Protesters in downtown Lima engaged in minor clashes with police before vandalizing the APRA headquarters.
Lima has seen at least four protests against the Trans-Pacific Partnership since Peru signed the agreement in New Zealand this month. While previous marches featured dozens of demonstrators, last night’s protests was the first to see hundreds rally in a night which ended in minor violence.
After rallying in downtown Lima’s Plaza San Martin, hundreds of protesters featuring mostly students marched through the streets. Some set small fires while others fought police who used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
“The TPP is the most dangerous trade agreement signed in history because it threatens national sovereignty, access to medicine and the Internet, healthy eating and a clean environment,” read flyers being passed out by protesters and obtained by El Comercio.
“You will not be able to buy generic drugs and the brand names will cost the pharmaceutical companies dictate. Biological medicine patents will be extended.”
Another group of protesters descended on the APRA headquarters on Alfonso Ugarte avenue. They threw rocks which broke windows. APRA director and former Cabinet chief Jorge del Castillo told Canal N that the attackers were members of Movadef, the political party of the Shining Path.
Protest organizers Collective Dignity denied having vandalized the APRA building in a statement this morning. The organization also condemned “excessive repression” by Lima’s police and demanded the jailed protesters be freed.
Police arrested at least 20 of the protesters last night.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will eliminate tariffs, quotas and bureaucratic red tape for commerce between Peru, United States, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Japan, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. Peru hopes to export $2.25 billion in products and services to Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, which currently have no trade agreements with Peru.
The 12 member countries of the largest free trade deal in history have a combined population of 800 million and represent 40% of the world’s GDP.
Sources
Marcha en contra del TPP convocó a cientos de personas (El Comercio)
Partido Aprista: Casa del Pueblo fue atacada por manifestantes (El Comercio)
Así se vivió la quinta marcha contra el TPP | VIDEO (La Republica)
COLECTIVO DIGNIDAD (Facebook)
