A defender of the Peruvian rainforest was killed while returning from an environmental workshop.
Amazon rainforest
A leader of the Kichwa tribe was killed in the Amazon rainforest region.Peruvian rainforest that’s seen high tensions between Indigenous people and illegal loggers.
Quinto Inuma Alvarado was attacked as he was returning from presenting at a workshop for women environmental leaders in the San Martín region of the Amazon on Wednesday, his son, Kevin Arnol Inuma Mandruma, told The Associated Press in a phone interview. Peruvian police confirmed his death.
Kevin Inuma reported that while he was on a boat, the river was blocked by attackers using a tree trunk. He stated that there were multiple gunshots fired.
Kevin Inuma reported receiving multiple death threats regarding illegal logging.
He reported that the loggers threatened to kill him, claiming that he had informed on them. He also stated that they have made multiple attempts on his life through physical assaults and now by shooting at him.
A statement released by the ministries of Interior, Environment, Justice and Human Rights, and Culture in Peru denounced the “cowardly” attack on Quinto Inuma. The statement assured a thorough investigation by the National Police and reported that a search for suspects is currently in progress.
The statement declared that efforts will persist in combating unlawful actions that harm our forests and ecosystems, endangering the well-being and unity of the people of Peru.
In 2021, a news service focused on Peruvian Indigenous rights called Servindi reported that the local community affected by the illegal logging had been left to defend themselves, facing constant threats and potential harm to their lives.
The workshop attended by Quinto Inuma was focused on empowering female leaders of the Kichwa community to share knowledge on effective strategies for safeguarding their land.
In the previous year, a report by Associated Press uncovered that the Kichwa tribes experienced a significant loss of their traditional land, most likely due to the establishment of Peru’s Cordillera Azul National Park. This park is located at the junction of the Amazon and the Andes mountains and the trees within it were later used as a means of generating revenue through the sale of carbon credits to large corporations looking to balance out their carbon emissions.
The Kichwa have stated that they did not give permission for this and have not received any compensation, despite many of them facing food insecurity due to being excluded from their usual hunting and gathering areas. In 2022, Quinto Inuma participated in a meeting with Sernanp, the Peruvian national parks authority, which was monitored by The AP, to address this issue.
The organization Forest Peoples Programme stated on the internet that Quinto Inuma was a diligent advocate for the human rights and land of his community.
According to the report, the absence of land ownership rights has put Kichwa communities in a precarious situation, leaving them unable to protect against illegal logging and without any legal repercussions for those responsible.
The statement noted that the passing of Quinto Inuma exposes the lack of consequences for those who commit environmental offenses and disregard the rights of Indigenous communities.
Source: cbsnews.com