Peru’s president has declared a state of emergency in the capital and has ordered soldiers to assist the police in addressing a recent surge of violence following the killing of a popular singer.
President Dina Boluarte’s government has issued a decree stating that the state of emergency will be in effect for 30 days, during which certain rights, such as freedom of assembly and movement, will be restricted. This allows the police and army to detain individuals without a judicial order.
Recent months have seen a rise in killings, violent extortion, and attacks on public places in Peru. The police reported 459 killings from Jan. 1 to March 16, along with 1,909 extortion reports in January alone.
The killing of Paul Flores, the lead singer of the cumbia band Armonia 10, on Sunday has sparked widespread outrage. Flores was shot to death when assailants attacked the bus he and his bandmates were traveling on after a concert in Lima.
In response to the escalating violence, opposition lawmakers in Congress have called for a vote of no confidence against Interior Minister Juan José Santiváñez, citing a lack of a comprehensive plan to combat the rising crime rates. The vote is expected to be discussed in the Congress’ plenary later this week.
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