Lima Police Rout Rallies Over Banks
Riot police used tear gas and water cannon Wednesday to break up two demonstrations by hundreds of bank workers on opposite sides of government plans to nationalize Peru’s financial institutions, witnesses said.
There were no immediate reports of arrests or injuries in the second day of protests since President Alan Garcia announced the plans on July 28.
Both demonstrations were in Lima’s downtown financial district, near both the government palace where Garcia lives and works and the main offices of many banks.
A group of about 400 bank employees who support the bank owners’ contention that the seizure is illegal held an impromptu rally shortly before noon. The group was driven back by police in armored personnel carriers that blocked the way to the government palace.
About half an hour later, about 200 marchers from the Federation of Bank Employees, which supports the takeover, reached the plaza in front of the palace and were dispersed in the same manner.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
