be verifying the human rights situation, the idea is to hear from the broadest possible range of all voices,” IACHR representative Edgar Stuardo Ralón told reporters.
Facing a preliminary investigation by state prosecutors over the deaths, Boluarte seemed inclined to cooperate, saying in a statement after the meeting that the government would give the commission all the support needed to find out what had happened.
Peruvian police and armed forces have been accused by human rights groups of using deadly firearms and launching tear gas canisters from helicopters. But as the army claims, the demonstrators have not gone the peaceful path of protest, instead resorted to using weapons and homemade explosives.
source: REUTERS, TVP WORLD
Peru protesters mourn their dead as clashes continue
Issued on: 12/01/2023 -
Juliaca (Peru) (AFP) – Demonstrators in Peru blocked roads and held mass funerals on Wednesday for those killed in violent anti-government protests that have gripped the country for weeks, as the United States called for "restraint" on both sides.
The deadly clashes have spread to the tourist city of Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, where one protester was killed and more than 20 people, including six police officers, were wounded.
In total, at least 40 people have died in more than a month of demonstrations demanding the resignation of President Dina Boluarte, who took over after the ouster and arrest of her predecessor Pedro Castillo on December 7.
The violence has drawn a rebuke from the United Nations, and a delegation from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) arrived in the country Wednesday to investigate the protests and accusations of political repression.
On Tuesday, Peru's prosecutor's office said it was opening a genocide investigation against Boluarte and other top officials as a result of the deaths.
The epicenter of the protests has been in the Aymara region of Puno, on the border with Bolivia, where thousands of residents walked the streets of Juliaca with the coffins of 17 civilians who were killed earlier this week.
Each coffin bore a photograph and was draped in a Peruvian flag.
"Dina killed me with bullets," read the white coffin of Edgar Huaranca, carried on the shoulders of six family members.
The government has imposed a three-day curfew on the Andean region in a bid to calm the tensions.
On Wednesday, a road blockade extended to eight of the country's 25 regions, officials said.
In Cusco, demonstrators tried to reach the city's airport after mobilizing to demand the president's ouster.
The ombudsman's office said one protester had been killed, identifying him on Twitter as the president of the community of Anansaya Urinsaya Ccollana de Anta, Remo Candia Guevara.
"We demand an immediate investigation to find those responsible for the death and proceed to the respective sanction," it added.
Among the more than 20 wounded in Cusco were six police officers, the health ministry reported.
In Arequipa, Peru's second city, hundreds also marched against the government, while in Tacna, on the border with Chile, an indefinite strike began, marked by episodes of vandalism.
Human rights probe launched
The regional governments of Puno and Cusco are demanding Boluarte step down as a first step to resolving the crisis.
Puno began an indefinite strike a week ago to demand the resignation of Boluarte, immediate presidential and legislative elections and the convening of a Constituent Assembly.
The IACHR commissioners were received by Boluarte at the Government Palace, the seat of the Peruvian executive.
"We are going to verify the human rights situation. We regret the loss of human life during the demonstrations," said head of mission Edgar Stuardo Ralon, whose delegation will remain in Peru until January 13.
They will meet with authorities, victims and their relatives in Lima, Ica and Arequipa.
The United States on Wednesday urged restraint and the minimal use of force, and backed an investigation into the dozens of deaths.
"We recognize the right for peaceful protest and expressing grievances through democratic channels, and call for calm, dialogue and for all parties to exercise restraint and non-violence," a State Department spokesperson said.
© 2023 AFP
Issued on: 12/01/2023 -
In total, at least 40 people have died in more than a month of demonstrations demanding the resignation of President Dina Boluarte © Juan Carlos CISNEROS / AFP
Juliaca (Peru) (AFP) – Demonstrators in Peru blocked roads and held mass funerals on Wednesday for those killed in violent anti-government protests that have gripped the country for weeks, as the United States called for "restraint" on both sides.
The deadly clashes have spread to the tourist city of Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, where one protester was killed and more than 20 people, including six police officers, were wounded.
In total, at least 40 people have died in more than a month of demonstrations demanding the resignation of President Dina Boluarte, who took over after the ouster and arrest of her predecessor Pedro Castillo on December 7.
The violence has drawn a rebuke from the United Nations, and a delegation from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) arrived in the country Wednesday to investigate the protests and accusations of political repression.
On Tuesday, Peru's prosecutor's office said it was opening a genocide investigation against Boluarte and other top officials as a result of the deaths.
The epicenter of the protests has been in the Aymara region of Puno, on the border with Bolivia, where thousands of residents walked the streets of Juliaca with the coffins of 17 civilians who were killed earlier this week.
Each coffin bore a photograph and was draped in a Peruvian flag.
"Dina killed me with bullets," read the white coffin of Edgar Huaranca, carried on the shoulders of six family members.
The government has imposed a three-day curfew on the Andean region in a bid to calm the tensions.
On Wednesday, a road blockade extended to eight of the country's 25 regions, officials said.
In Cusco, demonstrators tried to reach the city's airport after mobilizing to demand the president's ouster.
The ombudsman's office said one protester had been killed, identifying him on Twitter as the president of the community of Anansaya Urinsaya Ccollana de Anta, Remo Candia Guevara.
"We demand an immediate investigation to find those responsible for the death and proceed to the respective sanction," it added.
Among the more than 20 wounded in Cusco were six police officers, the health ministry reported.
In Arequipa, Peru's second city, hundreds also marched against the government, while in Tacna, on the border with Chile, an indefinite strike began, marked by episodes of vandalism.
Human rights probe launched
The regional governments of Puno and Cusco are demanding Boluarte step down as a first step to resolving the crisis.
Puno began an indefinite strike a week ago to demand the resignation of Boluarte, immediate presidential and legislative elections and the convening of a Constituent Assembly.
The IACHR commissioners were received by Boluarte at the Government Palace, the seat of the Peruvian executive.
"We are going to verify the human rights situation. We regret the loss of human life during the demonstrations," said head of mission Edgar Stuardo Ralon, whose delegation will remain in Peru until January 13.
They will meet with authorities, victims and their relatives in Lima, Ica and Arequipa.
The United States on Wednesday urged restraint and the minimal use of force, and backed an investigation into the dozens of deaths.
"We recognize the right for peaceful protest and expressing grievances through democratic channels, and call for calm, dialogue and for all parties to exercise restraint and non-violence," a State Department spokesperson said.
© 2023 AFP
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