Minister of Education Patricia Correa
LIMA, Dec 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — Peru’s ministers of education and culture handed in their irrevocable resignations to President Dina Boluarte on Friday, in protest against the deaths of anti-government demonstrators.
The first to resign was Minister of Education Patricia Correa, whose resignation letter, posted on social media, said “the death of compatriots has no justification” and “state violence cannot be disproportionate and cause death.”
Peru, said Correa, is facing a “large scale” political crisis that calls for democratic conviction, and respect for order as well as the life of each Peruvian citizen.
Culture Minister Jair Perez echoed that sentiment in his letter, saying Peru “needs peace and effective dialogue, not more violence.”
He called on authorities “at the highest level and in all branches to reflect and take action to bring peace to the Peruvian people.”
They marked the first resignations of Boluarte’s administration, which began on Dec. 7, after her predecessor Pedro Castillo was ousted for alleged “permanent moral incapacity.”
Castillo supporters subsequently took to the streets in parts of the country. Protests spread and intensified Sunday, leaving 19 people dead so far, according to official figures.
Boluarte said Friday she plans to personally visit protest sites “to attend to their demands” and achieve “social peace in the country.”
She also “strongly” condemned “some radicals,” saying they were using “their right to mobilize … to attack the police, military, civilians, public and private institutions.”
Protesters have been demanding that Boluarte step down and general elections be moved up. — NNN-XINHUA
