Leader of Indigenous Ashaninka People Murdered in Peruvian Amazon
The 57-year-old Américo Pascual was killed during a patrol on his community's territory in Ucayali. Since 2012, at least 62 environmental defenders have been murdered in Peru.
Murder of indigenous leader in Ucayali whilst protecting territories
The indigenous leader Américo Pascual Tomisa, 57 years old, from the Ashaninka people, was murdered on Sunday by an unknown person or persons in Ucayali province, in eastern Peruvian Amazonia, near the border with Brazil. The incident was announced officially yesterday, Tuesday, by the Peruvian government, according to Politis.
According to ORAU, the collective representing approximately 20 indigenous organisations of Ucayali, Pascual "suffered injuries from a firearm" during an episode with "third parties" who had invaded his community's territories to collect copaiba extract — an oily resin from Amazonian trees used in traditional medicine and in the manufacture of varnish.
Peru's Ministry of Culture condemned the act through a statement on X, referring to a murder "whilst the leader was engaged in land protection activities". Erlín Odisio, vice-president of ORAU, characterised the act as a "cowardly murder" and stressed in a press conference that "what is happening in our Amazon must not go unpunished".
Américo Pascual had systematically reported since 2020 the presence of invaders on his community's territories, according to ORAU. The Public Ministry announced that it is conducting an investigation for "homicide" and sent members to the remote Yurúa region, where the crime was committed.
The murder is part of a broader pattern of violence against leaders who report deforestation and illegal exploitation of forests in Peruvian Amazon regions. On the same day, a Peruvian court sentenced four individuals for the 2023 murder of Kinto Inuma, a leader of the Kichwa people, in the San Martín region.
According to data from the NGO Global Witness, from 2012 to 2024 at least 62 environmental defenders were murdered in Peru, of whom 35 belonged to indigenous peoples. Ucayali province has been repeatedly recorded as one of the most dangerous regions for land defenders in the country.
Source: Politis