Extreme violence against civilians protesting the parliamentary coup and arrest of democratically elected Pedro Castillo, continues to rage across Peru. Despite the repression, the protests continue to grow and have spread to all major cities across the country, calling for snap elections and a new constitution.
In the city of Ayacucho, where a massacre was reportedly perpetrated by security forces against protesters with nine people shot to death, outraged and grieving residents came out on the streets to condemn the killings.
The de facto government, led by unelected Dina Boluarte who has been recognized by the U.S. and EU, announced a curfew last week and ordered a violent crackdown by security forces on protesters.
So far, at least 25 people have lost their lives, and more than 300 have been injured, according to the country’s health minister. Twelve of the protesters were between 15 and 18 years old.
Despite the rising death-toll, protests in Peru against the right-wing coup that is keeping democratically elected left-wing President Pedro Castillo imprisoned continue to rage. Here are some pictures from the last few days.
1. Peru ’s Ousted Leftist President to Remain Jailed for 18 Months
Peru’s former president Pedro Castillo will remain in pretrial detention for 18 months, the country’s Supreme Court ordered on Thursday. Leftist Castillo was impeached and removed from office last week after attempting to dissolve congress, claiming opposition forces misused corruption investigations in order to remove him from power. He has been accused of rebellion and conspiracy, which he denies.
Most of the coverage in western media has been focused on the evacuation of the stranded tourists who were visiting Peru’s Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. Scores had been trapped in and around the Inca ruin after protesters had used rocks to block trains that run to Cusco since Tuesday.
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