The president of the National Association of Integration of Transporters (Anitra), Martín Valeriano, and the vice president of the National Alliance of Transporters, Julio Campos, separately, ratified the sector’s general strike. Neither of the two ruled out that the rally could head over to the Lima Convention Center, headquarters of the summit of leaders, among whom are the presidents of China, Xi Jinping, and of the United States, Joseph Biden.
Valeriano and Campos agreed on the need for a strike, in the vast majority of regions, so that the authorities put a stop to a wave of extortions and murders by contract killings, and pointed out that the recurring victims are transporters. “On October 24th, after two successful strikes, we warned that we would strike on November 13th, 14th and 15th if our demands were not met, and that has been the case,” said Campos, who stated that they have the support of the General Confederation of Workers of Peru, groups of small business owners, teachers and other spheres.
Nevertheless, the Minister of the Interior, Juan José Santiváñez, denied the credibility of the representatives of the strikers and claimed that the Government has reached agreements with business transport unions and with business groups not to join the strike.
Santiváñez warned that if the protesters throw the first stone at the police, the latter will act with rigor, and not out ruling that the agents would use their weapons if necessary.
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