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Peru Investigates the Killing of an Environmental Advocate Peru Investigates the Killing of an Environmental Advocate
(about 21 hours later)
LIMA, Peru — The authorities here are investigating the killing of an environmental advocate and indigenous leader who died along with three other men in a remote region of the Amazon jungle that he had sought to protect from illegal logging. LIMA, Peru — The authorities here are investigating the killing of an environmental advocate and indigenous leader who died along with three other men in a remote region of the Amazon jungle that he had sought to protect from illegal logging.
The advocate, Edwin Chota, 54, was a leader of the Ashaninka Indian village of Saweto, near the Brazilian border. Mr. Chota was killed after leaving Saweto on Aug. 31, while on his way to meet with leaders from another Ashaninka village some days walk away, according to his widow, Julia Pérez, and media reports.The advocate, Edwin Chota, 54, was a leader of the Ashaninka Indian village of Saweto, near the Brazilian border. Mr. Chota was killed after leaving Saweto on Aug. 31, while on his way to meet with leaders from another Ashaninka village some days walk away, according to his widow, Julia Pérez, and media reports.
Three other Saweto leaders accompanying him were also killed, officials said.Three other Saweto leaders accompanying him were also killed, officials said.
It took several days for villagers to discover the killings and make the trip by river to the regional capital, Pucallpa, to report the crime. Environmental and indigenous advocates announced the deaths over the weekend.It took several days for villagers to discover the killings and make the trip by river to the regional capital, Pucallpa, to report the crime. Environmental and indigenous advocates announced the deaths over the weekend.
“What we have is the statements of the widows and the village leaders that the community was threatened on many occasions by people associated with logging in the area,” said Patricia Balbuena, a vice minister of culture in charge of indigenous issues, reached by telephone in Pucallpa on Wednesday.“What we have is the statements of the widows and the village leaders that the community was threatened on many occasions by people associated with logging in the area,” said Patricia Balbuena, a vice minister of culture in charge of indigenous issues, reached by telephone in Pucallpa on Wednesday.
Ms. Balbuena said investigators were preparing to fly by helicopter to the area where the killings occurred in the hope of recovering the bodies.Ms. Balbuena said investigators were preparing to fly by helicopter to the area where the killings occurred in the hope of recovering the bodies.
She said that the authorities would station police officers in the village because villagers said they were still receiving threats.She said that the authorities would station police officers in the village because villagers said they were still receiving threats.
Mr. Chota had often talked about receiving death threats prompted by his resistance to loggers, who he said were illegally cutting trees on tribal lands near the Brazilian frontier.Mr. Chota had often talked about receiving death threats prompted by his resistance to loggers, who he said were illegally cutting trees on tribal lands near the Brazilian frontier.
“The law does not reach where we live,” Mr. Chota said last year in an interview with The New York Times. “They could kill us at any time.”“The law does not reach where we live,” Mr. Chota said last year in an interview with The New York Times. “They could kill us at any time.”
Ms. Pérez, 37, Mr. Chota’s widow, said in a telephone interview from Pucallpa that her husband had been killed after making camp along the trail. “We will see when they bring out his body if he was killed with gunshots or by machete,” said Ms. Pérez, who is seven months pregnant with the couple’s third child.Ms. Pérez, 37, Mr. Chota’s widow, said in a telephone interview from Pucallpa that her husband had been killed after making camp along the trail. “We will see when they bring out his body if he was killed with gunshots or by machete,” said Ms. Pérez, who is seven months pregnant with the couple’s third child.
Mr. Chota had been working to have the authorities grant his village formal title to their traditional lands in an effort to prevent incursions by loggers.Mr. Chota had been working to have the authorities grant his village formal title to their traditional lands in an effort to prevent incursions by loggers.
When he was interviewed by The Times, Mr. Chota was asking prosecutors to investigate his claims of illegal logging. He had tracked a large load of logs to Pucallpa and had persuaded a prosecutor who specializes in environmental crimes to impound the logs at a local sawmill.When he was interviewed by The Times, Mr. Chota was asking prosecutors to investigate his claims of illegal logging. He had tracked a large load of logs to Pucallpa and had persuaded a prosecutor who specializes in environmental crimes to impound the logs at a local sawmill.
But the prosecutor was unable to persuade the local military authorities to take him by helicopter to the remote village to verify Mr. Chota’s claims. The prosecutor was then fired and the investigation appeared to languish.But the prosecutor was unable to persuade the local military authorities to take him by helicopter to the remote village to verify Mr. Chota’s claims. The prosecutor was then fired and the investigation appeared to languish.