Peru’s deposed President Castillo has been held in custody for 18 months
Lima Amid increasingly violent protests on the streets of Peru, the Supreme Court has ordered another 18 months of detention ordered President Pedro Castillo ousted by Parliament. The court announced this on Thursday (local time) via Twitter after a hearing. According to this, the law enforcement authorities want to investigate the charge of rebellion against Castillo, who faces more than four years in prison.
By dissolving the congress, the left-wing politician wanted to forestall a vote of no confidence in parliament last week. His cabinet and the opposition accused him of a coup d’etat – Castillo was removed from office, arrested and initially held in custody for seven days. The court on Tuesday rejected an appeal by his lawyers.
In southern and southeastern Peru, where Castillo has a particularly large following in rural areas, but also in the capital Lima There were sometimes violent protests against his dismissal and clashes between demonstrators and the police. The government of Castillo’s successor, Dina Boluarte, declared a 30-day state of emergency across the country on Wednesday. On Thursday (local time), the government declared a five-day night curfew in 15 provinces.
The health authority of the Ayacucho region reported seven dead and 52 injured after clashes at the airport in the city of the same name on Thursday. Taken together with earlier official information, this corresponds to at least 15 deaths and more than 70 injuries in different parts of the country.
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Air and train traffic was suspended in parts of the Andes country, and according to Peruvian media reports, hundreds of tourists were stuck as a result. The police presence in Lima and other cities was increased. Thousands of demonstrators demanded the resignation of Castillo’s successor Boluarte, the dissolution of parliament, early new elections and the release of the imprisoned ex-president.
More: State of emergency in Peru over protests against Castillo’s ouster
