Generation Z protesters use “One Piece” references and maintain mobilizations after Dina Boluarte’s dismissal; new president promises “war against delinquency”
Thousands of young people have taken to the streets of Peru since September, in protests against the Presidency and Congress. The acts began during the administration of Dina Boluarte (no party) and continued even after her administration, on October 9th. The new president, (Somos Perú, center), took office promising “war against crime” and one “government of empathy and national reconciliation”.
The demonstrations, which began in reaction to the pension reform and the amnesty law, now also demand Jerí’s resignation, new elections and effective measures against public insecurity.
Among traditional posters and flags, one symbol stood out: the Mugiwara skullgroup of anime pirates “One Piece”.
Based on the work of Eiichirō Oda, the Japanese series follows Monkey D. Luffy, a young pirate who dreams of finding the One Piece, a legendary treasure capable of making him the “Pirate King”. Along the journey, Luffy gathers a crew — the Mugiwara (‘wheat straw’, in Japanese) — who fight against authoritarian empires, corrupt governments and military forces.
In the anime, the so-called “Blue Planet” It is governed by the World Government, which controls much of the territory and maintains military bases and installations spread across the world. The planet is made up of archipelagos, there are no continents, and the government conquered the islands to consolidate its dominance. As part of this strategy, he destroyed records and history prior to his rise to power.
Although the premise of the cartoon is the search for One Piece, the treasure left by the pirate king and the characters’ great ambition, the World Government is portrayed as the great antagonist, symbolizing domination, censorship and oppression. The protagonists, members of Luffy’s crew, face the government and fight for freedom.
The brand also appeared in , where protesters adopted the same emblem as a political protest. The same occurred in France, Indonesia and the United States.
@asumarket.com Do you know what the One Piece flag means? #onepiece #peru🇵🇪 ♬ onepiece soundtrack – genner 6
The symbolism of One Piece gained strength after the congresswoman, from the Fuerza Popular party (linked to the former dictator), mocked the use of cartoons during the debate on the reform.
“The drawings are not so delicate, not so childish, not so innocent”, he said. The speech went viral on social media and defined the Mugiwara skull as an emblem of protest.
GENERATION Z LEADS ACTS
The protests began after the approval of a pension reform that forces self-employed workers to contribute to the public system and restricts early withdrawals for people under 40.
The movement, led by young people from the so-called Generation Z (born from 1997 to 2012), gained strength on social media and soon spread throughout Lima and other cities, incorporating demands against .
Sanctioned in August, the law benefits military personnel, police officers and other state agents prosecuted for crimes against human rights committed during conflicts with the left-wing guerrillas Sendero Luminoso and the MRTA (Movimento Revolucionário Túpac Amaru) from 1980 to 2000.
In addition to the initial agenda, workers in the transport sector later joined the protests, raising concerns about growing crime and the feeling of abandonment by the State.
Bus and app drivers denounce frequent extortion, shooting attacks and a lack of protection from authorities, who, according to them, prioritize the repression of protesters rather than ensuring safety on the streets.
POLITICAL CRISIS DEEPENS
The dismissal of Dina Boluarte increased the climate of political instability in the country. She was removed on charges of illicit enrichment and responsibility for the violent repression of previous protests, and was declared by Congress to have “moral incapacity” to govern.
Since the fall of former dictator Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000), the country has faced significant political instability, marked by successive crises and changes. In the last 25 years, the South American country has had 11 presidents, of which only 3 managed to serve the full 5-year term.
With the end of Boluarte’s government, the head of Congress, José Jerí Oré, assumed the Presidency with a speech of “reconcile the country” e “combating delinquency”but faces increasing rejection on the streets.
