Peru declares state of emergency in seven regions 

The Peruvian government has imposed a 60-day state of emergency in seven regions of the country following protests against the resignation of President Dina Boluarte that have left more than 60 people dead.

The departments where the measure is imposed are the Amazonian Madre de Dios, Cusco, Puno, Apurímac, Arequipa, Moquegua, and Tacna, all in the southeast of the country.

The state of emergency, which is also in effect until mid-February in the region of Lima, where the capital is located, and El Callao, where the country’s main seaports and airports are located, gives the police and armed forces “control of internal order.”

The decree also declares “mandatory social immobilization” of people from 20:00 to 04:00 local time for ten days in the department of Puno, except for those who do so to carry out productive or work activities or who need urgent medical assistance.

In this highland region, the epicenter of the anti-government demonstrations, the decree provides that the Joint Command of the Armed Forces will assume the unified command of soldiers and police.

Mobilizations and roadblocks of anti-government protests in Peru continued this Sunday (5) in 22 provinces, representing 11.2% of the national territory, according to data from the Ombudsman’s Office, which has so far recorded no clashes between protesters and law enforcement forces.

According to the Ombudsman’s latest report, social mobilizations continue to be concentrated in the country’s south, in regions such as Cuzco, Puno, Arequipa, Ayacucho, and Madre de Dios.

Roadblocks continue fiercely in the country’s south, disrupting traffic in 72 locations in five regions.

The protests in Peru began last December after Dina Boluarte assumed the presidency by way of constitutional succession following the ouster of Pedro Castillo for attempting to eliminate the legislature, interfere with the judiciary, and rule by decree.

Protesters are demanding Boluarte’s resignation, the closure of Congress, early elections for 2023, and the convening of a constituent assembly.