Lima, Peru
Reuters
—
Peruvian President José Gerri on Tuesday declared a 30-day state of emergency in the capital Lima and neighboring Callao state, saying the move was to combat rising crime.
The announcement comes after one person was killed and more than 100 injured in protests last week.
Mr Jeri said the measure, which began after midnight and was approved by the Council of Ministers, would authorize the deployment of the military alongside police to maintain security. Details were not disclosed.
“In the fight against crime, we are moving from defense to offense, and this fight will restore peace, tranquility and the trust of millions of Peruvians,” he said in a televised address.
Geri was sworn in earlier this month following the ouster of former president Dina Bolarte. He announced his new cabinet last week and vowed to make fighting crime a top priority.
The president also faced his first major protests, with civil society groups and members of the so-called Generation Z calling for action to tackle rising crime.
This is not the first time Peru has declared a state of emergency to address security concerns. Former President Bolarte imposed a similar 30-day measure in March, but analysts and security experts say repeated states of emergency have done little to reduce crime.
