.Peru (MNN) — Peru’s government has extended a state of emergency in the capital, Lima, and surrounding areas. It suspends freedom of movement and assembly.
Clashes between protestors and police have killed dozens since the December arrest of former president Pedro Castillo. Human rights groups say police have used firearms against protestors. The protestors themselves have improvised explosives and other weapons.
Annabel Torrealba with Trans World Radio (TWR) says, “Our partner said that the cause of these riots really emanates from the discontent of the population. But it’s also motivated by politicians or groups of politicians in Peru. He said that some of them could be foreign groups.”
“In the background, it seems like they want this new president to go out of power, and some of the members of the Congress also.”
Sitting president Dina Boluarte, Castillo’s vice president has said she will not resign. She is the first woman to serve as Peru’s president.
Castillo, a former elementary school teacher, enjoyed wide public support. But he was forced out of office and arrested after trying to dissolve congress.
TWR
TWR programming reaches about 60 percent of Peru, pointing to hope in Jesus. Torrealba says, “Pray for the opportunity to buy more frequencies, to have more radio stations in the country.”
Pray also for peace and justice in Peru. Ask God to strengthen the TWR team. Torrealba says, “Please pray for them that they can be salt and light in the midst of this darkness that is in the country right now. And pray that society can change, knowing that God is our head. As the church of Christ, we have an obligation to have an impact in the lives of those that don’t have hope.”
The header photo shows a protest in Lima on December 12, 2022. (Photo courtesy of Mayimbú, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)