The capital of Peru experienced an intense day this Thursday after several groups of protesters violently took to the city to demand the resignation of President Dina Boluarte.
The protesters came mainly from the south of the country to partake in the "toma de Lima" as a continuation of the social outburst that was already taking place throughout the nation due to the arrest and removal of Pedro Castillo.
The government had already declared a state of emergency, but the former president's supporters decided to go out to protest anyway, and as the hours passed the intensity of the protests increased.
The capital turned into a kind of battle field after the protesters took to the streets surrounding the Government Palace and the seat of Congress, which was being guarded by several police officers.
Authorities tried to disperse the crowds with tear gas bombs after protesters became violent in several areas of the capital. However, the situation only worsened.
Se reporta un incendio en la Plaza San Martín en Lima, Perú, durante las manifestaciones que se llevan a cabo ► https://t.co/9lRASkNnX3 pic.twitter.com/FWSZijL8wS
— NTN24 (@NTN24) January 20, 2023
Late in the evening, a fire broke out in a building near the Government Palace, where there was a crowd of protesters. The fire department had to go to the scene immediately to attend to the emergency, but the fire spread from the top of the building to the second floor.
Meanwhile, in another area of the city, disturbances also began to be reported, and once again, the police tried to clear out the protesters by throwing tear gas bombs.
🔴📽 Las protestas de este jueves en Perú han dejado escenas de violencia tras el choque entre los manifestantes, en contra del Gobierno de Dina Boluarte, y la policía
⭕ El Gobierno ha decretado el estado de emergencia durante 30 días
🔗 https://t.co/kuMWBpA2Yn pic.twitter.com/1rGtwYwCct
— EL PAÍS América (@elpais_america) January 19, 2023
Dina Boluarte speaks out
After the day of protests, the president decided to make a statement to the nation condemning the violent acts and assuring that she was able to record "the movement of the marches."
She also affirmed that she will act within the framework of the law to punish those who have used violence during this wave of protests.
"They want to generate chaos and disorder to seize power of the nation. And they are wrong. From the government we tell them that the situation is under control because we will act with the full weight of the law," she said.
The number of deaths resulting from the protests rose to 54 and could continue to rise if the protests continue throughout the country.
