Peruvian ex-president Castillo faces 18 months in prison as demonstrators declare “insurgency”

On Thursday, the Supreme Court of Peru issued an order requiring the country’s ousted former president, Pedro Castillo, to spend the next 18 months in pretrial prison. His supporters demonstrated outside the courthouse and around the country.

After attempting to dissolve Congress and impose an emergency government, Castillo was impeached and ousted from office last week. Lawmakers denounced his move as an attempt at a coup.

Since then, he has been charged with insurrection and conspiracy, both of which he denies.

In the days following his impeachment, Castillo’s supporters have taken to the streets in Andean cities in what some demonstrators have dubbed a “national insurgency.”

Protesters gathered outside the jail where he was being held, brandishing placards criticising incoming President Dina Boluarte and demanding that Congress be closed down.

The Mission of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Peru said in a statement: “We express our serious concern about the increase in violence in Peru and we deeply regret the death of 15 people.”

According to reports, the demonstration has become violent, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries.

In Ayacucho, in the southern Andes of Peru, the local health authority reported seven fatalities and 52 injuries on Thursday as a result of clashes between demonstrators and soldiers who were captured on camera shooting live ammunition.

In relation to the military forces’ response when demonstrators seized the airport, Eliana Revollar, the human rights ombudswoman, said on national radio that “shooting broke out accompanied by helicopters that began to drop teargas bombs.”

On Wednesday, the country’s new administration declared a 30-day nationwide state of emergency, putting the army on the streets and suspending the freedom to assemble and move around.

The increase in violence coincides with the seventh day of anti-Boluarte demonstrations, during which protesters are demanding the removal of all lawmakers and the reinstatement of Castillo, who was removed after attempting to dissolve congress and rule by decree in an effort to avoid being impeached due to allegations of corruption.