Protests Continue

After the confrontation with police at the airport, protests continued in Cusco. Truckloads of people were coming into the city daily from the surrounding communities and taking over the streets. The protesters vowed to keep up the demonstrations until new elections were held.

Images of those that had been killed during the protests, along with those that had been apprehended and held by police were displayed throughout the city and on placards as they marched through the streets. Tension and anger remained high.

A mock cardboard coffin containing images of President Boularte and congressman Jorge Montoya was paraded through the main square and then set on fire as they called for justice. Blame for those killed was being placed directly at their feet as congressman Montoya called for the demonstrators to be treated as terrorists and force to be used to stop them, and Boularte was the one to ultimately authorize the use of force and live ammunition if deemed necessary.

The protests continued daily at this high intensity leading up to Christmas. Then, as people prepared to be with their families and celebrate the holidays, things calmed down. Market stalls replaced placards, music was heard instead of angry chants, and shoppers instead of protesters filled the streets. Protest leaders called for a break in demonstrations as talks with leaders were scheduled over the holidays.

Everyone remained uncertain about what would happen. It remained a day-to-day situation. After talks with the president and other ministers, protest leaders were unsatisfied and called for the protests and strike to continue beginning January 4th

When the 4th arrived, many tourists and Peruvians alike scrambled early in the morning to get a flight out before the protests resumed and the possibility of violence commenced. Many were worried about being trapped by the airport and highways being shut down again.

There was very little traffic on the streets and the majority of businesses remained closed. There was an eerie calm in the air as people held their breath for what would happen next. Small groups of protesters formed throughout the streets shutting down a few major intersections, but it remained calm otherwise. There were news reports of highways being barricaded and closed down and a few skirmishes with police in other cities. These appeared to be small and created by the more extreme groups.

After a few days of this, it appeared that the protests had lost their momentum. People began going about their regular business again as the large protests did not manifest. Everyone remains apprehensive and unsettled, but hopeful things can return to some normalcy.

That is where things currently remain, in an uneasy stalemate. People try to get back to their lives and wait to see what will happen next. As for me, I am trying to get to work on other aspects of my photography project that brought me here. It is going to take me to some very remote areas for the next few weeks, so I will have very limited service while away. I will update you with images and stories when I return.

MB