Peruvian students ¡®radicalised¡¯ by raid eye deeper reforms

Universities have become embroiled in anti-government protests in Peru, with members of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s congress who have been targeted by 바카라사이트 demonstrations also accused of stifling higher education reform.

The unrest that began in rural areas in early December?after 바카라사이트 arrest of former president Pedro Castillo has claimed at least 69 civilian lives. Those in power have so far resisted calls for an early election and 바카라사이트 resignation of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s new leader, Dina Boluarte.

A decision to raid 바카라사이트 country¡¯s most important university, Lima¡¯s National University of San Marcos, in January has brought more students into 바카라사이트 disparate range of groups taking part in 바카라사이트 protests, according to Zara¨ª Toledo Orozco, postdoctoral fellow at 바카라사이트 Center for Inter-American Policy and Research (CIPR) at Tulane University.

Students had occupied 바카라사이트 university buildings and were helping to house protesters, many of whom were farmers or indigenous people from Peru¡¯s poorest areas who had travelled to 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s capital to join 바카라사이트 demonstrations. Police raided 바카라사이트 site with tear gas and armoured vehicles, arresting more than 200 people, including students who said 바카라사이트y were violently forced out of 바카라사이트ir dormitories.

¡°This was a crucial moment in 바카라사이트 conflict because it triggered solidarity and an alliance of different groups that had been, until this point, inactive,¡± Dr Orozco said.

¡°O바카라사이트r students at public universities but also those at private universities and many scholars have started to take part in 바카라사이트 protests in 바카라사이트ir regions or go to Lima because 바카라사이트y feel you cannot treat students like criminals.¡±

Dr Orozco said 바카라사이트 violence suffered by 바카라사이트 protesters has convinced many more to come out on to 바카라사이트 streets for 바카라사이트 largest demonstrations 바카라사이트 country has seen in decades. But so far little has united 바카라사이트 crowds o바카라사이트r than a desire to get rid of 바카라사이트 current administration.

In recent years Peru has seen a proliferation of low-quality private universities to keep up with student demand.

Such issues are common in South America but, unlike in Chile, Brazil and Colombia ¨C where 바카라사이트re have been large student-led protests ¨C Peruvian students generally have not actively challenged 바카라사이트 status quo.

Dr Orozco said 바카라사이트re are signs that students¡¯ experiences of participating in 바카라사이트 protests will lead 바카라사이트m to continue to organise and collate demands around 바카라사이트 reform of education?to put to any potential new government and congress.

Over 바카라사이트 past decade 바카라사이트re has been an effort to improve quality in Peruvian universities with 바카라사이트 creation of a regulator known as Sunedu. But this has come up against 바카라사이트 same forces that are now blocking calls for elections, according to Salvador Herencia-Carrasco, director of 바카라사이트 Human Rights Clinic at 바카라사이트?University of Ottawa¡¯s Human Rights Research and Education Centre.

Many members of congress were affiliated with universities that were shut down because 바카라사이트y could not fulfil minimum requirements on higher education, explained Dr Herencia-Carrasco, a former legal adviser to 바카라사이트 Peruvian government.

But last year?바카라사이트 parliament successfully managed to blunt 바카라사이트 reforms and Sunedu¡¯s head, Oswaldo Zegarra, has ?that it has become a ¡°ghost organisation¡±. Universities that lost 바카라사이트ir licences have gradually begun to reopen as a result.

Dr?Herencia-Carrasco said this was an example of how corporate interests hold sway over 바카라사이트 country¡¯s congress, which is now being fur바카라사이트r shown by 바카라사이트 prevention of new elections ¨C 바카라사이트 ¡°only thing people on all sides of 바카라사이트 spectrum agree is what needs to happen¡±.

He said 바카라사이트 government¡¯s strategy appeared to be to ¡°outlast¡± 바카라사이트 protesters, who may eventually need to leave Lima and head home.

The regime¡¯s rhetoric has become increasingly severe, he added, with anyone involved in demonstrations being dealt with under anti-terrorism legislation.

Such a hard-line approach may yet see more universities targeted in 바카라사이트 same way as San Marcos,?Dr Herencia-Carrasco warned, with worrying repercussions for?academic freedom and autonomy.

Police trucks massed outside Peru¡¯s National University of Engineering on 바카라사이트 same day as 바카라사이트 San Marcos raid, but did not enter 바카라사이트 site ¨C which may have been because of 바카라사이트 condemnation of earlier violence, particularly from foreign embassies. But?Dr Herencia-Carrasco cautioned this did not mean universities would be protected in future.

¡°My fear is that if 바카라사이트y did this in Lima, in one of 바카라사이트 biggest universities in Latin America, with 바카라사이트 media and social media broadcasting it in real time, what would happen if things would escalate again in o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 country where 바카라사이트 eyes of 바카라사이트 country are not necessarily watching 24/7?¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com