The extended state of emergency has been declared in seven regions of southern Peru: Madre de Dios, Cusco, Puno, Apurimac, Arequipa, Moquegua and Tacna and will remain in force for about sixty days. The previous state of emergency only applied to three regions and the capital Lima.
Under the new measure, the army can support the police to maintain public order, constitutional rights such as freedom of movement and freedom of assembly have been suspended.
Coup d’etat
The unrest began after former President Pedro Castillo was ousted in December and was succeeded by Vice President Boluarte. Since then, protesters have called for his resignation, the calling of new elections and the release of former president Castillo. A national state of emergency had already been declared in December, extended until mid-January.
Castillo tried to prevent a no-confidence vote in early December by dissolving Peru’s parliament. However, that removed him from his position and got him arrested on charges of attempted coup.