Agricultural strike: Puno-Juliaca highway blocked in protest against rising prices and river pollution

Around 200 agricultural producers have taken the entire road that links the cities of Puno and Juliaca demanding the high cost of living and the toll that has been located in the Paucarcolla district. This measure of force has caused dozens of heavy-duty vehicles to be stranded on the track. The strikers also call for the initiation of President Pedro Castillo's announced second agrarian reform.

The Puno-Juliaca highway is used by merchants heading to Cusco or arriving from Arequipa, so traffic has become congested forming long lines of trucks, interprovincial buses and private cars. In addition, there are travelers who, upon learning about the road blockade, chose to walk to their hometowns, since the strikers do not let any vehicles pass through.

It is specified that this blockade has occurred throughout the road, but especially in the toll area near the Illpa River, in Puno. Police officers arrived at the scene to safeguard and avoid clashes.

The protesters detailed that this stoppage is 48 hours. In addition, they are not only claiming for rising prices, but also for the pollution of two valuable rivers in the region.

“We are abiding by the strike that has been scheduled for 48 hours due to the (rise) in the cost of living that affects us, the peasants. Also because of the pollution of the Ramis River and the Illpa River,” explained one of the strikers.

“This strike is being complied with in all five districts: Coata, Huata, Paucarcolla, Caracoto, Capachica,” he added.

Regarding the cost of the toll, the farmer explained that they do not produce a large amount of food, so it seems to them that the cost they pay to transport themselves within the same region is excessive and they ask for the removal of the booth, located within the same district of Paucarcolla, dividing it into sectors.

“We are from the country, we live in the countryside. We don't have any profit, we pay everything, and we don't produce in large quantities. The toll charges us: S/ 3.9 cars. In trucks, by 100 meters, S/ 7.5, when returning S/ 7.5. It's 15 soles and for two trips we have to pay S/30 soles. It is not possible that they are charging us at our door,” he expressed indignantly.

Farmers indicated that the strike will not be lifted unless their three claims are resolved: pollution of rivers, the high cost of tolls and the increase in the cost of living.

“We are going to continue. We have to ask that the toll go to the place of origin where it belongs. According to national regulations, the toll (must be) in Caracoto because here it hurts my people,” said the same farmer for RPP Noticias.

However, this is not the first time that the population of Puno has taken the road that connects Juliaca and Puno. On April 5, in Caracoto, a strike was held demanding that the project of the highway linking both cities be reformulated.

“We want the retaining wall removed, bypassy bridges and pedestrian bridges; and also public lighting. We are also asking that the brothers affected (by the construction of the highway) be paid 100%,” Edgar Huancavilca, leader of the Caracoto district, told RPP Noticias.

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