Defense Minister minimizes clashes in Ica: “Nowhere is the situation out of control”

Social conflicts do not stop in Peru and today, Wednesday, April 6, violent clashes between the National Police and transporters and farmers in an attempt to unblock several sections of the Pan-American South, in Ica. The death of a 25-year-old man has been confirmed while another 14 people were injured.

But this situation seems to be minimal for Defense Minister José Luis Gavidia, who, when consulted about the situation in the south of the country, assured that “nowhere is the situation out of control.”

“They realize what leads to these things, to deaths, excesses, vandalism, those are the consequences when people, when people don't act responsibly,” he said.

At another time, apparently without knowledge of the situation in several areas of Ica, he said that “measures are already being taken” to free the roads blocked for two days and that hundreds of interprovincial buses and cargo vehicles are stranded.

ONE DEAD AND 14 INJURED

The Regional Government of Ica issued a statement confirming the death of a 25-year-old person and 14 others were injured after violent clashes that took place in various sections of the Pan-American South.

“We regret to report the sensitive death of Jhony Quinto Contreras, apparently as a result of the impact of a firearm projectile. He arrived at the hospital with no vital signs. So far 14 people have been injured, 12 of them police officers and two other civilians.”

The Minister of the Interior, Alfonso Chávarry, flies over the Panamericana Sur and so far has not arrived in Ica accompanied by 150 agents from the National Division of Special Operations (Dinoes) who will support police personnel who are confronting protesters blocking kilometers 278 and 290 of the Pan-American Highway South, in the areas known as Chinatown and Expansión, respectively.

Chávarry reported through a video on the official Twitter account of the Ministry of the Interior (Mininter), that the retention of two NPP non-commissioned officers identified as Juan Carlos Tucta Ayala and Hams Jesús Velezmoro Rodríguez has been reported to have been retained.

On the other hand, protesters and the PNP reached an agreement to give themselves a 'truce' to free several sections of the Pan-American South for two hours to allow buses, trucks and cars that are stranded for more than two days on the road to pass.

The striking carriers demand the presence of the authorities and a dialogue table should be set up where their list of claims is announced.

The leaders denied that they caused the abuses that occurred this morning and denounced that these acts of violence were carried out by infiltrators.

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