Peru protests: Armed forces to take control of key infrastructure

Peru’s Defence Minister Alberto Otarola says the country’s armed forces will take control of the “protection” of key infrastructure as protests continue across the country.

Otarola says the government will also declare the country’s highway system under a state of emergency in order to guarantee free transit.

Protests, which erupted across the country following the ousting of former president Pedro Castillo, have led to the death of at least six people.

Castillo is being investigated over charges of rebellion and conspiracy. He lashed out over his detention on Tuesday, calling on soldiers and police to lay down their arms during a court appearance from a Lima prison.

“I’ve been unjustly and arbitrarily detained,” Castillo said, in remarks broadcast online by the court. He repeated that he was innocent of the charges he faced.

Peru’s Supreme Court later on Tuesday ruled a legal appeal from Castillo was baseless.

Peru’s new president, Dina Boluarte, had earlier pledged to work with Congress to see if the next election could be held sooner than previously proposed and pleaded for calm.

The former vice president was sworn in last Wednesday after Castillo illegally sought to dissolve Congress hours before being swiftly removed from office by lawmakers, and arrested shortly afterwards.

The move has led to angry and sometimes violent protests by Castillo’s supporters demanding a fresh presidential election, which have been met by police dispersing tear gas and gunfire in an effort to quell the unrest.

Also Read: Two dead, four injured in Peru protests 

Boluarte has already pledged to seek a way to hold the election slated for 2026 in April 2024.

“I’m arranging a meeting with the constitution committee (of the Congress) so that together we can shorten the timeframe,” she said, adding that she could not change the election timing without congressional support.

Meanwhile, a diplomatic spat played out between Peru’s new president and several leftist governments in the region, who came to Castillo’s defence in a joint statement on Monday.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said relations with Peru were now on hold.

Boluarte says she plans to talk with the leaders while also defending the arrest of her predecessor.

Reuters/Zainab Sa’id