CUSCO: Peru’s Congress rejected a move to bring forward elections as deadly protests left thousands of tourists stranded in the gateway city of Machu Picchu.
Protesters are demanding the release of ousted President Pedro Castillo, the resignation of his successor Dina Bolvarte and new elections.
But the Congress voted against the bill to bring forward the elections by more than two years from 2026 to December 2023.
It comes with an increase in protests. Death toll Protesters tried to storm the airport in the southern city of Ayacucho on Thursday night after being guarded by soldiers.
Health Minister Rosa Gutierrez said on Friday that 18 people had been killed in clashes since Castillo’s arrest on December 7, prompting the resignation of two cabinet ministers.
Peru was plunged into political crisis last week when Castillo was impeached and arrested after he tried to dissolve parliament and rule by decree.
Initially detained for seven days, Castillo was ordered Thursday to spend 18 months in pretrial detention.
According to Public Prosecutor Alcides Diaz, the former left-wing school teacher is charged with sedition and conspiracy and could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Bolvert declared a nationwide state. Emergency for 30 days and said that she wants to bring forward the elections.
Friday’s vote in Congress required 87 votes to pass, but it received only 49 votes in favor, 33 against and 25 abstentions.
The mounting death toll weakened Bolwart’s hold on the presidency.
“Because of the number of Peruvians who died, Mrs. Bolarte needs to resign,” said Socel Paredes, a centrist lawmaker.
Tourists anchored
Several airports across the country have been closed, including the international terminal in Cusco, which serves as the gateway city to Peru’s tourism jewel, the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.
Cusco’s airport is the third largest airport in Peru and serves a number of tourist destinations in the region.
It has been closed since Monday after protesters tried to storm the terminal, leaving thousands of tourists stranded.
“There are 5,000 tourists stranded in the city of Cusco, waiting in their hotels for flights to resume,” said Darwin Baca, mayor of the nearby town of Machu Picchu. AFP.
Rail service serving Machu Picchu has been suspended since Tuesday, leaving about 800 tourists stranded in the small town at the foot of the mountain where the citadel stands.
A military helicopter is due to arrive at Machu Picchu on Saturday to evacuate stranded tourists, town officials said.
About 200 American and European tourists have left the city on foot along the train tracks to reach the city of Ollantaytambo, 30 kilometers (20 miles) away, where they will catch a train to Cusco.
“What they are afraid of is reaching someone and then not being able to go to their country because it could be worse,” Baca said.
Protesters have also blocked several major roads in the old Inca capital of Cusco, as have more than 100 roads across the country.
‘Need for criminal investigation’
The death toll rose sharply on Thursday when soldiers guarding Ayacucho airport opened fire on protesters.
Rights ombudsman Eliana Rewaler said the soldiers “found themselves surrounded by the public”. AFP.
The army says its soldiers may have raised their weapons first and then fired into the air, but Rewaler said shots were fired at the protesters.
“This deserves a criminal investigation, these people died from gunshot wounds,” he said.
Soldiers have been deployed because of the state of emergency but Rewaler said they need to understand that their role is only to support the police.
“The state of emergency does not abrogate the protection of the right to life,” he added.
On top of the deaths in clashes, six more people have died in incidents related to roadblocks, such as being prevented from reaching hospitals.
The country’s human rights ombudsman’s office said 518 people were injured in the clashes, including 268 policemen. Human rights groups said 147 people had been detained.
“It needs to stop,” Bolvarte said Friday of the violence.