Al Jazeera Article:

Link: https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2023/1/25/photos-peru-protesters-clash-with-police-after-president-calls-for-truce

The Independent Article:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/machu-picchu-peru-protests-tourists-b2266786.html

Key People:

Pedro Castillo – Former President of Peru

Dina Boluarte – Castillo’s former Vice President and current President.

Summary:

Castillo attempted to dissolve congress in December of 2022 to derail his third impeachment. He was unsuccessful and was arrested instead with Boluarte taking over the role as Perú’s president. The largest in a series of anti-government protests occurred this week on Tuesday, January 24. Over 50 people have been killed during protests since Castillo’s impeachment. Boluarte blames the protesters for the recent violence striking Perú.

Al Jazeera Analysis:

Emphasis is placed on the political unrest and casualties related to the protests. The article includes several pictures taken during said protests, which the author uses to supplement information about the unrest. The focus stays mainly on the Peruvian general population, and a timeline of both developments in the state of the government as well as a timeline of protests. The violence of the event is front and center throughout the article.

The Independent Analysis:

The Independent focuses on foreign tourists stuck in Perú amid governmental instability. It continues by explaining the difficulty of leaving the country for the hundreds of tourists stuck at Machu Picchu. The author goes on to briefly describe the political unrest in Perú. The emphasis is on the tourists and not the people of Perú.

How the Articles Differ:

The main difference between the two news stories relates to their subjects. Al Jazeera summarizes the activity of the protestors, including the rampant police violence against these groups, whereas the independent focuses on the tragedy of the few tourists stuck in less active parts of the country. The Independent seems to glorify the idea of being “stuck” in Perú, and asks the reader to empathize with this struggle, ignoring the greater political struggle surrounding Perú. The two articles represent two perspectives, the domestic and the foreign.

Relating to Class Themes:

Although we are early in the semester, and therefore only have begun to develop greater themes in our knowledge of Latin American history, this current event reflects a long standing trend of subjugation and resistance, as well as a longstanding struggle to create and maintain a stable government.