Peruvian lawmakers attend a session at Congress as new President Dina Boluarte offered a plan to bring elections forward, after the ouster of her predecessor Pedro Castillo sparked protests that have left several dead, in Lima, Peru, on December 12, 2022. REUTERS/Gerardo Marin
LIMA 鈥� Peru鈥檚 new president on Monday offered lawmakers a plan to bring elections forward by two years, after last week鈥檚 ouster of her predecessor sparked protests that have left at least six dead.
President Dina Boluarte, previously the vice president, was sworn in last week after former President Pedro Castillo was removed by Congress and arrested for trying to dissolve the legislature while preventing an impeachment vote against him.
But Castillo supporters argue that Boluarte was not elected by the people. Demonstrators have taken to the streets to demand that Peru hold new elections, with some also calling for Congress to be shuttered and Castillo released.
Local authorities in Apurimac said a 16-year-old had died from a gunshot wound, and two more 18-year-olds had died in Andahuaylas province. Another death had been reported earlier Monday in Arequipa, and two teenagers were killed on Sunday.
READ: Two dead and four injured in Peru protests to demand elections
Citing 鈥渄ifficult times,鈥� Peru鈥檚 sixth president in the past five years said she was proposing to move up the next general election to April 2024. It was previously scheduled for 2026.
In a handwritten letter posted to his Twitter page on Monday, Castillo called Boluarte鈥檚 early election pledge a 鈥渄irty game鈥� and derided her as a 鈥渦surper,鈥� calling for an immediate assembly to rewrite the nation鈥檚 constitution.
Castillo also said he would not resign as president despite his lawful removal from power. He is being held in a penitentiary center in Lima while he is being investigated by prosecutors for the alleged crimes of rebellion and conspiracy.
The leftist governments of Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, and Colombia issued a joint statement on Monday calling for the protection of Castillo鈥檚 human and judicial rights, adding that the 鈥渁gents鈥� of Castillo鈥檚 removal should prioritize 鈥渢he will of the citizens that was declared at the polls.鈥�
Castillo was elected by a narrow margin last year with Boluarte as his running mate.
Some civil and indigenous groups in the world鈥檚 No. 2 copper producer also announced a strike starting on Monday in Apurimac, home to significant mining projects including Las Bambas, a major copper mine owned by China鈥檚 MMG Ltd.
A source at Las Bambas, which has battled blockades for years, told Reuters it has received more blockade threats amid a 鈥渞adicalization鈥� of protests against the firm by locals.
A demonstrator prepares to throw back a tear gas canister during a protest demanding the dissolution of Congress and to hold democratic elections rather than recognize Dina Boluarte as Peru鈥檚 President, after the ousting of Peruvian President Pedro Castillo, in Lima, Peru, on December 12, 2022. REUTERS/Sebastian Castaneda
鈥楬igh conflict鈥�
A former teacher and peasant farmer, Castillo attracted strong support last year from rural and mining areas. But during the first year of his administration, corruption allegations against him mounted while he presided over unprecedented turnover among senior ministers.
READ: Peru: timeline of fresh political upheaval
Protests involving hundreds or thousands of people have been held since last week in cities in Peru鈥檚 interior and capital Lima, at times turning violent.
The United Nations Human Rights Office warned of further escalation in a statement on Monday, calling on authorities to exercise restraint and fully investigate the deaths of protesters.
In Apurimac, authorities ordered the airport鈥檚 closure after an attack by protesters, and parts of Peru鈥檚 main coastal highway was blocked on Monday in Ica and Arequipa.
LATAM Airlines said it had canceled flights to and from the city of Arequipa after reports protesters invaded a runway.
鈥淒ina Boluarte doesn鈥檛 represent us. She鈥檚 a traitor. She鈥檚 incompetent,鈥� said Juan Calle at a march in Lima, calling on the new president to be jailed and Castillo released.
Boluarte, 60, declared a state of emergency in areas of 鈥渉igh conflict,鈥� allowing soldiers to take more control.
鈥淚 have given the instructions so that control of internal order can be recovered peacefully, without affecting the people鈥檚 fundamental rights,鈥� said Boluarte, who lamented the deaths.