A teachers' strike in Lima escalated into chaos as thousands marched demanding better pay, more funding and long-delayed government commitments. Demonstrators chanted "We are teachers, not criminals" while pushing back against heavy police presence deployed across the capital. Officers used shields and tear gas as clashes broke out near government buildings, adding to tensions already fuelled by unrest in other sectors. The teachers' union says years of neglect have pushed them to the brink, warning of further action if the government fails to respond. The confrontation in Lima highlights Peru's deepening instability and growing frustration with authorities struggling to contain mounting social and security crises.
