Peru's president refuses to resign after Gen Z protests leave at least 1 dead

Perus new President Joseacute Jeriacute refused to resign on Thursday following the death of a protester during a massive demonstration led by Gen Z activists demanding he step downAbout 100 people were also injured including 80 police officers and 10 journalists according to authorities who said they were investigating the shooting and killing of the protesterMy responsibility is to maintain the stability of the country that is my responsibility and my commitment Jeriacute told the local press after visiting Perus Parliament where he said he would request powers to combat crimeThe protests began a month ago calling for better pensions and wages for young people and expanded to capture the woes of Peruvians tired of crime corruption and decades of disillusion with their governmentAfter Jeriacute the seventh president in less than a decade was sworn in on October 10 protesters called for him and other lawmakers to resignProtests turn violentPerus prosecutors office announced on Thursday that it was investigating the death of 32yearold protester and hiphop singer Eduardo Ruiacutez who prosecutors said was shot by firearm during the mass demonstration of thousands of young people It wrote on the social media platform X that it has ordered the removal of Ruiacutezs body from a Lima hospital and the collection of audiovisual and ballistic evidence in the area where the incident occurred in the context of serious human rights violationsLocal media and security cameras showed video of Ruiacutez collapsing in a Lima street after a man fleeing from several protesters fired a shot Witnesses said the shooter was running away because he was accused of being a plainclothes police officer infiltrated among the demonstratorsAt least 24 protesters and 80 police officers were injured in the demonstrations according to Perus Ombudsmans Office Six journalists were struck by pellets and another four were assaulted by police according to the National Association of JournalistsThe president expressed regret over the protesters deathGlobal trendThe Peruvian protests come amid a wave of protests unfolding across the world driven by generational discontent against governments and anger among young people Protests have broken out in Nepal the Philippines Indonesia Kenya Peru and Morocco with protesters often carrying black flags with the One Piece anime symbol a pirate skull wearing a straw hatIn Limas main plaza 27yearold electrician David Tafur said he decided to join the demonstration after learning about it on TikTokWe are fighting for the same thing against the corrupt who here are also killers he said referring to violent 2022 protests and government crackdown in which 50 people were killedControversial new presidentThe escalating tensions come just days after Perus Congress ousted President Dina Boluarte who was known as one of the least popular presidents in the world for repressing protests and failing to control crimeJeriacute the 38yearold president of Congress then took office promising to get a recent crime wave under control He swore in Ernesto Aacutelvarez a ultraconservative former judge active on social media as prime ministerAacutelvarez has not yet commented on it but previously claimed that Perus Gen Z is a gang that wants to take democracy by storm and does not represent the youth who study and workCriticisms of Jeriacute and his government quickly emerged because he previously faced an investigation after being accused by a woman of raping her The prosecutors office dismissed the case in August though authorities continue to investigate another man who was with Jeriacute the day of the alleged rape Protesters also condemned Jeriacute because as a legislator he voted in favour of six laws that experts say weaken the fight against crimeProtesters demanded Jeriacute and other lawmakers resign and repeal the laws they say benefit criminal groupsDuring the protest more than 20 women shouted The rapist is Jeriacute or Jeriacute is a violin a slang expression in Peru where violin means rapist Protesters launched fireworks at police who responded with tear gas and rubber pelletsFrustrations growThat anger was built upon decades of frustration by Peruvians who have seen their leaders year after year plagued by corruption scandals fuelling a feeling of cynicism and deception in many of Perus youthAfter the pension issue other frustrations followed linked to insecurity the erosion of state capacity in Peru and corruption said Omar Coronel a sociology professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru who studies social movementsViolent scenes from the protest drew back memories of violent protests in the early months of Boluartes government when 50 protesters were killedProtesters held signs reading Protesting is a right killing is a crime One woman carried a poster that read From a murderess to a rapist the same filth criticising the change in governmentFor me it is about outrage over abuse of power corruption and killings said Tafur the protesterThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever