The leftist governments of Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico and Colombia issued a joint statement on Monday calling for Castillo’s human and judicial rights to be protected, adding that the “agents” of Castillo’s removal should give priority to “the will of citizens”. Should be given what was declared. Election.”
Castillo was elected last year by a narrow margin with Boluaarte as his running mate.
Some civil and indigenous groups in the world’s No. 2 copper producer announced a strike from Monday in Apurimac, where there are important mining projects including Las Bambas, a major copper mine owned by China’s MMG Ltd.
A source at Las Bambas, which has battled blockades for years, told Reuters it has received threats of more blockades amid a “radicalisation” of protests against the firm by locals.
‘High Struggle’
Castillo, a former teacher and peasant farmer, drew strong support from rural and mining areas last year. But during the first year of his administration, corruption charges against him mounted, while he presided over an unprecedented turnover among senior ministers.
Protests involving hundreds or even thousands of people have turned violent at times in Peru’s interior cities and the capital, Lima, since last week.
The UN human rights office in a statement on Monday warned of further escalation, calling on authorities to exercise restraint and conduct a thorough investigation into the deaths of protesters.
In Apurimac, authorities ordered the airport closed after protesters came under attack, and parts of Peru’s main coastal highway were blocked in Ica and Arequipa on Monday.
LATAM Airlines said it had canceled flights to and from the city of Arequipa after reports of protesters storming the runway.
At a march in Lima, Juan Calle said, “Dina Boluaarte does not represent us. She is a traitor. She is incompetent.”
Boluaarte, 60, declared a state of emergency in areas of “high conflict”, allowing troops to take more control.
“I have given instructions so that control of internal order can be restored peacefully, without affecting the fundamental rights of the people,” said Boluaarte, who mourned the deaths.