As violent protests erupted in Peru’s capital, thousands of demonstrators clashed with police.
Demonstrators took control of key streets in downtown Lima, and began running battles against officers.
Some protestors were seen throwing rocks and water bottles at police officers, while others wave flags and chant: “The blood spilled will never be forgotten.”
After Pedro Castillo’s impeachment, and subsequent imprisonment of him, Peru’s first leader of rural Andean descent, demonstrations erupted in large parts of the country.
Dina Boluarte, the country’s former vice-president, was elected as its leader. However, protestors have been calling for early elections and the release of Mr Castillo.
The protests have been making waves for several weeks. However, they are primarily concentrated in the south region of the country with 55 deaths and 700 injuries.
They’ve now started to spill into the capital with objectors trying make Lima the center of the action.
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Many of the protesters in Lima came from remote Andean areas. One person claimed that he traveled for 20 hours from southern Puno, the region where the worst state violence has occurred for the past month.
Jose Luis Ayma Cuentas (29), stated that they would stay until she resigns.
During the march, anger at police was constant. Demonstrators shouted “murderers” while passing rows of officers in helmets and shields.
On the same day, protests and clashes between police and citizens also occurred in other parts.
Officers clashed with protesters trying to storm the airport in Arequipa, Peru’s 2nd city.
Glencore, a multinational company based in Peru, decided to temporarily close its Antapaccay copper mining site after protestors attacked it.
Vicente Romero, the interior minister, praised the police’s actions during protests and said that they were “very professional”.
“You want to create chaos”
Following a defiant speech from Ms Boluarte Thursday night in which she accused protesters fomenting violence, the demonstrations were held. She also promised to bring them to justice.
She said, “You want the rule of law to be broken. You want chaos so that you can take power within that chaos and chaos.”
Ms. Boluarte stated that she supports the plan to hold new elections in 2024. This is two years earlier than planned, but protesters say it is too slow.
Protesters also demand Ms. Boularte’s resignation and the closing of Congress.
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