Several dozens of Peruvians were hurt after tensions flared up again on Friday night as police battled with anti-government protesters.
Local television footage indicated that in the capital city of Lima, police officers fired tear gas to disperse protesters throwing glass bottles and stones while fires burnt in the streets.
Minister of the Interior Vicente Romero stated in a statement to the media that approximately 1,500 protestors attacked a police station in the town of Ilave in the southern Peruvian district of Puno.
Eight persons were hospitalized in Ilave with injuries, including broken arms and legs, eye contusions, and punctured abdomens.
According to a report by Peru’s ombudsman, 58 individuals had been hurt nationally in demonstrations by late afternoon.
President Dina Boluarte threatened to go stricter on “vandals” after one of Lima’s most historic buildings burned to the ground on Thursday, which precipitated the uproar.
The destruction of the building, a nearly century-old palace in the heart of Lima, was regarded as the loss of a “monumental asset” by government officials. The causes are being investigated by authorities.
Romero asserted on Friday that the fire was “properly planned and organized.”
Thousands of demonstrators converged in Lima this week demanding reform and infuriated by the rising death toll, which as of Friday stood at 45.
Since President Pedro Castillo was removed in December after attempting to postpone an impeachment vote by dissolving the legislature, protests have rocked Peru.
Up until this week, the disturbance has been focused in the south of Peru.
In the Cusco region, Glencore’s Antapaccay copper mine ceased operations on Friday after demonstrators attacked the facility – one of the country’s largest – for the third time this month.
Demonstrators also attacked airports in Arequipa, Cusco, and the southern city of Juliaca, dealing a further damage to Peru’s tourism economy.
“It is pandemonium on a national scale; you cannot live like this. “We are in a terrible state of uncertainty due to the economy and vandalism,” said Leonardo Rojas, a Lima resident.
The government has declared a state of emergency in six regions, thereby restricting certain civil liberties.
Boluarte, however, has rejected calls for her resignation and has pledged to punish those responsible for the turmoil. Rather, she has called for discussion and pledged to arrange snap elections.
Some people pointed fingers at Boluarte, accusing her of failing to stop the protests that began on December 7 in response to Castillo’s removal and incarceration.
Human rights organizations have accused the police and military of use lethal weaponry. According to the police, demonstrators utilized guns and homemade bombs.
»Protests in Peru have resulted in “nationwide chaos” and over 50 injuries«