NOS News•
Six soldiers drowned in southeastern Peru. They tried, according to the army, to swim across a river in the Andes to reach the town of Juli to end a violent protest there.
In July, a police station and a court were set on fire on Saturday. Five people were injured in the violent protests. According to the army, the soldiers initially wanted to reach the town via a bridge a day later, but it would have been blocked by demonstrators.
The Defense Ministry said in a statement that the deaths of the soldiers could be attributed in part to “the hostile attitude” of protesters.
Dozens killed in protests
A crisis situation has been in effect in Peru since the beginning of December. Protests and riots erupted after President Castillo was impeached. Castillo himself had recently tried to sideline parliament. Indigenous people in particular have revolted after the deposition of Castillo, who hails from the Andes.
Castillo’s vice-president Boluarte succeeded him, but the demonstrators are not satisfied with that. They demand reforms that benefit the poor. They also want Castillo to be reinstated in his position. Violent protests have left 64 dead, most of them civilians.
