Protests in Peru Leave 50 Injured, Cause “Nationwide Chaos”

LIMA (Reuters). Several Peruvians were hurt in tensions that flared on Friday night when police clashed with protesters at anti-government demonstrations spreading throughout the country.

Local TV footage shows that tear gas was used by police in Lima to disperse demonstrators who were throwing stones and glass bottles at them, while street fires erupted.

According to Vicente Romero, the Interior Minister of the country, approximately 1,500 protestors attacked the Ilave police station in the southern Puno region.

Romero also stated that the fire started at a Puno police station in Zepita.

Eight patients were admitted to Ilave’s hospital with injuries. They included broken arms and legs and eye contusions.

According to the report of Peru’s Ombudsman, 58 people were injured in protests by late afternoon.

This unrest came after a day of chaos in Lima, when one Lima’s historic buildings was set on fire. President Dina Boluarte promised to be tougher. “vandals.”

Officials described the destruction of the building in Lima as the loss of an almost century-old home. “monumental asset.” Authorities are looking into the cause.

Romero claimed the blaze on Friday “duly planned and arranged.”

This week, thousands of protesters poured into Lima calling for change. They were angered at the rising death toll from the protests. Officially, it stood at 45.

Peru has seen protests ever since President Pedro Castillo was thrown out of office in December. He tried to dissolve the legislature to avoid an impeachment election.

This week, the unrest was concentrated in Peru’s southern region.

Glencore’s Antapaccay copper mining operation in Cusco was closed on Friday due to protestors attacking the facility, one of the country’s largest. It is now open for business again.

Protestors also attacked airports in Arequipa and Cusco as well as the southern city Juliaca, causing an additional blow to Peru’s tourism industry.

“It’s nationwide chaos, you can’t live like this. We are in a terrible uncertainty – the economy, vandalism,” said Lima resident Leonardo Rojas.

The government extended a state emergency to six areas, which has limited some civil rights.

Boluarte however has refused to resign or hold snap elections. She instead called for dialogue, and promised to punish anyone involved in the unrest.

“All the rigor of the law will fall on those people who have acted with vandalism,” Boluarte stated this on Thursday.

Boluarte was accused by some locals of failing to take action to quell protests that began Dec. 7, in response to Castillo’s ouster and arrest.

Human rights groups accuse the army and police of using deadly firearms. Protesters are accused of using weapons and homemade explosives by the police.

(Reporting by Marco Aquino. Writing by Isabel Woodford. Editing by Bill Berkrot. Leslie Adler. William Mallard.

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