State of emergency imposed amid deadly street clashes in Peru

PERU’S capital, Lima, and the tourist hotspot of Cusco were placed under a state of emergency yesterday, as the authorities responded to deadly antigovernment protests.

The state of emergency, in force for 30 days, authorises the army to intervene to maintain order and suspends several constitutional rights such as freedom of movement and assembly, according to a decree published in the official gazette.

It covers Lima and the regions of Cusco and Puno, as well as the port of Callao, adjacent to the capital.

Supporters of the ousted president, Pedro Castillo, have taken to the streets and blocked roads across Peru since December, demanding fresh elections and the removal of Dina Boluarte, who has refused to step down.

At least 42 people have been killed in the clashes

Protests have been announced for today in Lima as well as the marginalised southern Andean regions, which have been the centre of the unrest. Protesters from the south plan to travel to Lima for a “takeover of the city”.

“We have taken the decision to go to Lima,” said Julio Vilca, a protest leader from the province of Ilave in the Puno region. “We cannot indicate the time, because we want to travel in unity.”

More than 100 protest roadblocks were in place across Peru on Saturday.

The airport in Cusco, the gateway to the historic Machu Picchu site, reopened on Saturday after being shuttered on Thursday, the second time it had been closed due to the protests.

Trains to Machu Picchu were still suspended and local unions say tourism workers are losing out on up to seven million sols (£1.5million) a day due to the crisis.

The mass anti-government demonstrations first broke out in early December after Mr Castillo was ousted from office for attempting to dissolve congress and rule by decree, in order to prevent an impeachment vote against him.