The social upheaval in Peru is a perfect example of how strong polarization and political intolerance can quickly escalate into extreme violence.
More than 40 people have died in the country since leftist former president Pedro Castillo was ousted in December 2022 after trying to close parliament and carry out a coup d’état.
His fall led to violent protests in various parts of the country, with militants allied with him closing roads and trying to take over buildings and other strategic points in different cities.
The police were ordered to crack down harshly on the protests, leading to a further escalation in the violence.
accusation of genocide
In the bloodiest day so far, 18 people were killed on Monday (9) in Juliaca, in the Puno region, in the southeast of the country.
Protesters tried to take over the local airport and were stopped by police gunfire.
The Public Ministry reacted and opened an investigation into the actions of several authorities in the conflicts, including President Dina Boluarte, Castillo’s successor, and Prime Minister Alberto Otárola.
They are accused of genocide and qualified homicide, due to the repression of the protests.
Six presidents in four years
Political instability in Peru has taken such proportions that the country has had six different presidents in the last four years.
The different political groups, left and right, are no longer able to dialogue and both sides sabotage the initiatives of their opponents.
In a fragmented and divided parliament, calls for the impeachment of presidents and prime ministers are frequent.
Castillo, for example, survived three impeachment requests in his 16 months in office, before he was finally impeached and imprisoned.
On Tuesday (10), Boluarte and his prime minister survived a new vote of no confidence in the government. But the prime minister was offended and saw opposition parliamentarians put signs in front of his face calling him a murderer.
The only way out for Peru, as well as for other countries in the region, including Brazil, also shaken by the violent invasions of Congress, the Planalto Palace and the Federal Supreme Court, is the return of a civilized dialogue between the different political forces and the rejection of any kind of extremism.
In the Peruvian case, however, attempts at dialogue do not seem to exist at this time. Which can lead to even more violence.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
