Peru Declares State of Emergency in Lima Over Surge in Gang Violence
Peru’s interim president José Jeri on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Lima and the neighboring port city of Callao in response to a wave of violence and extortion blamed on organized crime.
The measure, approved by the Council of Ministers, will take effect Wednesday and remain in place for 30 days, Jeri announced in a brief address broadcast on public television.
Under the state of emergency, the government may deploy the army to patrol the streets and restrict certain civil rights, including freedom of assembly.
It marks the first major action by the interim president since he took office nearly two weeks ago.
The interim government had announced last Thursday its intention to declare the measure amid escalating criminal violence in the capital.
“Crime has grown out of control in recent years, causing immense pain to thousands of families and slowing the country’s progress. But that ends today. We begin to change the history of insecurity in Peru,” Jeri said in his televised address.
