Minister Alejandro Salas assured that Protestants who did not participate in the dialogue tables were infiltrated

The representatives of the government of Pedro Castillo and leaders of guilds of carriers and farmers reached the first agreements that suspended the strike for five days; however, one of the the bitterest moments of the demonstrations were the acts of vandalism and violence recorded in the city of Huancayo. Even after the negotiation tables began at the huanca stadium, several protesters remained on the outskirts demanding to be heard. About them, the Minister of Culture, Alejandro Salas, assured that they were infiltrators.

“At some point during the negotiation I had to stand up at the table because four leaders summoned us saying that the police could not continue to repress their people,” Minister Salas told Cuarto Poder. The latter, according to his statement, had indicated to the leaders that he was willing to go out with them to the vicinity of the Huanca stadium so that they could calm those who continued to be controlled by the authority. “I expose myself and go out with you if I know that you have the representativeness to calm you down,” he says he told you.

Once outside and carrying a megaphone, the leaders tried to communicate with the protesters; however, they pointed out that those who carried handcrafted weapons and fostered violence were not part of their guilds. “We don't recognize these people. They're not from the area. They're infiltrators. They did not recognize any of them,” said Salas, which were the statements of the leaders with whom he had started negotiations to stop the roadblocks and the stoppage.

Regarding the work of the Peruvian National Police (PNP), the minister said that “it has been a lot of responsibility” and that there was no repression whatsoever. “They have taken care of regardless of the violence against the human being who was in front. The violent man in front was taken care of. There has not been a situation of repression, they have only tried to contain the situation. There have been many police officers injured and interned,” he said. However, a publication by La República claims that the PNP repressed protesters who were around the Junín Regional Government. Using tear gas bombs and pellets, citizens were repressed even though there were also children in the tumult.

POSSIBLE NEW PROTESTS

Despite the agreements announced and formalized by various ministries, new demonstrations have been announced in various areas of the country. “Unfortunately we are in a political situation where political confrontation could result in protests becoming politicized. We are in an election year, in October there are elections”, was Minister Salas' response to the possible motivations for what would be a new strike.

Salas regretted that possible new protests seek to negotiate agreements that have already been reached over the weekend in Huancayo. “When there are protests to protest, even though solutions are already being given, what can we find, a field of destabilization,” the minister said about the demonstrations announced for next week.

Among the agreements of the last weekend is the increase in the Minimum Living Wage from S/ 930.00 to S/ 1,025.00. The measure has already been made official through a Supreme Decree published in the official newspaper El Peruano, but it will only be effective as of May 1. In addition, the Selective Consumption Tax (CSI) on fuels was reduced by 90%, as well as the suspension of IGV for basic necessities.

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