Peruvians peacefully protesting coup are met with police brutality

Dictator Barbie: An anti-government protester, dressed as Barbie holding a fake gun, takes part in a demonstration demanding that Peru's coup-installed President Dina Boluarte immediately schedule new presidential elections as well as justice for those who were killed during protests earlier this year after the ouster of her predecessor, in Lima, Peru, July 22, 2023. | AP

Peruvian police launched a brutal crackdown Thursday on a peaceful protest against the election of the new board of directors of the country’s congress.

One of the lawmakers elected to the board is under investigation for corruption and for more than 50 tax fraud allegations.

Protesters were holding a sit-in outside the Parliament building in Lima when the police arrived and assaulted them.

Delegations of social organizations from across the interior of the country also took part in the protest to demand justice over the killing of more than 50 people by security forces under the orders of the assembly-appointed President Dina Boluarte.

Boluarte took over as president when Pedro Castillo was ousted and imprisoned in a coup by the assembly in December last year. Castillo, who was elected in 2021, is still being held in custody by Peruvian authorities.

Alliance for Progress lawmaker Alejandro Soto was elected as Congress president for the 2023-24 period after being nominated by the assembly’s right wing. Soto is under investigation for being part of an alleged criminal organization.

Other legislators elected to the congress director board are Hernando Guerra-Garcia of the Popular Force Party, Waldemar Cerron of Free Peru, and Rosselli Amuruz, a member of the Advance Country Party.

Morning Star

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CONTRIBUTOR

Roger McKenzie

Roger McKenzie is the International Editor of Morning Star, Britain’s daily socialist newspaper. He is the author of the book "African Uhuru: The Fight for African Freedom in the Rise of the Global South" published by Manifesto Press.