The defence ministry stated the troopers got here beneath assault from folks armed with slingshots and sticks at an anti-government demonstration in Ilave.
Six Peruvian troopers have drowned after leaping right into a freezing river whereas fleeing anti-government protesters within the nation’s south.
The defence ministry stated troopers got here beneath assault from folks armed with slingshots and sticks at an indication on Sunday towards the federal government of President Dina Boluarte within the metropolis of Ilave within the Puno area.
“With the placement of the stays … the search and rescue efforts have concluded,” the ministry stated on social media.
The our bodies of the troopers had been retrieved from the Ilave River, a tributary to Lake Titicaca on the border between Peru and Bolivia.
5 different troopers had been additionally struggling hypothermia following makes an attempt to cross the river, the ministry added.
Puno has been the epicentre of protests that broke out in December when then-President Pedro Castillo was eliminated and arrested after making an attempt to dissolve parliament and rule by decree.
Greater than 50 folks have died and about 1,300 have been injured – almost half of them members of the safety forces – in clashes since then, in response to the nation’s rights ombudsman.
Castillo’s supporters are demanding the resignation of Boluarte, dissolution of parliament, instant elections, and a brand new structure.
‘No means out’
In a video shared by the ministry, a soldier who managed to flee stated he and his colleagues “crossed the river … as a result of we had no different means out”.
“Between 800 and 900 folks surrounded us and began throwing stones at us,” he stated, seated amongst a couple of dozen different servicemen, all wrapped in blankets. “Individuals known as us corrupt and murderers.”
The soldier stated the lads had tried to kind a human chain, however “the present took us, and … a number of the troops started to drown”.
A healthcare group in Puno stated it handled 5 troopers for hypothermia after native residents rescued them from the river.
On Saturday, 16 folks – civilians and troopers – had been injured in clashes elsewhere in Puno that additionally noticed a police station burned.
The demonstrations are pushed by poor southern Indigenous Peruvians who see Castillo, who can also be from humble origins and has Indigenous roots – as an ally of their battle towards poverty, racism and inequality.
Elected for a five-year time period, Castillo had been in workplace for less than 17 months when he was dismissed.
He was the fifth Peruvian president since 2018 to be efficiently impeached earlier than the tip of his time period.
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