Young Peruvians compete with the police in antigan demonstrations

Police and young anti-government demonstrators clashed in the Peruvian capital, Lima, during the weekend.

A rights for defense said that at least 18 demonstrators had been injured in demonstrations who held on Saturday and Sunday, nicknamed “Gen Z March” by the organizers. A police officer suffered burns, officials said.

Groups of young people, mainly under the age of 30, were joined by bus and taxi drivers and walked towards Congress to express their anger in the face of corruption scandals and increasing insecurity.

The demonstrators, some of whom have thrown stones and other missiles, were dispersed by the police pulling tear gas and rubber bullets, the AFP news agency reported.

The demonstrations broke out for the first time on Saturday September 20, triggered by a reform of pensions adopted earlier this month under which young people will have to pay a private retirement fund.

The president’s approval rating, Dina Boluarte, has been in unique figures for months and many Peruvians say they want her to leave her duties.

“We are walking against corruption, for life and the crime that kills us every day,” Adriana Flores, 28, told AFP.

Generation Z demonstrators have been joined by transport workers who say that the government is not enough to combat extortion.

Taxi and bus drivers say gangs, including Tren de Aragua, based in Venezuela, threaten them to pay “protective money”.

They also accuse the police to close their eyes to the widespread extortion.

Some have held up lights reading “We demand a life without fear”.

Journalists said some Gen Z demonstrators tried to violate the security obstacles that the police had erected around the congress.

But the group of human rights CNDDHH said that the police had reacted excessively in their response.

“There was no justification for drawing large amounts of tear gas, even less to attack people,” CNDDHH’s lawyer Mar Perez told AFP.

By walking towards the congress, the demonstrators chanted “united for Peru that we deserve”.

Once they have reached security barriers, they also sang the national anthem.

Many Peruvians criticize the congress, accusing the legislative not to represent the interests of the people.

“These people (members of the congress) increase their own wages, they kill us like flies and do not care about anything. We need total change, we are tired of this situation,” a young woman told the local RPP site.

President Boluarte, who was sworn in as president after her predecessor was welcomed for trying to dissolve the Congress in 2022, doubled her salary in July – a decision that many called “scandalous” in the face of her record approval notes.

His mandate ends in July of next year.