LIMA, Peru — In response to rising violence and in the wake of a popular singer’s death, the President of Peru has enacted a state of emergency in the capital. The decision, announced on Monday, includes the deployment of military forces to assist police efforts in curbing criminal activities.
President Dina Boluarte’s administration has released a decree that enforces the state of emergency for a period of 30 days. The decree authorizes restrictions on certain freedoms, such as assembly and movement, permitting security forces to make arrests without prior judicial approval.
The country has been struggling with an increase in criminal activities including homicides, extortion, and assaults on public venues. According to police records, there have been 459 homicides reported from January 1 to March 16, alongside 1,909 extortion cases in January alone. Outrage reached new heights following the murder of 39-year-old Paul Flores, the lead vocalist of the cumbia band Armonia 10, on Sunday.
Amid the growing concern over escalating violence, opposition members of Congress have initiated a motion for a vote of no confidence against Interior Minister Juan José Santiváñez. They criticize him for failing to develop a comprehensive strategy to combat the surge in criminal activities. This motion is anticipated to come to a vote during Congress’ plenary session later this week.
Flores was fatally shot early Sunday when attackers targeted the bus carrying him and his bandmates after a performance in Lima. Cumbia, a vibrant Latin music genre, is characterized by the beats of drums, maracas, and other instruments, and is widely celebrated.
The incident involving the singer was not isolated, as the previous day, an explosive device detonated at a restaurant in the capital, injuring at least 11 individuals.
The government under Boluarte had earlier employed a similar measure of a state of emergency from September to December in an attempt to manage the violence.
