Peru declares state of emergency after violent protests

Peru declares state of emergency and grants military extra powers after violent protests over the ousting of President Castillo left seven dead

• Announcement came as a judge ordered Castillo to remain in prison on charges of rebellion and conspiracy for another 48 hours
• Castillo’s arrest last week after he tried to dissolve congress and rule by decree sparked days of nationwide protests 
• Defense Minister Alberto Otarola announced the state of emergency due to ‘acts of vandalism and violence’

Peru’s new government declared a 30-day national emergency on Wednesday amid violent protests following the ousting of former President Pedro Castillo that have left seven dead.

The announcement came as a judge ordered Castillo to remain in prison on charges of rebellion and conspiracy for another 48 hours ahead of a release hearing.

Castillo’s arrest last week after he tried to dissolve congress and rule by decree sparked days of nationwide protests.

Defense Minister Alberto Otarola announced the state of emergency due to ‘acts of vandalism and violence’ and road blocks. 

Pictured: Police officers stand as supporters of ousted Peruvian leader Pedro Castillo gather outside the police prison where he is detained in Lima on December 14, 2022

Pictured: Supporters of ousted Peruvian President Pedro Castillo protest his detention in Arequipa, Peru on December 14, 2022

The declaration includes the suspension of the rights of ‘personal security and freedom,’ including the rights of assembly and freedom of movement.

Authorities will also be able to search people’s homes without permission or judicial order. 

Otarola said the government has not determined whether a curfew will be imposed.

‘The National Police with the support of the Armed Forces will ensure the control throughout the national territory of personal property and, above all, strategic infrastructure and the safety and well-being of all Peruvians,’ Defense Minister Luis Otarola Peñaranda announced.

The defense minister described the declaration as ‘an accord of the council of ministers.’ His announcement did not mention the new President Dina Boluarte.

Pictured: Hundreds of protesters clash with police in downtown Lima, Peru on 12 December 2022

Pictured: Soldiers stand guard along the sidewalk as protesters take part in a march demanding the dissolution of the Congress and to hold democratic elections rather than recognising Dina Boluarte as Peru’s President

‘It has been agreed to declare a state of emergency for the entire country. This is due to acts of vandalism, violence, the seizure of highways and roads, which are certainly already being stabilised and controlled by the National Police and the Armed Forces and which require a forceful and authoritative response from the government,’ he said.

Protesters have blocked streets in Peru’s capital, Lima, and many rural communities, demanding Castillo’s freedom, Boluarte’s resignation and the immediate scheduling of general elections to pick a new president and replace all members of Congress.

‘Peru cannot overflow with blood,’ Boluarte said, pleading for calm, as she floated the possibility of sheduling general elections for December 2023 to reporters.

Boluarte added: ‘We have already lived through this experience in the 80s and 90s, and I believe that we do not want to return to that painful history.’

Pictured: Protesters vandalise the entrance of CTC TV Channel of Cuzco during a protest demanding the dissolution of the Congress and to hold democratic elections rather than recognising Dina Boluarte as Peru’s President in Cuzco, Peru on December 13, 2022

Pictured: Supporters of Peruvian former President Pedro Castillo hold a demonstration demanding his release outside the police dependence DIROES in Ate, east of Lima, where Castillo is being held, on December 14, 2022.

Castillo, a leftist elected in 2021, was ousted by lawmakers on December 7 when he sought to dissolve Congress ahead of their third attempt to impeach him. 

His vehicle was intercepted as he traveled through Lima’s streets with his security detail. Prosecutors accused him of trying to seek political asylum at Mexico’s embassy.

Since his arrest Castillo has been detained at the DIROES police facility in Lima. 

He called on supporters to come to the jail, saying he should be released after the initial seven-day period of pretrial detention expires. 

Castillo has denied charges of rebellion and conspiracy.

Castillo also called for the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to intercede on his behalf, as dozens gathered at the prison demanding he be freed.

Pictured: Protesters take part in a march demanding the dissolution of the Congress and to hold democratic elections rather than recognising Dina Boluarte as Peru’s President

Pictured: Protestors take over the Pan-American highway in the Northern Cone of Arequipa following the announcement by Peruvian new President Dina Boluarte of her intention of presenting a bill to parliament to advance the scheduled general elections from April 2026 to April 2024 in Arequipa, Peru, on December 12, 2022

However, sources from the prosecutor’s office and analysts said Castillo cannot be released while the Supreme Court resolves the prosecutors’ request.

Castillo has gained some support from fellow regional leftist leaders, including Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who criticised his removal as undemocratic.

Last week, a judge ordered Castillo to be held for seven days, and he was meant to be released on Wednesday.

However, prosecutors filed a request late on Tuesday to hold him in pre-trial detention for 18 months.

Pictured: Members of the security forces stand guard as a protester shouts outside the airport after it was closed due to protests in Cuzco demanding the dissolution of the Congress and to hold democratic elections rather than recognising Dina Boluarte as Peru’s President, after the ouster of Peruvian leader Pedro Castillo, during a demonstration in Cuzco, Peru on December 13, 2022

Pictured: Members of indigenous communities and farmers take part in a march in Cuzco during a protest demanding the dissolution of the Congress and to hold democratic elections rather than recognising Dina Boluarte as Peru’s President, after the ouster of Peruvian leader Pedro Castillo, in Cuzco, Peru on December 14, 2022

Judge Juan Checkley on Wednesday postponed a hearing on the new request until Thursday after defense attorneys argued they had not received all documents from the public prosecutor.

He also ordered Castillo to remain in detention for another two days.

Castillo, a former school teacher, was in power for only 17 months in the South American nation that is prone to political instability and is now on its sixth president in six years.

His short period in office was marked by a power struggle with the opposition-dominated Congress, and six investigations into him and his family, mainly for corruption.

Castillo appeared in court on Tuesday by video link as he appealed his initial seven-day detention.

He called his arrest unjust and arbitrary and said he would ‘never give up and abandon this popular cause that brought me here’. 

He also called on security forces ‘to lay down their arms and stop killing these people thirsty for justice’. 

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