At least 17 people were killed and 35 injured on Monday in the latest political crisis in Peru after protesters clashed with security forces at an airport after they tried to break in. as dead, officials said. Protesters are demanding the resignation of President Dina Boluarte, who took office after the ouster and arrest of former President Pedro Catillo on December 7. The recent violent incident took place in the Puno region, southeast of Juliaca.
The president’s chief of staff, Alberto Otarola, said that thousands of protesters approached the airport on Monday trying to storm the facilities with improvised weapons and gunpowder, reported AFP.
With tension in the country rising, the mayor of Juliaca, Óscar Cáceres, called for peace, saying: “What is happening is that Peruvians are killing each other. I ask for calm.”
So far, the clashes unleashed by Castillo’s departure have left 39 dead throughout the country.
Clock | Peru police use tear gas to disperse protesters
Protesters are angered by Castillo’s removal and are demanding immediate elections, which have already been moved up from 2026 to April 2024.
A protester told AFP on condition of anonymity that the police are shooting at them. He continued: “We ask Dina to step down. She accepts the fact that people don’t like you.”
This is not the first attempt by the protesters, over the weekend they tried to invade the Juliaca airport, which is now protected by the military along with the police.
These protests took a break over the New Year holidays, but resumed on Saturday.
Starting Monday, protesters blocked roads in six of the country’s 25 departments, including some popular tourist areas.
(With agency contributions)
