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The Peruvian government extended the “state of emergency” in 44 districts of the central departments of Huancavelica and Junín, as well as in the southern departments of Ayacucho and Cusco, “given the continuity of ‘terrorist’ activities and the commission of other crimes.”
The official newspaper “El Peruano” posted an article that the state of emergency will be extended for a term of 60 days, from February 11 to April 11, 2023. The measure covers several districts of Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Junín, the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM) among others, where the armed forces will continue with their tasks to maintain peace and order.
The state of emergency is a measure that implies the suspension of constitutional rights related to the inviolability of the home, freedom of movement in the national territory, freedom of assembly, and personal freedom. Likewise, this allows the Peruvian armed forces to take responsibilities usually reserved to local law enforcement.
In the two months of demonstrations, in which the protesters demand the resignation of current acting President Dina Boluarte, the closure of Congress, the call for general elections and a Constituent Assembly, 60 people have died. A 22-year-old man died the day before yesterday from a gunshot wound in clashes after a protest in the province of Aymaraes, in the Apurímac region, located 776 kilometers south of Lima.
Boluarte came to office, in her capacity as vice president, after the decision of Congress to remove former president Pedro Castillo, who on December 7 tried to dissolve Congress and rule by decree. On repeated occasions, the Boluarte government has affirmed that in the mobilizations that have been taking place since December, there is “infiltration” by “terrorists.”
Foreign Minister Ana Cecilia Gervasi admitted, in an interview earlier this month with The New York Times, that the government does not have evidence that the demonstrations are promoted by criminal groups, although she insisted, they will find the evidence.
The permanent commission of Congress approved the final report presented by the attorney general, Patricia Benavides, in which she recommends accusing the ousted President Castillo for criminal organization and other crimes.
Meanwhile, President Boluarte acknowledged that her country has “a fragile democracy” that must be strengthened, for which she issued a general call to overcome the political and social crisis, and once again urged Congress to advance the general elections.
