Peru declares emergency after eight die in protests

Peru government on Thursday declared a 30-day nationwide state of emergency, granting special powers to police and limiting freedoms including the right to assembly.According to  defence minister, Alberto Otarola the development comes after a week of fiery protests that have left at least eight dead. The protests were sparked by the ousting of former President Pedro Castillo on 7th December in an impeachment vote. Castillo, a leftist elected in 2021 was arrested after illegally trying to dissolve the Andean nation's Congress. This is the latest in a series of political crisis Peru has faced in recent years. 

Prosecutors on Wednesday said they were seeking 18 months of pretrial detention for Castillo, who has been charged with rebellion and conspiracy. Peru's Supreme Court met to consider the request but later suspended the session until Thursday. Castillo's former vice president, Dina Boluarte, was sworn into office after his removal, and her presidency has divided other Latin American leaders. The political upheaval has sparked angry and sometimes violent protests around the Andean country, especially in the rural and mining regions that propelled the former peasant farmer and teacher to office in July last year. Peru's judiciary said on Twitter it would hold a hearing by Friday on a "request for pretrial detention for 18 months against former president Pedro Castillo and (former Prime Minister) Anibal Torres, investigated for the crimes of rebellion and others."