Peruvian President Dina Boluarte on Tuesday called for a “national truce” as another large demonstration in Lima demanded her departure and the dissolution of parliament.
Several thousand poor protesters from the provinces, many dressed in typical costumes, marched through the center of the capital with Peruvian flags and shouts of “Dina assassina”, in reference to the 46 demonstrators killed since the start of the protest.
Important clashes took place in the early afternoon between protesters who threw stones and large numbers of police who charged with tear gas. One protester brandished a large doll holding a bloody knife, emblazoned with a photo of the interim president, who rose to power following the ouster of former President Pedro Castillo in early December.
Boluarte refuses to resign
Before this great meeting, Boluarte had once again tried to calm tensions, calling on his “beloved homeland for a national truce” to “restore dialogue”, “set an agenda for each region” and “develop” the country.
“I will never tire of calling for dialogue, peace and unity,” he added during an intervention before the foreign press, repeating almost word for word a phrase already pronounced on January 20.
“I have no intention of staying in power,” he promised, assuring that he wants to respect the Constitution and resign in the elections, which are brought forward to 2024.
“Would my resignation resolve the crisis and the violence? Who would assume the presidency of the Republic?” he questioned. Visibly moved, Boluarte also asked for a “pardon for the dead,” promising investigations by the prosecution to determine the perpetrators. An intervention without effect on the protesters.
Army reservists demonstrate
“We listened to Mrs. Boluarte. Her vision is lamentable. The Peruvian people, all of us, are not going to have a truce. We have nothing to discuss with Mrs. Boluarte. She knows it very well: the only thing the people want is resign and have new elections,” said Carlos Avedano, 35.
“We no longer believe his words,” Rosa Soncco, 37, abounds. “There are 50 dead. How many mothers cry?” “We don’t believe her because she said that if Castillo resigned she would leave. We demand: one, that he resign; two, change Congress; then new elections. We want a transitional government,” she asserts.
Dozens of army reservists dressed in khaki pants, caps or T-shirts paraded in the procession. “The damned (leaders) have trampled us for decades, but now the people have risen up,” said Crispin Quispe, a reservist from the Puno region. “We struggle, hungry, cold. Without getting paid, and now we get trampled. We are ready for all the fights,” he swears.
Source: BFM TV
