Environmental Rights Leader Assasinated in Peru
Environmental Rights Leader Assasinated in Peru
The assassinated leader was the president of the autonomous peasant patrols and was
recently elected mayor of his town. | Photo: Youtube Prensa Vision
Published 29 December 2015 (4 hours 4 minutes ago)
Rojas Gonzales was fighting dam constructions which many say would displace thousands and destroy the Amazon.
A community leader and environmental activist was killed in Peru in a suspected repression tactic earlier this week, local media reported Monday.
Hitler Ananias Rojas Gonzales, 34, was struck by five bullets in his hometown Yagen in northern Peru, the Indigenous rights portal Servindi reported. Rojas Gonzales was an adamant opponent of dam constructions on the River Marañon carried out by the Brazilian corporation Odebrecht.
According to critics, the construction projects will have catastrophic environmental consequences for the Amazon and would force the displacement of thousands of people from their lands. The dam projects pushed by Odebrecht stretch out over 20 different towns and would flood 32 square kilometers of land, destroying the source of livelihood and local communities of thousands.
In the lead up to his death, Gonzales was long subjected to threats and intimidations, including lawsuits alleging him of illegal possession of weapons and attempted murder and kidnapping, according to environmental group Grufides.
More:
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Environmental-Rights-Leader-Assasinated-in-Peru-20151229-0030.html