Peru, Part II

Supporters of ousted Peruvian President Pedro Castillo hold puppets depicting President of
Congress Jose Williams, from left, Attorney General Patricia Benavides and Peru's new
President Dina Boluarte, during a protest in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022.
A Peruvian judge on Thursday ordered Castillo to remain in custody for 18 months,
approving a request from authorities for time to build their rebellion case against him.
(AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Honeymoon's over.

In impoverished rural areas, though, fierce protests are showing no signs of abating amid anger over the removal of Castillo, who was Peru’s first president with Indigenous heritage. Long overlooked peasant farmers and others remain unwilling to give up on their demand that he be released from prison, where he is being held while under investigation for rebellion.

Despite Boluarte’s own humble roots in the Andes, in her home region many are calling her a traitor.

“She is an opportunist. She has easily entered the government palace, but whose job was it,” Rolando Yupanqui said after the funeral of one of the at least 14 people who have died from injuries suffered in clashes with security forces. “People are upset here. Do you think that people go out on the streets for fun?”

Yupanqui said Castillo, who lived in a two-story, adobe home before moving to the neo-baroque presidential palace in the capital, Lima, had visited his community of Andahuaylas and “was just like us.” As for Boluarte, he said, “We’ve never met the lady.”

Get up, stand up, yada. Part I.