• Source:JND
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Peru Protests:After Nepal, Peru has become the latest hotspot for youth-led unrest, as Gen Z protesters took to the streets to challenge President Dina Boluarte over wages and pension reforms. The capital city of Lima erupted in violence on Sunday, with young demonstrators clashing with police.

Fueled by anger over corruption, rising crimes, and controversial wages and pension reforms, the protesters attempted to march toward government buildings, triggering tense and chaotic confrontations across the city.

"There is less democracy now than there was previously. It's deteriorating… for fear, for extortion," 54-year-old protester Gladys told AFP. Some 500 protesters gathered in the city centre with a large police detail. Protester Celene Amasifuen added, "Congress has no credibility, it doesn't even have the people's vote… It is wreaking havoc in this nation."

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Violence Breaks Out During March

Black-clad Protesters wearing masks pelted stones and bottles at police. In retaliation, police opened tear gas and rubber bullets to prevent them from marching toward the presidential and parliament buildings.

The clashes further intensified in the evening as protesters clashed with officers using sticks and stones, while police attempted to disperse the unrest.\

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This is the third mass protest movement in Peru in five years. The first took place in 2020 after the removal of President Martín Vizcarra in November, and a second outbreak of unrest occurred in 2023, particularly in the southern city of Puno. The 2023 protests were fueled by long-simmering grievances against inequality, corruption, and exclusion, and these resulted in 66 deaths.

Press And Police Affected

Sunday protests in Lima also affected members of the press. The National Association of Peruvian Journalists said six journalists were hit by police pellets while they reported the protest, two of them from Exitosa Noticias radio. Hildebrandt En Sus Trece photojournalist Cesar Zamalloa said he was hit squarely on the leg and hip while filming the unrest.

Police initially reported that three officers were injured, but eventually increased the figure to 12. Authorities have demanded restoring order, but demonstrators claim that their demonstration is a response to the lack of action by the government and mismanagement.

Calls For Government Accountability

Peru's president, Dina Boluarte, is facing rising pressure from the population, particularly youth, to act against corruption. Gen Z has been raising concerns about rising crime rates and void reforms. 

This week, lawmakers passed a law mandating that individuals over 18 enrol in a private pension fund, even as many face unstable and insecure employment conditions across the country.

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There is a demand for an additional day of demonstrations as citizens continue to be angry with the administration and public policy. As tensions rise, authorities and civil society groups are appealing for dialogue to prevent further violence and protect protesters and media.