Democracy Square (Peru)

This article is about the plaza in Lima. For the plaza in Uruguay, see Democracy Square.

Democracy Square
Location	Lima, Peru
Built	2006
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	Plaza de la Democracia
Type	Non-movable
Criteria	Monument
Designated	1991
Part of	Historic Centre of Lima
Reference no.	500
Location of Democracy Square in Lima

Democracy Square (Spanish: Plaza de la Democracia) is a public square in the Historic Centre of Lima, Peru. It is located on the former site of the Bank of the Nation Building, which burned down in the year 2000 during the Four Quarters March.^[1] The park's address is 1045 Nicolás de Piérola Avenue.^[2]

In 2023, the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima approved that the square be renamed after Luis Giampietri.^[3]

Overview

The square is located in the Historic Centre of Lima, one block away from the Plaza San Martín and one block away from the University Park. The headquarters of the National Jury of Elections (JNE) are located in front of the park on Nicolás de Piérola avenue. The park features a small monolith in its centre with the park's name.

The park is used for public events, such as book fairs,^[2] and protests, such as the 2022 Peruvian economic protests^[4][5] or the 2022–2023 Peruvian protests^[6]

History

Original building (1962–2000)

Main article: Banco Comercial (1962–2000)

The plaza was formerly the location of a building that housed the Banco Comercial del Perú and later the Banco de la Nación.^[7] The building was designed by Peruvian architect Enrique Seoane Ros, and built by Flores & Costa, S.A., a Peruvian construction firm.^[7] On July 28, 2000,^[8][9] amid the protests that surrounded the building and the centre of Lima known as the Four Quarters March, an explosion and fire on the building's third floor compromised the building's structural integrity^[10] and killed six security guards.^[11] The explosion was reportedly caused by undercover agents acting under orders of Vladimiro Montesinos.^[9] The intent was to paint the protests in a negative light, and to link them to terrorist groups Shining Path and MRTA.

Plaza (2006–present)

The current plaza differed from its original designs but was built and completed, being inaugurated on July 27, 2006. The inauguration ceremony was headed by now President Alejandro Toledo, who had participated in the 2000 march. His speech during the event referenced the fire and his anti-Fujimorist stance, referring to Alberto Fujimori's government as tyrannical. Kurt Burneo, the bank's president at the time of both the fire and the ceremony, was present in the event.^[12]

See also

• Torre Banco de la Nación, which replaced the bank's former building

References

1. Hamann Mazuré, Johanna (2012). "Lima: espacio público en transición. La plaza de la democracia 2006". On the w@terfront (21: Public Art. Urban Design. Civic Participation. Urban Regeneration): 83–96.
2. "Municipalidad de Lima realiza Feria del Libro Viejo". Municipalidad de Lima. 2018-10-28.
3. Salinas, Camila (2023-10-19). "Plaza de la Democracia en el centro de Lima se llamará Luis Giampietri". La República.
4. "Vándalos destruyen estación del Metropolitano e intentan ingresar a la sede del Jurado Nacional de Elecciones". RPP Noticias. 2022-04-05.
5. "Pedro Castillo pide a simpatizantes ser tolerantes y no caer en provocaciones". El Peruano. 2021-07-14.
6. "Así amaneció Lima luego de violentas protestas y enfrentamientos entre manifestantes y la PNP". Infobae. 2023-01-20.
7. "BANCO COMERCIAL". Instituto de Investigación - Universidad de Lima.
8. "El cuerpo de bomberos voluntarios del Perú en la historia". Andina. 2018-12-05.
9. "Estos fueron los incendios más devastadores en Lima en el siglo XXI". RPP Noticias. 2016-11-16.
10. "Sí, hubo explosión: Ocurrió en el tercer piso y provocó caida parcial del edificio del Banco de la Nación". La República. 2000-08-13. p. 3. La explosión en el tercer piso habría provocado la destrucción de las paredes, el rompimiento de las columnas y el desmoronamiento de los techos. El incendio no pudo causar tal desastre.
11. "Sentencian a 10 años de prisión efectiva a Montesinos por muerte de vigilantes del Banco de la Nación". Andina. 2009-08-27.
12. ""Nunca más la muerte", enfatiza Toledo al inaugurar Plaza de la Democracia". Andina. 2006-07-26.

12°03′08″S 77°02′00″W