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Peru Mourns Growing Protester Death Toll as Government Seeks Confidence Vote

by Reuters

   Lima, Peru --

   A three-day mourning period began in southern Peru on Tuesday after 17
   more people were killed in the most violent day of protests since they
   began in December over the ousting of former President Pedro Castillo.

   The mourning period in the southeastern region of Puno came as Prime
   Minister Alberto Otarola was set to appear in the opposition-dominated
   Congress, seeking a vote of confidence in his cabinet - a
   constitutional requirement to lead a new government.

   Otarola regretted the deaths on Monday night and said the unrest was
   caused by organized attackers financed by "dark" money, in a day in
   which at least 68 civilians and 75 police officers were injured
   according to the local ombudsman.

   Social protests have left a total of 39 dead so far in different parts
   of the country.

   Authorities called on prosecutors on Monday to launch investigations
   against those responsible.

   Peru's Interior Ministry said that a police vehicle was attacked early
   on Tuesday by "unknown persons" in the city of Juliaca, which is
   located in Puno, with one of the officers suffering multiple head
   injuries.

   Hours later, Jorge Angulo, head of the operational command of the
   national police, confirmed the death of one policeman who was in the
   vehicle.

   "At this moment, an autopsy is being performed to fully identify the
   form and circumstances in which he was injured, practically burned,"
   Angulo told television station Canal N.

   Demonstrators are continuing to demand President Dina Boluarte's
   resignation, the closure of Congress, constitutional changes and
   Castillo's release.

   Castillo is serving 18 months of pre-trial detention while being
   investigated for "rebellion" after trying to close Congress, a charge
   he denies.

   Images from local media showed looting of businesses in Puno on Monday
   night and the region's Juliaca airport remained closed on Tuesday.

   Likewise, airport operations in the Andean region of Ayacucho remained
   suspended as a security measure.

   The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has announced it will
   visit Peru this week from Wednesday to Friday to assess the situation.