Protesters seize an airport in Peru and demand the departure of President Boluarte

A group of protesters took over the facilities of the International Airport in the Peruvian department of Arequipa (south) to demand the departure of President Dina Boluarte, local radio station ‘RPP’ reported. Another group blocked the Pan-American highway, at the height of the Peruvian department of La Libertad (north).

“Protesters demanding the resignation of Dina Boluarte, new general elections in 2023 and the release of [former president] Pedro Castillo (2021-2022), entered the Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón International Airport, in the department of Arequipa,” the outlet published in its website.

There are about 2,000 people who have entered the terminal, clashing with the police and destroying some facilities.

So far, four civilians have been injured, presumably hit by pellets fired by law enforcement.

For its part, the company Aeropuertos Andinos del Perú, the concessionaire of the air terminal, announced through a statement that it had “proceeded to evacuate all the people who are” in the air terminal and ordered “the closure of the airport.” All flights scheduled for this December 12 have been cancelled.

Meanwhile, a group of protesters blocked the Pan-American highway, near the Peruvian department of La Libertad (north), demanding an advance of general elections that would allow the departure of the current president.

“Agro-industrial workers and residents block this Monday, December 12, the Panamericana Norte highway, in the province of Virú, in the department of La Libertad. There are seven points that are taken by the protesters,” the outlet said through its website.

On December 7, Dina Boluarte was sworn in as Peru’s president and introduced her new cabinet. In her speech, she called for a “political truce” and expressed her support for the establishment of a “national unity government” to guarantee the stability of the political system. Among her priorities, she highlighted the fight against corruption.

Before being removed from office on December 7, Pedro Castillo tried to dissolve his country’s Congress, but could not because the legislative branch anticipated and removed him from the Presidency.

With information from Sputnik