President Boluarte’s measures have failed to curb extortion and killings.

On Thursday, about 460 urban bus drivers will go on strike to protest rising insecurity and crime in Peru. So far this year, 46 Peruvian transport workers have been victims of extortion and contract killings, said Hector Vargas, president of the Coordinadora de las Empresas de Transporte de Lima y Callao (CTU).

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Since 90% of urban transport workers have suffered criminal attacks, the CTU plans to present a technical proposal to the Peruvian Congress calling for the creation of an elite unit made up of the National Police, the Attorney General’s Office and the judiciary to fight organized crime. This unit should operate in the cities with the highest crime rates: Lima, Callao and Trujillo.

Martin Valeriano, a representative of the National Association of Transporters (Anitra) lamented that the deaths of drivers remain unpunished and that victims’ families receive no compensation.

He called the controversial proposal for drivers to carry guns “unworkable,” warning that “they would end up shooting at each other in the streets, it would be total chaos.”

The text reads, “Generation Z takes center stage: Hundreds of young people march toward Plaza San Martin in Lima. The protests target Congress and the government, demanding issues related to pensions, corruption, and insecurity.”

Transport companies say extortion cases continue despite the government of de facto President Dina Boluarte declaring a state of emergency in several regions. Previous protests over the same issue forced her to increase police patrols and order remote work and online classes during those days.

On Sept. 27, a demonstration that brought together transport workers and Generation Z youth was harshly repressed by police near Congress in Lima. Citizens demanded Boluarte’s removal and urgent measures against growing organized crime, extortion and contract killings that have led to drivers’ deaths.

Protesters also rejected pension system reforms that raise the minimum age for early retirement, as well as an amnesty law benefiting military and police officials responsible for crimes against humanity during the dictatorship of Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000).

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: RPP – CTU

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