“We have currently prepared and trained 24,000 soldiers to meet expectations,” Interior Minister Vicente Romero said of the start of the 19-day protests on the 19th of this month, planned by a social organization coordinator. called for the resignation of President Dina Boluarte.
He added that the National Police have a comprehensive response plan that takes into account what he called “very violent social protests,” i .e . civilians.
As part of government preparations, the police staged a violent demonstration yesterday with a parade of five thousand soldiers and armored cars.
The Council of State convened by the President held an unusual session.
He also issued a document in support of the executive branch, demanding that the marches be peaceful.
“We call on the authorities, consistent with the law, to use the legitimate use of force and to ensure the safety and integrity of those who will take part in the demonstration, and the peace and tranquility of those who choose not to,” the document added among other things. .
Former Prime Minister Mirtha Vásquez saw this message as a threat and told Alberto Otárola – who currently holds the post and is reading the text –: “It is up to you to demand respect for the fundamental rights of the people and to defend democratic politics.” .
For his part, former parliamentarian and political analyst Alberto Quintanilla also said that the Council’s statement was ominous and, moreover, tacit: “It orders the use of force, which must be an extreme measure. It calls for repression.”
The former head of justice Alejandro Salas, in turn, criticized the fact that the government, after six months of governance, had sought neither dialogue with society nor solutions to the crisis.
“How come the Prime Minister is invoking the authorities on the legitimate use of force? They are meant to be the government that has civilian control over law enforcement. What are you talking about? They are the authorities. They are the political leaders,” political scientist Daniel Encinas warned.
For sociologist Omar Coronel, the government’s repressive preparations “at this point only serve to convince of the immense danger of doing nothing in the face of the kind of power that wants to be consolidated.”
gas/mrs