Two Protesters Of Death In Protests Against General Elections In Peru

Illustration of protests in Peru. (Wikimedia Commons/Johnattan Rupire)

JAKARTA - Two teenagers were killed and four injured in Peru on Sunday during protests demanding the state hold elections following the ouster of former President Pedro Castillo, police and local authorities said.

President Dina Bouarte was sworn in last week after Castillo was sacked by Congress and arrested for seeking to dissolve the legislature in an attempt to prevent an impeachment vote against him.

Demonstrators, many of them supporters of Castillo, have for days demanded that Peru hold elections rather than allow Bouarte to remain in power until Castillo's term ends in 2026. Several protesters also called for Congress to close.

The head of the Peru ombudsman's office, Eliana Revollar, told local radio station RPP, a 15-year-old teenager and an 18-year-old teenager were killed in clashes with police in Andahuaylas City, in the Andean Apurimac region, "possibly as a result of gunshot wounds," as reported by Reuters December 12.

Meanwhile, Baltazar Lantaron, governor of the Apurimac region, told local television station Canal N, "four people were reported injured and treated at a health center, three of them (with injuries) to the scalp, with multiple injuries".

Meanwhile, Peru Airport and Commercial Aviation Corporation, which manages the country's airport, reported the closure of Andahuaylas Airport following attacks and vandalism since last Saturday.

Protesters have set fire to the transmitter's room, which is critical to providing navigation services, he added.

The ombudsman's office on Saturday said two police officers were detained for hours by protesters in Andahuaylas, but were later released. He added that clashes on Saturday left 16 civilians and four policemen injured.