Lima: Anti-government protests in Peru. 17 protesters were killed in clashes with security forces. More than 100 people were injured. The protest was carried out by villagers who were supporters of Pedro Castillo, the president of Peru.
Protesters and security officials clashed near the airport in the city of Julica, near the Bolivian border. A 17-year-old boy was killed in the encounter here. Several people were also killed in the firing during the protest blocking the highway in Chukuido. According to reports, protests took place in 13 percent of the country’s regions.
Dina Boluarte had permitted to hold the general elections to be held early in 2026 and to conduct a judicial inquiry into whether the security forces had used excessive power. But they could not resist the nationwide protests. The protests are demanding the release of Pedro Castillo, the ousting of the current president, Dina Boluvarte, and early elections. In December, Pedro Castillo was arrested and imprisoned during an attempt to legally dissolve Congress. The Boluguarte government claims that Bolivian leader Evo Morales is behind the country’s protests.
Castillo is serving 18 months in pretrial detention. Protesters in Peru set up new blockades and demonstrations spread to several regions. Calls for the dissolution of Congress and a change in the constitution are growing stronger across the country. Recent polls have shown that nine in ten disapprove of Peru’s legislation amid years of political scandals and instability. In this situation, the demands for fresh elections are getting stronger.
