Peru declares state of emergency as Gen Z riots turn violent
A state of emergency is set to be declared in Lima after one person was killed during violent Gen Z protests against the interim government.
Hundreds were injured and one person was shot dead by police after demonstrations turned into street clashes on Wednesday near the capital city’s Congress building.
The protesters, alongside transport workers and civil groups, are calling for the resignation of Peru’s new president, who has been in office for less than a week.
José Jerí, of the conservative Somos Perú party, was sworn in as the interim president following the impeachment of Dina Boluarte, his predecessor. She was ousted on the grounds of “permanent moral incapacity”.
The new president refused to rein in the violence and said he would ramp up powers to tackle the unrest.
The latest wave of violent protests marks a fresh political crisis for Peru, a country that has had seven presidents over the last eight years.
The demonstrations in the South American country are one of several protests led by Gen Z across the globe this year, along with Morocco, Nepal and Madagascar.
“Everyone must go,” protesters chanted when they reached congress and tried to tear down metal barriers protecting the building.
Thousands of protesters had amassed around the country, though the most violent clashes were concentrated in Lima. Police fired tear gas while some demonstrators hurled fireworks, rocks and burning missiles.
Eduardo Mauricio Ruiz, a 32-year-old rapper, was killed during the protest after being shot by police, Peru’s prosecutor’s office said. Fernando Losada, a representative from Peru’s ombudsman, said his death would be investigated.
Local media quoted witnesses who claimed they saw the hip-hop artist being shot by a man they said was a plain-clothes police officer.
Ruiz was the first person to die in the protests, which started about a month ago with calls for better pensions and wages for young workers.
Mr Jerí said Ruiz’s death would be “objectively” investigated and blamed violence on “delinquents who infiltrated a peaceful demonstration to sow chaos”.
“The full force of the law will be on them,” he said.
After attending a meeting about the protests in congress, the president said he would ask for the power to “legislate on public safety issues”, including prison reform.
Vicente Tiburcio, the country’s new interior minister, said the government would also work on comprehensive police reform.
Some 89 police officers were injured in the protests on Wednesday, in addition to 22 civilians. Around 11 people were detained.
Mr Jerí will serve as president until the next election, which is scheduled for next July.
The 38-year-old has promised to make crime a top priority but has already faced a series of scandals, including allegations of corruption and an old investigation into claims of sexual assault. He denies wrongdoing in both cases.
Ms Boluarte, his predecessor, faced similar protests after she took power in late 2022.
[Source: Daily Telegraph]
