Two journalists condemn police attack on march against Dina Boluarte in Lima

Two journalists condemned this Thursday attacks allegedly carried out by police during an anti-government march held in the historic center of Lima, mostly Peruvians from the south of the country, demanding the resignation of President Dina Boluarte.

National Association of Journalists of Peru (ANP) indicated on his Twitter account that media photojournalist Juan Zapata vaika He was attacked by a police officer while registering the removal of protesters from the intersection of two streets in the city center.

At the same time, testimony was collected from Zapata, who indicated that “agents mocked him before beating him with a stick on the neck,” and the organization accompanied the information with a photograph of him with a wound.

For his part, the correspondent Republic, Vanessa Trebejoclaimed he was attacked by the same agent with a stick while broadcasting the march live on social media to the media.

“We condemn the illegal use of rubber granules”

During a peaceful march this Thursday, police fired tear gas bombs at the central Plaza de San Martín and, according to the national human rights coordinator, the forces fired shots.

“We condemn the illegal use of rubber granules against Aymara protesters in La Molina. According to the Directive (…), the Peruvian police can only use them against those who commit acts of vandalism,” the organization said on its online profile. along with pictures of the wounded.

This week Peruvians, who came mainly from the country’s southern departments, arrived in Lima to take part in this Saturday action, which called itself the “Second Capture of Lima” in connection with a large protest that took place on January 19 and was attended by thousands of people participated to demand Boluarte’s resignation among other demands.

The demonstrations that began in December after the failed coup d’état of former President Pedro Castillo (2021-2022) demand, in addition to the president’s resignation, the closure of the Congress, the postponement of elections to 2023 and the convening of a Constituent Assembly.

According to the Ombudsman, 48 people died in clashes with law enforcement during the protests, with one policeman killed after being burned alive, and another 11 people died due to protesters’ checkpoints.

President Boluarte also confirmed another death from the same causes, the death of a patient who needed to get to Lima but was detained in the blockade, and UNICEF reported the death of an unborn child, in addition to the death of a woman in the northern region of La Libertad, police said.

Peruvian Prime Minister Alberto Otarola confirmed the deaths of four Haitian citizens in Desaguadero on 19 January, and a few days later the UNHCR increased the number to seven.

UNHCR explained that seven Haitians were stranded due to adverse climatic conditions and limited access to basic services.

(As reported by EFE)