Peru Declares State of Emergency in Lima Amid Surge in Violence, Crime

The Peruvian government, led by President Dina Boluarte, declared a state of emergency in the capital city of Lima on Monday night in response to a growing wave of violence and criminality, as per Al Jazeera.

The decree authorizes the deployment of troops on the streets of Lima and grants police and the military expanded powers to detain individuals with minimal restrictions for the next 30 days.

The decision was triggered by the recent death of popular cumbia singer Paul Flores, who was killed in a criminal attack on Sunday. Flores died when assailants targeted the bus he was travelling on in an apparent extortion attempt against the transport operator.

The shooting, coupled with an explosion at a restaurant that injured at least 11 people, has ignited public outrage. Peru has witnessed a significant rise in killings, violent extortion, and attacks on public places in recent months. According to police reports, there were 459 killings between January 1 and March 16, and 1,909 reported cases of extortion in January alone.

Businesses, including transport companies, have been frequently targeted by criminal groups, despite recent arrests touted by authorities.

President Boluarte, whose government previously declared a state of emergency between September and December, has expressed her desire to see murderers face the death penalty, though Peru currently only permits execution for convicted traitors.

The escalating crime wave has drawn sharp criticism from opposition lawmakers, who have requested a vote of no confidence against Minister of the Interior Juan Jose Santivanez, claiming he lacks a comprehensive plan to combat the violence. This vote is expected to be debated in Congress later this week.

Peruvian authorities have increasingly resorted to declaring states of emergency in recent years in response to spikes in criminal activity and social unrest.

Under the declared state of emergency, fundamental rights, including freedom of assembly and movement, will be restricted. The police and military will be empowered to detain individuals without a judicial order during the 30-day period.