The Judicial Branch in Peru has issued a preliminary detention order lasting seven days for eight individuals apprehended during blockades on the Panamericana Sur highway, located in the district of Chala, within the province of Caravelí, Arequipa region. This crackdown is part of a growing movement related to informal mining activities. The request for detention was made by the Caravelí Corporate Criminal Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, with the objective of executing “urgent and unpostponable acts” in collaboration with the National Police of Peru (PNP) to collect vital evidence, determining whether formal charges will be pursued.
The individuals arrested include José Sánchez Q., José Luis Nucante C., Juan Machaca Z., Cristian Torres H., Isau Oroltegui S., Vicente Evangelista C., Mercedes Quispe Ch., and Gustavo Mamani A.
The detainees are being charged with alleged offenses related to crimes against public tranquility in the form of public unrest, coupled with criminal actions against public administration, specifically violence against the authority in an attempt to obstruct their official duties and harming the State.
Preliminary investigations have shown that the group was intercepted by the PNP while attempting to clear the South Pan American road that had been obstructed with stones and tires placed by protesters. “According to police records, the accused were urged to cease their blockade but responded by hurling stones and resisting arrest,” stated the Prosecutor’s Office of Arequipa.
The authorities reported that the detainees exhibited violent behavior, complicating their situation further. The Caravelí Corporate Criminal Provincial Prosecutor, led by prosecutor Marcos Camacho Correa, emphasized that this preliminary detention is crucial for gathering additional details about the incidents that unfolded during the protests and will help determine whether formal charges will be pressed.
Tragically, the protests in Caravelí have also led to fatalities. Alexander Checca Montalvo, a 27-year-old taxi driver, lost his life amidst the chaos. According to Walter Oporto, head of the Regional Health Management (Geresa) of Arequipa, Checca arrived at the Chala Health Center without vital signs and was pronounced dead due to a gunshot wound to the chest.
“Regrettably, the young man arrived lifeless, and we could not do anything to save him. It is a tragedy that has cast a shadow over the community,” said Oporto. His death has sparked outrage and raised concerns among citizens, who are demanding clarification regarding the circumstances of his demise amid the protests.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior confirmed that the PNP has successfully restored vehicular traffic and public order in various regions affected by the blockades, including Arequipa, Lima, Ica, and La Libertad. Early in the morning, police intervened in areas with higher concentrations of protesters, employing strategic and peaceful measures, emphasizing dialogue to reach a peaceful resolution to the ongoing unrest.
“We conducted a strategic intervention, prioritizing dialogue to achieve a negotiation that allowed the withdrawal of the protesters and the release of the blocked roads,” stated the minister in an official communication.
The restoration of order in the affected areas has notably included the clearance of the Panamericana Sur and other major routes that experienced interruptions due to informal miners. According to the PNP, it was possible to unblock the affected sections without major incidents, enabling traffic flow to resume to normal.
The National Confederation of Small Mining and Artisanal Mining of Peru (Confmin), which led the protests, has initiated a 24-hour ceasefire in its measures of resistance, allowing for the unlocking of the roads and normalizing the situation.
In an official announcement, the Confmin expressed its readiness to engage in negotiations with the government to find solutions that cater to the needs of informal miners. “We have decided on a 24-hour truce to facilitate dialogue and pursue peaceful resolutions to our concerns,” stated a representative from the organization.