Politics

Peru government announces state of emergency around central highways following national transportation strike

Peru’s government announced a state of emergency on Wednesday in the areas surrounding the country’s central highway network in the departments of Junín and Lima, following the effects of a national passenger and cargo transportation strike.

According to the state news agency Andina, the 30-day state of emergency was implemented in order to ensure the supply of food and merchandise to Peru’s capital, Lima, and guarantee freedom of transit. The national police, with support from Peru’s military, are responsible for ensuring security and normal transportation services on the highway network.

The National Council for Overland Transportation, or CNTT, began its national strike on Tuesday, primarily due to a five percent rise in fuel prices. The president of CNTT, Alfonso Rivas, told daily El Comercio his union has two main demands. These include a 100 percent reduction on a diesel tax implemented by the government. The Minister of Transportation and Communications, Enrique Cornejo, has offered to reduce the tax by 20 percent. The transportation union’s second demand is that the government implement an official agreement the union reached with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications last June.

“At this moment the negotiations are not moving,” said Rivas. “We are ready to negotiate, but (the government) does not give us any alternative.” According to El Comercio, 4,200 inter-provincial buses and 120,000 cargo trucks were removed from Peru’s highways as part of the strike.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*