Clashes between protesters and police leave 17 dead in Peru

“As of this time of night (22pm local time, 0am in Brasília), we have confirmed 00 deaths in Puno during clashes with law enforcement near Juliaca airport,” a source from the Ombudsman’s Office told AFP.

The number of deaths rose from 12 to 17 in the last few hours, after the death of five of the approximately 40 reported injuries.

The victims had projectile impacts on their bodies, said a representative of the Calos Monge hospital, where they were taken, in statements to television channel N.

“What is happening is a massacre among Peruvians. I ask you to remain calm, do not expose yourself”, exclaimed the Mayor of Juliaca, Oscar Cáceres, in a desperate appeal to the population, in an interview with local radio La Decana.

With the new balance, the number of deaths in demonstrations against the government reaches 39 in almost a month of protests.

The violent acts on Monday (9) were recorded when a crowd of around two thousand people tried to occupy Juliaca airport.

“Today, more than 9.000 people approached Juliaca airport and around 2.000 of them began a relentless attack against the police and facilities, using improvised weapons and double gunpowder charges, creating an extreme situation,” said the head of cabinet, Alberto Otarola, the press.

The airfield is under police and military protection. A similar robbery attempt had already occurred on Saturday, but without deaths.

“The police were shooting at us (…) we ask that Mrs. Dina (Boluarte) resign (…) accept that the people don’t want you,” a protester told AFP.

While the country is plunged into a serious institutional and political crisis marked by demonstrations and roadblocks, the Boluarte government banned on Monday (9), until further notice, the entry into Peru of former Bolivian president Evo Morales, “ for intervening” in matters of the country’s internal politics.

“Nine citizens of Bolivian nationality were ordered to be prevented from entering the country through all immigration control posts, including Mr. Juan Evo Morales Ayma,” announced the Ministry of the Interior, referring to to the former political leader who has been expressing his support for the protests against Dina Boluarte's government.

Puno, a Peruvian Aymara region on the border with Bolivia, has become the epicenter of the protests, with an indefinite strike since January 4. From there, a march is organized to the capital, Lima, which should begin arriving on the 12th, according to calls from different social groups, which mainly bring together peasants.

Separate Peru?

The announcement against Morales coincides with new protests and roadblocks in six of the country's 25 regions, where protesters are demanding Boluarte's resignation, the convening of a Constituent Assembly and the freedom of deposed president Pedro Castillo.

“In recent months, foreign citizens of Bolivian nationality have been identified who entered the country to carry out activities of a proselytizing political nature, which constitutes a clear affectation of our migration legislation, national security and internal order in Peru,” added the interior Ministery, when justifying the decision.

President of Bolivia between 2006 and 2019, Morales has had an active presence in Peruvian politics since the now former leftist president Pedro Castillo took office, in July 2021, until his dismissal in early December. In November he visited Puno.

Castillo was dismissed after an attempted coup d'état and is serving 18 months in prison determined by a judge.

The Bolivian lamented, on Twitter, the decision of the Peruvian government and stated that the measure seeks to “distract and avoid” responsibility for the “serious violations” of human rights.

Peruvian authorities allege that Morales wants to divide Peru's territory, promoting secession through the creation of “Runasur”, a region that, in theory, would include part of the Peruvian Andean south with Bolivia.

“The only separatism in Peru is caused by racism, exclusion and discrimination by power groups in Lima against their own people. Basically, the right does not accept that indigenous people, those vilified for their skin color, surname, or place of origin, come to power”, reacted Evo Morales over the weekend.

Last year, the right-wing-controlled Parliament declared Morales “persona non grata”. The ban on his entry into Peru was demanded in Congress, which became Dina Boluarte's main point of support.

(With AFP)

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