The Superintendence of Land Transportation, Cargo and Goods of Peru has reported that there are 121 points where the circulation of vehicles is interrupted due to the blockades until 18.00 hours on Saturday and despite the extension of the declaration of the state of emergency to several more provinces.
In total there are 19 roads affected by the demonstrations in eleven regions, although with special impact in the south of the country, mainly Puno and Cusco, where the disturbances between demonstrators and security forces are concentrated. On Friday, 87 blockades were reported in 10 regions and 17 roads affected, which represents a significant increase, according to RPP radio station.
This Saturday, the Peruvian government decreed the extension of the state of emergency in the departments of Cusco, Lima and Puno, the province of Callao and other regions in view of the increase of protests throughout the country against the government of President Dina Boluarte.
The measure was already published in the evening in an extraordinary edition of the official State bulletin, ‘El Peruano’, and will come into effect as of today, January 15, and will last for the next 30 days.
In addition to the aforementioned regions, the state of emergency has also been declared in the province of Andahuaylas in the department of Apurimac, in the provinces of Tambopata and Tahuamanu in the department of Madre de Dios, and in the district of Torata, province of Mariscal Nieto in the department of Moquegua.
Also, the measure has included five national highways, Panamericana Sur, Panamericana Norte, Central, Corredor Vial Sur Apurímac-Cuzco-Arequipa and Corredor Vial Interoceánico Sur.
On the other hand, the regulation has also extended for a ten-day term the curfew in the department of Puno, from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. (local time).
Regarding the operations of the National Police and the Armed Forces, the Government has indicated that this participation is regulated by Legislative Decrees 1186 and 1095, which refer to the use of force by the authorities.
ATTACKS ON OIL PIPELINES For its part, the state oil company, Petroperú, has warned of attacks on oil pipelines for which it blames groups of demonstrators.
Specifically, this Saturday a group of demonstrators approached the valve at kilometer 371 of the Norperuano oil pipeline, in the province of Condorcanqui, Amazonas region, with the intention of tampering with it.
Another group of protesters «has been attacking the infrastructure of the Norperuvian oil pipeline» at kilometer 440, Inayo locality, Imaza district, Bagua province. They also set fire in the surrounding areas, a situation that could generate an explosion or hydrocarbon spill with serious consequences for the nearby communities.
«In view of the unfortunate events described, Petroperu makes an urgent call to cease these acts of vandalism that are only putting the community and the protesters themselves in grave danger,» the company has indicated.
In this context, the Peruvian Prime Minister, Alberto Otárola; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ana Cecilia Gervasi, have met this Saturday with the diplomatic corps accredited in Peru and with representatives of international organizations to whom they have given guarantees for foreign investment and have informed of the measures adopted to «boost the economic reactivation of Peru».
«Democracy in Peru is guaranteed and the strength of its institutions as well, which allows us to ensure that the country has good conditions of stability for investments and work together with various institutions of global presence,» Otárola stressed in statements reported by the Peruvian news agency Andina.
MORE THAN 300 DETAINED AND 40 DEAD This Saturday violent clashes continued between demonstrators and security forces with new wounded among them a 21 year old student identified as Rosalino Flores Valverde who is in critical condition after being hit by more than 30 projectiles in Cusco.
Peru’s Public Prosecutor’s Office reported on Friday that 329 citizens have been arrested in the framework of the anti-government demonstrations that began in December 2022, following the dismissal of then President Pedro Castillo.
The Peruvian Public Prosecutor’s Office has indicated that those arrested — including a minor — are being investigated for allegedly having committed «crimes against public administration, riots, violence, resistance to authority and hindering the functioning of public services.»
On the other hand, he indicated that, between the months of December and January, the Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened eight investigations for the deaths that have been registered in the framework of the protests, with the objective of determining the responsibility of the same.
Likewise, the Ministry confirmed that, for the moment, the death toll is 42 dead – 41 civilians and one police officer – and 531 injured – 355 civilians and 176 police officers.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
