Coup D’état

Sunset over the Pacific in Lima

When I arrived in Peru I was aware of the political turmoil the country was in. President Castillo was being accused of being inept and was under investigation for corruption. Impeachment proceedings were underway and the country was divided and on edge.

After a few days in the capital of Lima, I was scheduled to fly to Cusco on December 7, 2022. When I made my way to the airport the political storm that had been brewing finally arrived. The media was reporting that Castillo had dissolved congress, was preparing to rewrite the constitution and was attempting to seize full control of the government. Essentially, he was attempting a coup d’état.

A taste of how I had hoped my new life was to begin

Things were tense in the airport and out on the tarmac The military was assembling around the perimeter of the airport. As the plane began to board, I was called to the desk over the speaker system. Upon presenting myself, I was asked for my passport and boarding pass. Then I was told to accompany security to join my checked bags.

I was led by security through a labyrinth of concrete corridors and was completely disoriented by the time we arrived at our destination. I entered to find an agent waiting in a concrete room with nothing but a table and all my luggage.

Things grind to a halt on the tarmac as the country awaits the results of the attempted coup d'état

I was asked a variety of questions and they went through all my belongings. They asked me questions about my photography equipment and why I was in the country. I was trying to keep my cool and keep a brave face. Inside I was wondering what the hell was going on, and whether this was to do with the attempted coup d’état in motion. Apparently, they deemed I posed no threat and finally brought me back to board my flight.

As we taxied on the runway to depart, the military was in full presence and in formation and at the ready around the airport and tarmac. I wasn’t sure for what purpose though; to maintain or to overthrow the government.

We departed and flew without incident until we began our descent in Cusco. The pilot came on and said the weather was too bad for us to land and we had to return to Lima. We flew back to Lima. When we landed, my friends in Cusco messaged to say that the weather was fine and didn’t understand why we had been sent back.

Flying over the Andes

We sat on the tarmac for about an hour while we waited for information. Everyone was aware at this point of what had happened in the political forum. Finally, we were told that the weather was now fine. The plane could now refuel and we could depart for Cusco again.

The reality was that the president did not have the backing of his own party. They began to resign over his actions. More importantly, he did not have the backing of the military. They did not back him and detained him. The vice president was sworn in as president and the next stage was set for the country.

The full moon rises over Cusco as we descend

As I flew into Cusco the sun was setting and the full moon was rising. I sat wondering whether my detention and the flight being diverted were all just coincidence or whether it was part of what had occurred. I will probably never know, but it was a memorable day to begin the start of this new chapter of my life here in Cusco.

Until nezt time…

MB