The Peruvian government has ordered the intervention of the police and the army to clear, in the next few hours, the dozens of roadblocks installed throughout the country by protesters demanding the resignation of President Dina Boluarte.
Authorities identified 88 highway barricades on Thursday in eight of Peru’s 25 regions. These roadblocks cause shortages of basic products and fuel, raise prices and, according to the government, complicate access to care and the arrival of medicines in various areas of the country.
At least 46 dead since December
The closure of the central highway that connects the Cordillera de los Andes and which is the main route for importing food products to Lima stands out. Hundreds of trucks are blocked.
The government has accused the dams of being the direct cause of ten deaths, including those of three children who it says were unable to receive the critical care they needed in time.
“On this date, ten innocent Peruvians have lost their lives because of this illegal act,” the two ministries denounced in their press release.
The right to demonstrate “does not include blocking the way, much less can it prevail over the right to life of people who need to be transported to receive treatment (…) or who need oxygen or medicines to reach their regions so that can continue to live,” they added.
Peru is going through a serious political crisis since the dismissal and arrest on December 7 of the socialist president Pedro Castillo, accused of attempted coup for having wanted to dissolve the parliament that was preparing to overthrow him.
The clashes between the security forces and the Castillista protesters, who are demanding the resignation of Boluarte and immediate elections, have left at least 46 dead in six weeks.
Source: BFM TV
