LIMA (Reuters) – Peru’s government on Thursday declared a 60-day state of emergency in districts around Lima to fight a rise in crime, the nation’s prime minister said, as striking bus drivers strangled traffic in a bid for boosted security.
The measure will put Peru’s armed forces out on the streets to clamp down on a wave of extortions which has plagued the capital.
Public transport was scarce on Thursday as thousands of commuters were left stranded at bus stops and unable to go to work, local TV images showed.
The government suspended classes and urged firms to allow remote work or let employees to show up late to their shifts.
“We’re striking because of the insecurity, and the lack of empathy from the government in regard to this wave of extortions,” said Hector Vargas, who heads a transportation union representing 63 companies.
A bus driver was killed on Sunday for refusing to fall victim to a shakedown, police said. A passenger was also wounded in the attack.
Four drivers have been killed since the end of August.
Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzen said that the state of emergency applied to 12 districts around Lima and neighboring Callao.
(Reporting by Marco Aquino and Carlos Valdez for Reuters TV; Editing by Sarah Morland)
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