Interim President of Peru to Declare State of Emergency Due to Organized Crime Violence

The interim president of Peru, José Jerí, announced on Thursday that he will declare a state of emergency in Lima, due to the violence of organized crime, which has sparked massive protests, with one person dead at the hands of a uniformed officer and a hundred injured. Youth pay tribute to rapper killed by police during protest in Lima. The protests, led by young people who criticize the new government and the political class for the violence escalation, resulted in strong clashes near the Congress headquarters on Wednesday. Once decreed, the state of emergency will also aim to suppress street protests. ‘We will announce the decision to declare a state of emergency, at least in Metropolitan Lima,’ said cabinet chief Ernesto Álvarez to the press after a meeting of ministers. The measure will cover 10 million people living in the capital and the neighboring port of Callao. Under the state of emergency, the government has the power to send military forces to patrol the streets and restrict rights such as freedom of assembly. ‘A curfew has not been ruled out… considering that crime does not respect nightlife,’ said Álvarez. The cabinet chief added that the government will announce in the coming days the package of ‘effective’ measures that will govern the future state of emergency.