Since the violent political and social protests in Peru began last December, dozens of people have died in clashes with law enforcement and the conflict does not have when to end. The request of a large sector of the south of the country is for everyone to leave and this demand is used by bullies to generate chaos. Meanwhile, in Congress they continue without reaching a consensus, delaying a way out of the crisis. There, the slogan, at least for a majority, seems to be “we will stay until 2026”.
Yesterday at a press conference, the president Dina Boluarte had an answer for the Legislative Power and another for the violent ones. She urged Parliament to “look responsibly at what people demand.” “Repropose the early elections. From the Executive we have no interest in sustaining ourselves in power ”, she stressed in the framework of a press conference in which she announced the progress of her management.
Boluarte also made it very clear that, in his opinion, the ball for cutting the presidential and congressional mandate is in the hands of the Legislature, and reiterated that from the Executive “we will continue advancing and governing” to solve the unmet needs of the population.
Time was also given to send a message to the instigators of violence. “We are not going to get tired and violence is not going to stop us,” he said, and addressing the population, he emphasized that “the demonstrations are not peaceful” and the violent “come out with huaracas, with stones, which are also projectiles that cause harm.”
Regarding the excesses that would have been registered by the forces of order, Boluarte briefly commented that “if there were, we are very sorry,” adding that “there have been no illegal arrests from the State.”
Accompanied by the members of the ministerial cabinet, chaired by Alberto Otárola, the president also referred to the demonstrations that are still taking place in the regions of Cusco and Puno. In this context, she reported that she has met with the mayor of Machu Picchu who, she said, is “very concerned about the problems that the protests are generating.”
He noted, however, that this same communication could not be achieved with the Puno authorities, and he attributed it to the fact that they are “fearful and frightened by the pressure that this violent group could have against them.” For that reason, he pointed out, the Army has moved to the area; “To bring order because millions are being lost in that region.”
START OF CLASSES
Being almost in mid-February, Dina Boluarte also spoke about the start of classes and, along these lines, asked that this “not be frustrated” due to the responsibility of some “minor organizations that are seeking violence.” “They are even already saying that they are going to disrupt, through blockades and threats, the school year; that situation would be serious, ”she warned.
“I want to make a call to parents and to society in general. It is the responsibility of all Peruvians to guarantee a good start to the school year”, he continued.
At another time, he maintained that his government has been preparing to start classes on the right foot. “100,000 teachers have been hired to guarantee a good start to the school year, in addition to Google accounts for 5 million schoolchildren,” he said.
LEGAL ARRESTS
The Minister of the Interior, Vicente Romero, also participated in the press conference. He reported that since December 7 – the date on which Pedro Castillo’s coup took place – until yesterday, the Police have arrested 743 people who have been denounced for causing “damage to public and private property” during the protests. .
He explained that 203 people were arrested in December alone, and in February that number rose to 540. Among the detainees, it is recalled, is Rocío Leandro, alias ‘comrade Cusi’, president of the Ayacucho People’s Defense Front, an organization founded by the head of Sendero Luminoso, Abimael Guzmán.
The Executive also highlighted the support that the Ministry of Justice has been providing to the families of those who died in these demonstrations.
INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
For her part, Foreign Minister Ana Gervasi stressed that in this time the support of several of the main international allies has been ratified regarding the validity of democracy and the defense of human rights in Peru. “(…) In the last two months, the Foreign Ministry has held meetings with heads of state, foreign ministers, ambassadors, and representatives of international organizations,” she said.
