Prime Minister Alberto Otarola on Monday announced that blocking roads will be punished by up to 15 years in prison for those who cooperate with organizers of riots.
Moreover, the Cabinet chief underlined that the Council of Ministers has amended the Penal Code to ensure public security and tranquility.
Thus, any person who organizes said criminal act shall be punished with a penalty of imprisonment of no less than 10 nor more than 15 years if land, sea, or river routes are affected, as well as port, energy, hydrocarbon, railway, air navigation, water, sanitation, public health, civil registration, immigration, and cartographic infrastructure, among others.
Likewise, anyone causing damage to resources, infrastructure, and systems essential to developing and maintaining national capacities linked to public services will be punished with no less than 8 and no more than 10 years in prison.
Furthermore, the head of the Ministerial Cabinet explained that anyone who voluntarily cooperates, assists, or provides financial resources or means to facilitate the activities of the organizers of riots will be punished with 6 years in prison.
"The legal framework is clear and, I repeat, we call on competent authorities at the Public Ministry to apply penalties and open case files against those who commit this crime, as of today," he said.
In addition, the high-ranking authority stated that traffic on the Panamericana Sur highway, near the Chino neighborhood in Ica region, was restored last night after being partially blocked by protesters.
(END) FHG/RMB
Published: 12/4/2023