PERU IMPOSES CURFEW IN LIMA AS VIOLENT INFLATION PROTESTS SPREAD

Peru’s president declared a curfew in the capital Lima on Tuesday to stem violent protests against inflation that have intensified in recent days, leading to clashes with police, temporary food shortages and supply-chain disruptions.

President Pedro Castillo announced the measure in an address to the nation Monday night, while declaring a state of emergency in Lima and the nearby port city of Callao. The curfew will run from 2 a.m. local time to 11:59 p.m.

He also called a meeting with the head of Congress, Maria del Carmen Alva, and party leaders to discuss the situation, according to a statement from the presidential office.

Castillo survived a second impeachment attempt by Congress on March 29 only to find another crisis brewing on the streets. Farmers and truckers staged protests against the rising cost of fuel and fertilizers last week, temporarily interrupting the supply of food to the capital. Over the weekend the president lowered fuel taxes and increased the minimum wage by 10% to help Peruvians struggling with the fastest inflation in 24 years. Yet the measures did little to appease bus drivers, most of them working informal jobs without fixed salaries, and who began a strike Monday.