Lima.
The famous Inca city of Machu Picchu has been closed due to ongoing protests in Peru. 400 tourists who were initially stuck there were evacuated.
Amid renewed clashes between demonstrators and police at anti-government protests across the country, police evacuated a university in Lima and arrested more than 200 people. This was reported by the Peruvian broadcaster “RPP Noticias”, citing the chief prosecutor Alfonso Barrenechea.
Those arrested were accused of illegally invading the campus of the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, one of the most important and oldest universities in America. According to “RPP Noticias”, they came to the capital from the cities of Puno and Cusco in the south of the Andean state to take part in the protests against the government of interim President Dina Boluarte.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Peru called on the police after the operation to be proportionate. Several dozen people have died in the South American country since the protests began in December.
Serious consequences for tourism
The bloody protests have serious consequences for tourism in Peru. According to a statement, the Ministry of Culture closed access to the famous Inca ruins of Machu Picchu “in view of the current social situation in our region”. More than 400 stranded tourists were brought to Cusco, the Peruvian news agency Agencia Andina reported.
The demonstrators, many from the poor south of the country, are demanding the resignation of interim President Boluarte, the dissolution of Congress and the release of imprisoned ex-President Pedro Castillo. The former village school teacher wanted to forestall a vote of no confidence in December and dissolved the congress. Parliament then removed him from office. He was arrested on charges of an attempted coup and is in custody. (dpa)
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