Peruvian Government
Declares State of
Emergency
The Peruvian government
has declared a week-long
state of emergency in
seven northern provinces
due to a farm workers
strike that began on
Monday, a senior
government official said
on Tuesday.
The measure was taken in
response to the blockade
of the Northern
Pan-America Highway,
which stranded hundreds
of intercity buses and
goods trucks.
Jorge Del Castillo,
president of the
nation's Council of
Ministers, said that the
measure would be applied
to Lima departments
(provinces) Huaura,
Huaral and Barranca;
Ancash departments
(provinces) Huarmey,
Casma and Santa; and
Libertad department
(province) Viru.
The state of emergency
is to restore public
order and temporarily
suspend constitutional
rights, as well as hand
power to the armed
forces to ensure order,
according to the
government.
The strike was called by
the National
Agricultural Council and
the Peru Irrigation
Districts Users
Committee to demand
financial help from the
Agrarian Bank, better
agricultural goods and a
reduction of fertilizer
prices.
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