LIMA: Peru's new president offered lawmakers a plan to bring elections forward by two years on Monday, after the ouster of her predecessor last week sparked protests that have left at least six dead.
President Dina Boluarte, previously the vice president, was sworn in last week after former President Pedro Castillo was removed by Congress and arrested for trying to dissolve the legislature while preventing an impeachment vote against him.
But Castillo supporters argue that Boluarte was not elected by the people. Demonstrators have taken to the streets to demand that Peru hold new elections, with some also calling for Congress to be shuttered and Castillo released.
Local authorities in Apurimac said a 16-year-old had died from a gunshot wound, and two more 18-year-olds had died in Andahuaylas province. Another death had been reported earlier Monday in Arequipa, and two teenagers were killed on Sunday.
Citing "difficult times," Peru's sixth president in the past five years said she was proposing to move up the next general election to April 2024. It was previously scheduled for 2026.
In a handwritten letter posted to his Twitter page on Monday, Castillo called Boluarte's early election pledge a "dirty game" and derided her as a "usurper," calling for an immediate assembly to rewrite the nation's constitution.
Castillo also said he would not resign as president despite his lawful removal from power. He is being held in a penitentiary center in Lima while he is being investigated by prosecutors for the alleged crimes of rebellion and conspiracy.
The leftist governments of Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico and Colombia issued a joint statement on Monday calling for the protection of Castillo's human and judicial rights, adding that the "agents" of Castillo's removal should prioritize "the will of the citizens that was declared at the polls."
Castillo was elected by a narrow margin last year with Boluarte as his running mate.
Some civil and indigenous groups in the world's No. 2 copper producer also announced a strike starting on Monday in Apurimac, home to significant 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 more blockade threats amid a "radicalization" of protests against the firm by locals.
'HIGH CONFLICT'
A former teacher and peasant farmer, Castillo attracted strong support last year from rural and mining areas. But during the first year of his administration, corruption allegations against him mounted while he presided over unprecedented turnover among senior ministers.
Protests involving hundreds or thousands of people have been held since last week in cities in Peru's interior and capital Lima, at times turning violent.
The U.N. Human Rights Office warned of further escalation in a statement on Monday, calling on authorities to exercise restraint and fully investigate the deaths of protesters.
In Apurimac, authorities ordered the airport's closure after an attack by protesters, and parts of Peru's main coastal highway was blocked on Monday in Ica and Arequipa.
LATAM Airlines said it had canceled flights to and from the city of Arequipa after reports protesters invaded a runway.
"Dina Boluarte doesn't represent us. She's a traitor. She's incompetent," said Juan Calle at a march in Lima, calling on the new president to be jailed and Castillo released.
Boluarte, 60, declared a state of emergency in areas of "high conflict," allowing soldiers to take more control.
"I have given the instructions so that control of internal order can be recovered peacefully, without affecting the people's fundamental rights," said Boluarte, who lamented the deaths.
Reuters
Tue Dec 13 2022
A demonstrator prepares to throw back a tear gas canister during a protest demanding the dissolution of Congress and to hold democratic elections rather than recognize Dina Boluarte as Peru's President, in Lima, Peru December 12, 2022. - REUTERS
Ambil pengajaran ziarah Bukit Uhud
Patuh kepada pemimpin, ketua antara pengajaran diambil jemaah haji Malaysia semasa membuat ziarah luar di Bukit Uhud di Madinah di mana dalam konteks semasa, kepatuhan kepada pemimpin berupaya memastikan segala urusan berjalan lancar.
Kejayaan calon PH bukti semangat kekitaan yang erat dalam Kerajaan Perpaduan - Ahmad Zahid
"DAP banyak bantu calon BN dalam PRK sebelum ini, tidak salah jika UMNO membalas budi yang telah ditabur oleh mereka."
Kemenangan PH di KKB ‘tripple happiness’ buat Kerajaan Perpaduan - Fahmi
Kemenangan Pakatan Harapan pada PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu disifatkan sebagai triple happiness atau kegembiraan tiga kali ganda buat Kerajaan Perpaduan.
Pemimpin UMNO perlu teroka pendekatan baharu - Ahmad Zahid
Pemimpin UMNO juga perlu menjadi peneraju dalam pemikiran rakyat bagi mengekang fitnah yang dilemparkan oleh pihak tertentu.
Emir Kuwait bubar Parlimen yang dipilih sebulan lalu - Dekri
Emir Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, pada petang Jumaat mengeluarkan dekri membubarkan Parlimen yang dipilih pada awal April.
Perak berjaya tanam semula 7.88 juta pokok setakat ini - MB
Perak tanam 7.88 juta pokok setakat ini melebihi sasaran enam juta yang ditetapkan kerajaan Persekutuan melalui Kempen Penanaman 100 Juta Pokok 2021-2025.
Pulau Pinang sasar tarik 150,000 bakat dalam lima tahun akan datang
Pulau Pinang komited untuk memupuk persekitaran yang kondusif terhadap inovasi teknologi.
Angkasa sedia bantu PIBG sekolah rendah tubuhkan koperasi
Angkasa bersedia membantu kira-kira 7,780 PIBG di peringkat sekolah rendah kebangsaan seluruh negara bagi menubuhkan koperasi.
RM7 juta diperuntukkan naik taraf 38 tamu desa di Sabah - Ewon
Peruntukan berkenaan adalah untuk pelaksanaan fasa pertama Projek Tamu Desa di negeri itu.
Angka korban hujan ribut, banjir di Afghanistan cecah lebih 330
Di wilayah Baghlan saja, lebih 300 maut dan lebih 1,000 kediaman dilaporkan musnah.
Pasangan suami isteri, dua lelaki didakwa perdagang wanita Malaysia di Peru
Sepasang suami isteri dan dua lelaki yang dihadapkan ke Mahkamah Sesyen mengaku tidak bersalah atas pertuduhan memperdagang dua wanita Malaysia di Peru.
75 rumah musnah akibat tanah runtuh di Peru
Hujan lebat menyebabkan kerosakan di bandar selatan Peru, Alca berikutan kejadian tanah runtuh melibatkan jalan raya, rumah, sekolah dan hospital pada Sabtu.
Peru mohon sijil halal dari Malaysia untuk eksport produk makanan
Peru berhasrat menjadi pengeksport produk makanan halal selepas memperoleh sijil halal Malaysia tahun ini.
PDRM sedang kenal pasti dalang seludup 43 rakyat Malaysia ke Peru
Polis sedang mengenal pasti dalang utama sindiket Macau Scam yang menyebabkan 43 rakyat Malaysia menjadi mangsa pemerdagangan manusia di Peru.
Peru lanjutkan tempoh darurat akibat cuaca ekstrem
Peru memutuskan untuk melanjutkan tempoh darurat selama 60 hari di kebanyakan kawasan berikutan cuaca ekstrem yang disebabkan oleh El Nino dan hujan bermusim.
Peru isytihar darurat di 544 daerah akibat El-Nino
Kerajaan Peru mengisytiharkan darurat di 544 daerah selama 60 hari pada Selasa berikutan kekurangan air yang mungkin timbul akibat El Nino yang dijangka melanda antara 2023 dan 2024.
FIFA tarik balik hak Peru sebagai penganjur Piala Dunia B17
FIFA pada Isnin mengumumkan menarik balik hak Peru sebagai tuan rumah kejohanan bola sepak Piala Dunia Bawah 17 Tahun selepas negara itu gagal menyiapkan infrastruktur yang diperlukan.
8 maut, 5 hilang dalam kejadian banjir lumpur di Peru
Komuniti perlombongan di Miski dan San Martin terkejut dengan kejadian tanah runtuh itu.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
17 terbunuh dalam protes antikerajaan di Peru
Sekurang-kurangnya 17 terbunuh dalam protes terbaharu antikerajaan di Peru, menurut pejabat ombudsman rasmi Amerika Selatan lewat Isnin.