Peru: Anti-Fujimori march in Lima January 11 /update 4

Event

Further protests to denounce the December 24 pardoning of former President Alberto Fujimori are set to take place on Thursday, January 11. The main event will be held in the capital Lima, where demonstrators will gather at the central Plaza Dos de Mayo at 17:00 (local time); the march route is available in map form here. Some violence, such as clashes between protesters and police, cannot be ruled out. Localized transportation disruptions are to be anticipated along the march route.

Smaller protests are also expected in other cities across the country.

Context

More than 15,000 people reportedly marched in Lima to protest the pardon on December 28, with smaller protests held in various other cities, including Trujillo, Piura, Chiclayo, Iquitos, Huancayo, Arequipa, Cusco, and Puno. Related protests on December 25 resulted in clashes between protesters and police, who used tear gas to disperse the crowds.

Alberto Fujimori - in office from 1990 to 2000 - was jailed in 2009 on a number of charges, including the authorization of death squads and corruption. He had been sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Advice

Individuals in Peru are advised to stay informed of the evolving sociopolitical climate in the coming weeks and to avoid all protests as a precaution.