Skirmishes, tear gas in new Lima protest march
Lima, Jan 23 (EFE).- Anti-government protests continued Monday in Lima, where hundreds of people marched through the historic center of the Peruvian capital to demand the resignation of President Dina Boluarte.
The march brought together protesters who arrived last week from various regions of the country, as well as members of social and political organizations and unions who were closely followed by a large police contingent.
Participants reiterated their demand for Boluarte’s resignation and the closure of Congress, while carrying Peruvian and colored flags representing indigenous movements in the south of the country.
At the beginning of the march there was a skirmish, in which a group of protesters threw stones and police responded with tear gas, when demonstrators were prevented from entering Paseo Colón from Alfonso Ugarte Avenue.
However, calm soon returned and the demonstrators later advanced towards Plaza San Martín, the traditional meeting point and concentration of demonstrations in Lima.
The group tried to continue towards the University Park but this was prevented by the police, so they returned to the Paseo de los Héroes Navales, where incidents were again recorded, including the firing of tear gas.
The march forced the closure of restaurants and shops in that area of the historic center of Lima, which last Thursday was the scene of a massive demonstration called to bring the anti-government protests that began in December in the Andean country to the Peruvian capital.
In addition to Boluarte’s resignation and the closure of Congress, the protesters demand general elections be brought forward to this year, as well as a constituent assembly.
The protests continued Monday across Peru with road blockades, marches and clashes, while in some areas shortages of goods began to be reported due to roadblocks that have lasted for more than two weeks.
The Superintendence of Land Transport of People, Cargo and Goods (Sutran) reported that a dozen regions in Peru are experiencing interrupted highways in at least 74 places.
Since they started in December, protests and related incidents such as blockades have claimed the lives of more than 60 people, 46 of them in clashes with security forces.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, on Monday reminded the government of Peru of the need for human rights to guide the actions of the National Police, particularly when there is use of force. He called for both sides to refrain from resorting to violence. EFE
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