LIMA: Peru’s new government has declared a countrywide state of emergency over violent protests against the arrest and ouster of former president Pedro Castillo that have left seven persons dead, media reported on Wednesday.
The former president’s supporters have held protests nationwide and demanded the release of Pedro Castillo and early polls in the country. Reports said that as many as 200 people were injured during the protest demonstrations.
Peru plunged into crisis last week when former president Castillo made attempt to dissolve the country’s Congress. However, the former president was impeached by lawmakers and also arrested on his way to seek refuge in the embassy of Mexico.
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Crisis and politics in Peru
The new President Dina Boluarte is making efforts to quell tensions in the country. She has now called for the next elections in Peru. Peru’s Defense Minister Alberto Otarola has announced the new 30 days state of emergency because of acts of vandalism and violence in the country. The minister said that police and the armed forces would have control of the entire territory.
Last week a judge ordered former president Castillo to be held in jail for 7 days, and he was meant to be released from prison on Wednesday but prosecutors filed a petition on Tuesday to hold the former president in pre-trial detention for eighteen months.
In Lima, dozens of protestors threw stones at the police and tried to reach Congress on Tuesday. Reports said that five people were killed in clashes between the security forces and protestors in the South American country.
