IRTF News

surveillance, attacks, and death threats against environmental and indigenous rights defenders Rodrigo Flores Peñalosa and Lucila Bettina Cruz Velázquez of the Tehuantepec Indigenous Peoples’ Assembly in Defense of Land and Territory (APIIDTT) in Oaxaca

Raids by Gaitanista paramilitaries threaten the mostly indigenous and Afro-descendant communities of the Jiguamiandó River Basin collective territory in Chocó Dept., near Pueblo Nuevo Humanitarian Zone (an official demilitarized safety zone)

Arson is among the threatening actions by paramilitaries in the rural areas of Remedios, Antioquia Department. Paramilitaries are seeking out Ricaurte García, a human rights defender with CAHUCOPANA (Humanitarian Action Corporation for Coexistence and Peace of Northeast Antioquia).

attempted murder of Maynor López, son of human rights defender Francisca Ramírez, who is Coordinator of the Council for the Defense of the Land, the Lake and Sovereignty, active in organizing resistance to construction of the Nicaraguan Grand Inter-oceanic Canal

Torture and assassination of transgender woman Sherlyn Montoya, active member of LGBT Rainbow Association.

Kidnapping and assaults on a woman associated with Peasant Movement of Cajibio (MCC) leader Marylen Serna Salinas, in Popayán, Cauca Department.

Intimidation tactics (shots fired) against Pedro Rafael Maldonado Flores, the legal director for the Legal, Environmental and Social Action Center of Guatemala (CALAS), which represents communities organizing resistance to the exploration and exploitation of natural resources.

Threats and intimidation against Environmental Committee in Defense of Life (CADV) and others organizing to stop the open-pit AngloGold Ashanti mining project in Cajamarca in Tolima Department.

Death threats and harassment towards persons working in community radio stations (Radio La Voz Lenca, Radio Dignidad, Radio Progreso) that are reporting on environmental and indigenous rights issues and smear campaign targeting Jesuit priest Ismael Moreno, director of Radio Progreso.