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AT LEAST 17 people died yesterday in Peru as protesters trying to storm an airport clashed with security forces in the latest violent spasm of a month-old political crisis.
This new chapter of bloodshed took place in the southeastern city of Juliaca, in the Puno region, an official in the local ombudsman’s office told AFP.
The previous death toll of 12 rose as five people among the 40 or so wounded in the clashes died of their injuries, the official said.
Like others have for the past month, these protesters were demanding the departure of President Dina Boluarte, who took over after the ousting and arrest of then president Pedro Castillo on 7 December.
Castillo’s removal after he tried to dissolve congress and start ruling by decree – he faced several corruption probes – has triggered weeks of clashes nationwide in this country beset by years of political instability.
Protesters angry over the removal of the leftist Castillo want Boluarte to resign and new elections right away. They have already been moved up from 2026 to April of 2024.
Overall, with these new fatalities, the clashes sparked by the ouster of Castillo have now left 39 people dead around the country.
The people killed yesterday in Juliaca had gunshot wounds, an official at Calos Monge Hospital told a Peruvian TV channel.
“The police are shooting at us,” one demonstrator who declined to give his name told AFP.
“We ask Dina to resign,” he added. “Accept the fact that people do not want you.”
“What is happening is Peruvians are slaughtering each other. I ask for calm,” Juliaca’s Mayor Oscar Caceres said in a desperate plea for peace.
Alberto Otarola, the new president’s chief of staff, said thousands of protesters had approached the airport yesterday and around 2,000 of them attacked police while trying to storm the facility with makeshift weapons and gun powder.
Demonstrators had already tried Saturday to overrun the Juliaca airport, which is being protected by police and soldiers.
Juliaca, located in the Puno region on the border with Bolivia, is home to many people from the Aymara indigenous group. Puno has been a hotbed of anti-government protests since the latest crisis broke out. An open-ended strike was declared there on 4 January.
Protests against the Boluarte government took a break over the new year’s holidays but resumed that day.
As of yesterday, protesters were blocking roads in six of the country’s 25 departments, including areas popular with tourists.
Boluarte was Castillo’s vice president and is a leftist like him. But many Indigenous people call her a traitor who does not defend their cause.
In another development yesterday, the government said it was barring entry to Evo Morales, the former president of Bolivia, accusing him of trying to interfere in Peru’s affairs.
Morales, who was his country’s first Indigenous president, has expressed support for the protests against Boluarte, especially in the ethnic Aymara Puno region which borders Bolivia.
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RIP Johnny, You and The Horslips are the reason my band, Cruachan, exist! A legend, you’ll be sorely missed.
@Keith Fay: and Cruachán is a fantastic band..easy knowing The Horslips were a guide.
Irish guitar God! Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam!
Dearg Doom. Possibly the most recognisable Irish intro ever.
Ahh Jaysus that’s so sad, we all know the intro to Dearg Doom but his brilliant playing in Furniture The Snakes Farewell to the Emerald Isle and many others were so brilliantly haunting. He’s up there with Rory and Gary and sadly missed. RIP Johnny
One of the greatest. A very sad day. RIP Johnny
Sad day for Irish music , grew up with Horslips in the 70s , had the privelige of seeing them live in 77 , RIP Johnny .
Gutted, such a talent and a great loss. RIP Johnny
Sad to hear this. Saw Johnny and the boys many times growing up in Limerick, always a top show down at the Savoy. In that era he’d come out on his own for a solo, blast away on the Gibson and end it with an intro to Dearg Doom as the band kicked in and the crowd erupted. Remember him asking for a cigarette too once from stage and a virtual shower of them were thrown up for him. Different times, Horslips paved a path for so many that came after. Rock on Nightgown Boy.
Gutted. Ireland’s finest guitarist by a mile and easily among the best in the world. I’ll be waiting was an absolute gem…
Brilliant guitarist, will be sadly missed. I was so lucky to see them live a couple of times in the late seventies. Irish rock was so amazing. We had rory, lizzy, horslips on top of the world .
I am blessed I was able to bring my sons to see them in the 02 reunion tour.
Johnny and the boys rocked that night.
I loved Johnny’s playing. He was an integral part of what, for me, was Ireland’s best ever band. Back in the day, I travelled to see them on my Kawasaki whenever they played within a hundred miles of home. So many brilliant sounds, and absolutely loved the reunion gigs in 2009 (I think). Sincere sympathy to his family and fellow band members. May he rest in peace.
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