Anti-government protesters seize Arequipa airport in Peru | news

Protesters calling for the shutdown of Congress, an immediate call for elections and the release of former President Pedro Castillo seized Peru’s Arequipa regional airport on Monday, the Transport and Communications Ministry confirmed.

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More than 2,000 protesters took over the airport in Arequipa, Peru’s second-largest city, and blocked a highway to demand the resignation of President Tina Bolvarte.

Also, the closure of the Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón International Airport was confirmed as the runway was also blocked.

The company that manages the airport, Aeropuertos Andinos del Perú, has announced the closure of facilities until further notice. In a statement, the company indicated that all employees had been evacuated.

Protests and police crackdowns continued Monday in the South American country’s north and south, while people demanded the release of former President Pedro Castillo, a shutdown of Congress, early elections and a constitutional assembly that would create Peru’s new Magna Carta.

Three people have been killed and over 30 injured in the protests so far.

Protests were reported in Cajamarca, Arequipa, Huancayo, Cusco and Puno.

Amidst the protests, President Poluarte declared a state of emergency in the regions of Apurimac, Ica and Arequipa as demonstrations spread to various cities north and south of the Andes.

The announcement came as a result of the violence recorded amid the crackdown on anti-legislative protests and demands for an early election.

According to the President’s statement, “I hereby inform you that I have provided the means for the peaceful restoration of control of internal order without affecting the fundamental rights of the citizens.”

The President’s decision was already announced by Interior Minister Cesar Cervantes after a session of the Council of Ministers, which was hurried by social mobilizations across the country.