The rallies were spurred by the removal of former president Pedro Castillo from office earlier this month. Castillo will be kept in jail for 18 months before his trial on rebellion and conspiracy charges.
Anti-government demonstrations reportedly trapped thousands of tourists in the Peruvian city of Cusco and hundreds more in the region surrounding the Inca landmark of Machu Picchu.
The rallies were spurred by the removal of former president Pedro Castillo from office earlier this month. Castillo will be kept in jail for 18 months before his trial on rebellion and conspiracy charges.
He dismisses the accusations and claims he is the legitimate leader of the nation. However, if proven guilty, he may face up to ten years in prison, according to the public prosecutor.
Former Vice President Dina Boluarte was sworn in as the nation’s new president on Wednesday of last week after Mr. Castillo was removed from office by politicians for attempting to dissolve parliament and govern by decree until new elections.
In a congressional vote, Mr. Castillo was accused of “permanent moral incompetence.”
Mr. Castillo’s supporters have staged angry demonstrations seeking a new presidential election, prompting police to use tear gas and gunshots to calm the violence. In conflicts between demonstrators and security personnel, at least 18 people have been murdered.
Protesters forced the closure of five airports in Peru, including the third largest, Cusco International, which serves several UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Machu Picchu.
On Monday, a group of protesters attempted to attack the airport, which was subsequently closed, leaving many travelers stranded. It has reopened for flight operations.
“There are 5,000 tourists stranded in Cusco; they are in their hotels awaiting the resumption of flights,” Darwin Baca, the mayor of Machu Picchu, told the AFP news agency.
Since Tuesday, rail service has been discontinued, leaving roughly 800 tourists trapped in Machu Picchu town at the base of the Inca citadel’s mountain.
According to La Vanguardia, the mayor has urged Spain, the United States, and Mexico to help evacuate the visitors by helicopter to Cusco.
About 200 tourists, primarily from the United States and Europe, fled Machu Picchu on foot along train tracks in an attempt to reach Ollantaytambo, 20 miles distant, from whence they might catch a train to Cusco.
“They fear that once they reach Cusco, they won’t be able to return home because the situation could worsen,” the mayor added.
There have been no incidents of tourists being harmed, but there is concern that several visitors will be compelled to extend their visits.
A backpacker from Catalonia was quoted by La Vanguardia as reporting that a hostel owner had urged 60 travelers to stay and assist in barricading the front door with beds and other things in anticipation of looting that never occurred.
On Wednesday, the government of President Boluarte declared a state of emergency, providing police special powers and limiting liberties including the right to assembly.
However, it appears to have had little impact on the protests.
Mr. Castillo, a former teacher and the son of peasant farmers, narrowly won an election under the banner of the Marxist Free Peru party last year.
Four nations with leftist presidents – Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, and Mexico – have endorsed a single statement proclaiming Mr. Castillo a “victim of undemocratic harassment.”
