On the eve of Independence Day celebrations, some 6,000 marchers heeded a call by the country’s largest union confederation, CGTP, to turn out in force.
Those taking to the streets included university students, non-governmental activists and human rights groups.
In addition to a national doctors’ and nurses strike, Humala now faces unions calling for a rethinking of a new law they fear will force the government to lay off huge numbers of state workers.
Students, meanwhile, are upset about a bill in the legislature that they fear will undercut the autonomy of universities.