Peru Declares Emergency Amid Violence  03/18 06:09

   

   LIMA, Peru (AP) -- Peru's president declared a state of emergency in the 
capital Monday and ordered the deployment of soldiers to help police address a 
surge of violence, amid widespread outcry a day after the killing of a popular 
singer.

   President Dina Boluarte's government published a decree saying that the 
state of emergency will last 30 days, and authorities will restrict some 
rights, including the freedom of assembly and movement. That means the police 
and the army would be able to detain people without a judicial order.

   Peru has seen an increase of killings, violent extortion and attacks on 
public places in recent months. Police reported 459 killings from Jan. 1 to 
March 16, and 1,909 extortion reports in January alone. But outrage crested 
after the killing Sunday of Paul Flores, the 39-year-old lead singer of the 
cumbia band Armonia 10.

   In Congress, opposition lawmakers requested a vote of no confidence against 
Interior Minister Juan Jos Santivez for what they say is a lack of a plan to 
fight rising violence. The vote is expected to be discussed in the Congress' 
plenary later this week.

   Flores was shot to death early Sunday when assailants attacked the bus he 
and bandmates were traveling after a concert in Lima. Cumbia is a Latin music 
style that people dance to the rhythm of drums, maracas and other instruments.

   The attack against the popular singer was not the only violent event over 
the weekend. On Saturday, an object exploded at a restaurant in the capital, 
injuring at least 11 people.

   Boluarte's government previously decreed a state of emergency in an attempt 
to stem the violence between September and December.