Peru News and Links

Sedapal announces interruption of drinking water service in 22 districts of Lima on October 6 ( Gob.pe press release [Spanish] ) In 75% of affected districts, service will be recovered within the first 48 hours. Health centers, penitentiaries and fire stations will be supplied directly. In order to improve the supply of drinking water to the districts of Lima Sur, next Friday, October 6 , Sedapal (Servicio de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado de Lima) will interrupt service in 22 districts of Lima, due to the execution of two joints, incorporating a new 2-meter diameter pipe, that will increase supply through the ATARJEA Matrix Reinforcement Drives – Villa El Salvador. The entity has foreseen that the execution of the works, in charge of the Miraflores Consortium company, will last twelve hours, from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. Likewise, taking into account the start-up of the plant and the filling of the primary and secondary water networks, the reestablishment of the service will be carried ou

Fiestas Pátrias: Archbishop of Lima and his message at solemn mass: "There are deaths that await justice and reparation" ( La República [Spanish link] ) The highest authority of the Catholic Church in the country ruled on the deaths left by the latest marches against the government of Dina Boluarte. The Archbishop of Lima asked the authorities to deliver justice. (Photo: The Republic) During the Mass and Te Deum on July 28, the Archbishop Carlos Castillo emphasized the deaths that occurred during the demonstrations in the country. The ecclesiastical authority indicated that the families seek justice after months of fighting. “It seems that they did not realize that our people exist, suffer (...) Peru today has not yet seen the light. For this reason, from my mission it is up to me to do, with all due respect, to address the highest authorities of the country to face our mistakes. There are deaths that await justice and reparation," said the Archbishop of Lima. Finall

Peru Demonstration Alert (U.S. Embassy Lima, Peru -  Full Alert)   Location:  Peru (Countrywide) Event:  Potential Demonstrations in Peru Between July 27-30 (July 27, 2023)   Anti-government protestors may hold demonstrations in multiple locations across Peru, including Lima, Puno, Cusco, and Ica, over the Peruvian Independence Day weekend from July 27-30.  On July 14, the Government of Peru declared a State of Emergency on the national road network and on regional road networks for 30 days; this remains in effect.  The State of Emergency allows the Peruvian National Police and/or Peruvian Armed Forces to set up checkpoints and request documentation from travelers.  Roads in the Puno region may be particularly affected, including near Lake Titicaca and border crossings with Bolivia.  Other roads across the country may also be affected with little or no warning.  Any protests that develop in Lima or Cusco are likely to be concentrated in the historic city centers, but may move to other

Demonstration Alert: U.S. Embassy Lima, Peru Location:  Peru (countrywide) Event: Planned Demonstrations in Peru on July 19 (Issued July 17, 2023) Anti-government protestors are planning demonstrations in multiple locations across Peru, including Lima, Puno, Cusco, and Ica, on Wednesday, July 19.  In response, the Government of Peru declared a State of Emergency on the national road network and on regional road networks for 30 days, beginning July 14.  A State of Emergency on the roads allows the Peruvian National Police and/or Peruvian Armed Forces to set up checkpoints and request documentation from travelers.  Roads affected by the State of Emergency include the Apurimac-Cusco-Arequipa south road corridor, the south Interoceanic road corridor (which includes the Peru-Brazil border to Cusco, Arequipa and points south), the south Panamerican Highway (Lima and points south), and the Binational Highway (between Puno and Tacna).  Other roads across the country may be affected with little

‘Third takeover of Lima’: Peru declares national road network emergency due to planned protests ( La República [Spanish] - Full Story] ) Prior protests against President Boluarte have led to blockades on highways and the assassination of protesters by Peru's armed forces and National Police.  Measure seeks to prevent protesters from using roads during upcoming protests against the government of President Dina Boluarte. The declaration of emergency covers Peru’s national roads prior to the planned start of the “Third takeover of Lima”, that will bring together citizens from various regions to protest against President Dina Boluarte.  This measure was taken after a Council of Ministers meeting. Prime Minister Alberto Otárola stated that the extension of the state of emergency to the national road network will be for a period of one month.  The president of the PCM maintained: “This (declaration of emergency is) in order to guarantee free movement for National Holidays and also to gua

Natural disaster alert: eruptions of Ubinas Volcano, Moquegua Region, Peru (U.S. Embassy Lima, Peru - July 5, 2023 [Full Alert] ) EVENT: Peru’s National Emergency Center issued a “Level Orange” emergency alert July 4 after increased volcanic activity at the Ubinas volcano in the Moquegua Region (130 km east of Arequipa) after two eruption events on July 4, one of which released ash to 5500 m above sea level.  Further volcanic activity may be expected in the coming days.  While local authorities are not yet evacuating local residents, U.S. citizens should avoid the area and follow all instructions given by local emergency and scientific personnel. ACTIONS TO TAKE: - Avoid the area. - If exposed to ash, cover your nose, mouth, and eyes. - Keep doors and windows closed. Avoid crowds and demonstrations. - Follow instructions given by local authorities and/or scientific institutions.  

Puno: Policemen accused of raping a woman in Macusani are arrested (Spanish)  Four police officers would be detained for a violent sexual assault that occurred in an abandoned police station.  The Interior Minister confirmed the news. The Peruvian National Police (PNP) station Macusani where the assault occurred had only reopened five days earlier after violent clashes between police and indigenous Aymara community. Peru's Minister of the Interior, Vicente Romero, reported yesterday that three police officers were arrested and accused of allegedly raping a young woman: “Three policemen had accompanied a lady to a nightclub. After having fun, one of them invited her to get into his vehicle and when they were passing the police station, which at the time was set on fire by the social protests, he took her to this place, where after being outraged... the mayor learned and denounced these facts. The commissioner has immediately acted and arrested these policemen”. Interior Minister V

[EDITORIAL] International Women's Day: setback and deterioration in Peru - Institute of Democracy and Human Rights of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (IDEHPUCP [Spanish]) The Minister of Education of Peru's government – ​​chaired for the first time in our history by a woman – allows himself to say the following about a group of female protesters: “not even animals expose their children. (…) Can those who take their children and expose them to the violence that we are witnessing be called mothers?"  This pronouncement by Oscar Manuel Becerra is, among other things, an unspeakable expression of verbal violence against women. And the fact that President Boluarte keeps him in office and does not demand any explanation also implies an unjustifiable endorsement.  This incident, on the eve of International Women's Day, may be the most effective reminder of the stagnation and even the setback of our country regarding the principles represented on this date: the reco

 Lima: Jorge Chávez Airport closes its runway and reportes flight delays (Spanish) Passengers coming from Pucallpa indicated that the Latam airline could not land at the Lima airport and returned them to their place of departure. Problems were reported at the Jorge Chávez airport this morning Passengers indicated through social networks that Latam airline flights from Pucallpa and Trujillo could not land at Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) due to a problem later identified as the technical malfunction of an aircraft on the runway. Likewise, people from Pisco and Lima denounced delays in their flights. Passengers from different national destinations expressed their annoyance at this situation. Because of this, they had to remain at the airport without any explanation. Airport operator Lima Air Partners (LAP) temporarily closed the runway, due to a plane having a technical malfunction. At that time there were three aircraft in position to land on LIM Airport's one runway. For

Human rights organizations denounce repression in Juli and demand the state of emergency and militarization of Puno end (Spanish) Peruvian military helicopter attacking Juli in Puno Province Through a joint statement, the National Human Rights Coordinator , the Muqui Network and other defense organizations rejected the violent suppression by the police and military forces against the indigenous peoples of the south of the Puno Region and demanded the repeal of Supreme Decree 018-2023- PCM, which declares the Region in a state of emergency and under military control. "We reject the violent and racist repression by the forces of order against the indigenous Aymara peoples that occurred in Lima, especially against women and children," says part of the statement, where they also reject the repression against the population of Juli, which occurred last weekend. Likewise, the arrival of military and Peruvian National Police personnel to the region is questioned, which is considere

Transport carriers threaten to park units on public roads if there is a roadblock in Cusco (Spanish) Dario Tisoc, President of the Association of Transporters of the South (ATRASUR), stated that they will generate "another protest" in the city. They seek to resume their economic activities The President of ATRASUR stated that the interprovincial transporters of Cusco will take their own protest measures if a road blockade is carried out in the region. He pointed out that they will make 'another protest' with their vehicles and that they will be parked on public roads in Cusco. The Association seeks to resume its economic activities after previous blockades. 'In the southern road network, in this case Sicuani, neither the Army nor the Police, nor Provías nor the prefecture have given the interest, the importance of the case, since the road has been closed for almost three months. We are carriers, we need to work,' Tisoc told the media. He added that there is in

Peru: National Association denounces police violence against journalists during protests (Spanish) They pushed Paola Ugaz against the wall and hit her in the chest with their fist; Paty Condori was arrested at the Peruvian National Police (PNP) Counter-Terrorist Directorate (DIRCOTE), despite identifying herself as a journalist. Walter Hupiu was hit on the back with a shield and already on the ground they paid him to prevent him from taking photos of police mistreatment of a protester. Reprehensible: Walter Hupiu is one of the 146 journalists attacked. The police were merciless with him for wanting to photograph the mistreatment of a protester. Pamela Palacios, La República The work of national and foreign press media has been fundamental since the current political and social crisis began in the country and has been expressed in the streets with demonstrations. Their records have made it possible to capture the unstoppable mobilizations and the repression of the forces of order agains

Peru: Prime Minister Otárola blames Armed Forces in protests: "I had no competence in the areas that intervened" (Spanish) Prime Minister tells the Prosecutor's Office that "in exclusive operational matters, the one who acts is the Joint Command", pointing to the Armed Forces after the fifty deaths under the management of President Dina Boluarte, whom he also contradicted. Laura Vasquez, La República Avoiding responsibility. The head of the PCM, Alberto Otárola Peñaranda, testified before the National Prosecutor's Office as part of investigations initiated against him and President Dina Boluarte for the alleged crime of genocide after more than fifty deaths in different regions of the country during protests against the current government. In the interview, Otárola evaded his responsibilities for the Ministry of Defense, despite his position as Minister of Defense at the beginning of Boluarte's term and, instead, attributed the consequences to Peru's

Silences and half-truths in Peru's session on human rights with the United Nations (Spanish) President Dina Boluarte's regime avoids giving clear answers about the Peruvian Army's role in the Ayacucho Massacre . 'They also did not provide requested information on the police raids in San Marcos and the Campesino Confederation. Evasive: Justice Minister José Tello was only there at the beginning and then withdrew from the virtual meeting without giving clear answers to the UN (photo diffusion) Wilber Huacasi - La República Peruvian authorities and officials yesterday avoided responding clearly to the Committe of the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights on specific issues related to the excessive use of force and crimes committed against civilians within the State of Emergency decreed by Dina Boluarte's regime. There were only generalities, silences, and half-truths. All this occurred during the first of the three sessions carried out by the UN Committee in

Today marks start of transport carriers strike to demand resignation of President Dina Boluarte (Spanish) The strike of transport carriers to demand the resignation of President Dina Boluarte begins Thursday, March 2, and runs through Wednesday, March 8. In an interview with Exitosa, Javier Corrales, spokesman for the National Front of Carriers of Peru, spoke about the strike that transport carriers and drivers will carry out nationwide, from March 2 to 8. He stated that the country is facing a political and social crisis, and that citizens "cannot be oblivious to the pain of our Peruvian brothers."  Likewise, the National Front considers that the demonstrations that take place in various parts of the country are a response to acts of corruption by State entities and to demand that the authorities work for the benefit of Peru's citizens.  "We listen to the population. The people are tired of Congress. It has been noticed, for the first time in the history of Peru, th

USA supports upcoming presidential elections in Peru (Spanish)  This was stated by Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian A. Nichols. Through a shared message on his Twitter account, the Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs for the U.S. State Department for Latin America supported the electoral processes that will be carried out in the country. The message reads: "The US supports free, fair elections and a peaceful political process in Peru, with respect for #DDHH and the rule of law. The government and the people of Peru will decide the moment of their elections. Our support for the democratic institutions of 🇵🇪 is unwavering." Tags: #Peru #Elections #USA

Yarita Lizeth Yanarico: protesters in Juliaca support Peruvian folk music artist in Prosecutor's investigation (Spanish) A preliminary investigation by the Public Ministry against the popular folk singer for supporting protesters has prompted citizens of the highlands to demonstrate support for the puneña artist. Puno: Yarita Lizeth receives support from protesters in Juliaca (photo La República) With information from Kleber Sánchez/URPI-LR Dozens of people took to the streets of Juliaca today to support Yarita Lizeth Yanarico in the face of a preliminary investigation that has been opened against her in Lima. The case revolves around her alleged support for the social demonstrations that demand the resignation of President Dina Boluarte. The citizens of Juliaca are outraged after learning that the Public Ministry opened a preliminary investigation against the folklore singer. Faced with this possibility, they went out to protest as a sign of support for Yarita Lizeth. Protesters v

UN demands information from Peru on human rights violations (Spanish) Anuska Buenaluque and Clara Elvira Ospina Garzón After 60 deaths in the context of the protests against the government of Dina Boluarte, the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed its concern over the allegations of abuses and limitations of rights and demanded specific information from the Peruvian government about the investigations and the actions taken. First page of letter to Ambassador Luis Chuquihuara, Permanent Representative of Peru to the United Nations offices in Geneva.  In a confidential communication addressed to the Permanent Representative of Peru to the United Nations offices in Geneva, Ambassador Luis Chuquihuara, eight commissioners of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights urged the Peruvian government to not later Within 60 days, provide accurate information on serious events reported to that office related to human rights violations, excess

Indigenous peoples approve new trip to Lima to demand resignation of President Dina Boluarte (Spanish) The communities will send a large number of citizens based upon the population of the district or populated center (photo Pachamama Radio) Each message that arrives from Lima aggravates the native population, belittles, and ignores the Quechuas and Aymaras, considering that we continue to be a minority group, said Rubén Apaza Añamuro, a representative of the Council of Native Authorities Mallkus, Jilaq'atas and Mamat'allas of Puno region. Apaza Añamuro indicated that these Indigenous peoples are the ones that are currently leading the defense of the country and they have come out to make their protest voice heard, something that was not seen before. "The original peoples had no participation in political issues, now despite this, the President does not take into account the claims of the citizenry, that is why from this front we demand their resignation," he said. Th

Viva Air: passengers stranded after suspension of operations (Spanish) Without notice to its customers, Viva Air announced cessation of its operations. Peruvians stranded in Colombia requested humanitarian flights. Latam has announced that it will provide seats to those affected. Viva Air suspended its operations due to financial problems. The Colombian airline Viva Air has suspended all its operations indefinitely since last night, February 27th. This was done without any communication or emails to its passengers. Many passengers have been stranded at Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM), and many Peruvians are reported stranded in Colombia. Caos, including protests and blockades by stranded passengers , was reported at a number of airports in Colombia.  "We are stranded, our flight was going directly to Medellín. We are approximately 50 to 60 people stranded here since two in the morning and others since 6:30 the day before. We have had no response from Viva Air, their scree

 Opinion: two photos, two interpretations of events in Puno, show Peru is a very divided country. Two images, two worlds, and two paradigms, illustrate the current social conflict in Peru's Puno Region. The images were featured in two articles on Monday, February 20 about social and political unrest in the city of Puno by two major Peruvian newspapers. Aymaras marching in Puno, Peru (source La República) In the first image, appearing in the Lima-based La República , men are lined up in rows, walking down a street dressed smartly in their best black suits wearing ties and black dress hats. Many have long white scarves around their necks. Behind them are women wearing matching long red dresses and blankets of the same color. They are also wearing matching black hats under Puno’s midday sun. These are Indigenous Aymara who are protesting what they see as racism and oppression by the national government in Lima led by President Dina Boluarte and the national Congress. Peruvian Army col