Environmental Human Rights: News & Updates

death threats to Miguel Briceño, leader of the peasant farmer community of El Porvenir in Puerto Gaitán Municipality, Meta Department.

assassination of Embera Chami indigenous leader Fernando Salazar Calvo, active in artisanal miners’ union and resistance to multinational large-scale mining in Caldas Department

assassination of Nasa indigenous members Mario German Valencia Vallejo, Belisario Trochez Ordóñez, Cristián David Trochez and disappearance of Berney Trochez and Wilson Trochez, all resisting illegal mining in Cauca

assassination of environmental human rights defender Telésforo Odilio Pivaral González, active in the resistance against the El Escobal silver mining project in San Rafael Las Flores, Santa Rosa

police harassment of Catholic priest and environmental rights defender Father Santos Neftalí Ruíz Martínez, President of the Environmental Committee of Cabañas.

unjust detention of environmental rights defenders Sotero Adalberto Villatoro, Francisco Juan Pedro and Arturo Pablo Juan of Santa Cruz Barillas municipality in Huehuetenango Department.

attacks on Marlene Benitez, her family, and other members of the Afro-descendant communities of the Curvaradó River Basin in Chocó Department.

death threats by paramilitary group Black Eagles to Sabino Lucomi, Eduar Mina, Jhon Jairo Valverde, Francia Marquez, leaders of the Afro-descendant community in La Toma who have been calling on authorities to take action against illegal mining.