Night-time clashes between Peruvian protesters and the police forces, surrounded by tear gas. Photo: Peru21.
The number of deaths during nationwide demonstrations in Peru increased to 25 as of Monday, December 19. The demonstrators are demanding new general elections and a new Constitution, the Ministry of Health reported.
According to the Ministry of Health’s most recent announcement, nine of the 25 deaths occurred in the department of Ayacucho, six in ApurĂmac, three in Cusco, three in JunĂn, three in La Libertad, and one in Arequipa.
đź”´ ACTUALIZACIĂ“N 18/12 – 12:00hrs | #Minsa informa que durante las manifestaciones pĂşblicas a nivel nacional se registran ⬇️
Altas mĂ©dicas (287): ApurĂmac (56), Ayacucho (45), Lima (37), La Libertad (36), Arequipa (35), JunĂn (35), Cusco (16), Puno (15) y Huancavelica (12).
— Ministerio de Salud (@Minsa_Peru) December 18, 2022
The ministry also announced a total of 287 medical discharges: 56 in ApurĂmac, 45 in Ayacucho, 37 in Lima, 36 in La Libertad, 35 in Arequipa, 35 in JunĂn, 16 in Cusco, 15 in Puno and 12 in Huancavelica.
So far, 69 people have been hospitalized: 20 in Ayacucho, 17 in JunĂn, 12 in La Libertad, six in Ucayali, five in ApurĂmac, four in Lima, four in Arequipa and one in Huancavelica.
Golpe in Peru: Castillo Under Arrest, People Demand a Constituent Assembly
Since December 7, Peru has been experiencing a period of social uprising following the ousting of Pedro Castillo, who is now in pretrial detention for the alleged crime of rebellion.
The current de facto president, Dina Boluarte, declared a state of national emergency for 30 days and demanded that Congress bring forward the general elections to December 2023.
Deaths will be investigated by military justice system
This Monday, December 19, the Public Prosecutors Office and the military justice system will begin investigations into the deaths of civilians during the protests, as reported by Boluarte in an interview with local media.
On Tuesday, December 20, the president of the Council of Ministers, Pedro Angulo, will be officially replaced along with the heads of the education and culture departments, all of whom resigned on December 16.
The de facto president downplayed the significance of the large popular demonstrations, describing them as “small groups.”
Meanwhile, the Mexican ministry of foreign affairs revealed the granting of political asylum to the Castillo family.
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
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