By Gwynne Dyer – Could there be anything more ridiculous than last week’s failed coup attempt in Peru?
Peru's Congress Tuesday approved a bill to bring forward the general elections to April 2024 after it had rejected a similar initiative last week, thus fueling additional unrest nationwide.
US President Joseph Biden Monday told his Ecuadorian colleague Guillermo Lasso at the White House that his country was interested in strengthening ties with one of its staunchest South American allies.
Colombian guerrilla fighters of the National Liberation Army Monday announced a unilateral Christmas truce from Dec. 24 to Jan. 2, although the measure would only cover the State Military and Police Forces. The ELN also warned they will defend themselves in case of being attacked.
Peruvian President Dina Boluarte announced Pedro Angulo's departure as Prime Minister and said a replacement would be appointed on Tuesday at the latest.
“If Argentine president Alberto Fernandez insists on recognizing coup-monger Pedro Castillo as the legitimate president of Peru, we should definitively say that the Malvinas islands are not Argentine, but British.”
Peru's President Dina Boluarte Friday decreed a curfew in 15 provinces and the Armed Forces have taken over the country's security following mounting violence since the impeachment of Pedro Castillo Terrones on Dec. 7.
The Uruguayan Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is working to transfer in humanitarian flights for Uruguayans stranded in Peru after the decree of state of emergency came into force. Since Pedro Castillo was ousted and Dina Boluarte assumed the presidency, 12 people have died in clashes with security forces and six in roadblocks, with great mobilizations expected for Friday.
Former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo Terrones has been placed under pre-trial detention for 18 months as he faces rebellion and conspiracy charges for announcing he would be dissolving Congress and ruling by means of decree laws.
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) forecast Thursday that Latin American and Caribbean countries will grow 3.7% in 2022, which represents a setback from last year's 6.7%.