Another Kakataibo leader killed; new report finds top state officials potentially liable in protest deaths

Association

Indigenous leader killed

On 14th July 2024, Mariano Isacama Feliciano, a 35-year-old Indigenous leader from the Kakataibo community of Puerto Azul, was found dead near Aguaytía in Ucayali region. Indigenous organisations have linked this attack to the activities of drug traffickers and operators in illegal mining and logging. The leader had been missing since 21st June 2024. The National Federation of Kakataibo Communities (FENACOKA) confirmed he had received anonymous threats via WhatsApp before his disappearance.

Following his disappearance, both FENACOKA and the Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Rainforest Ucayali Regional Organisation (ORAU) filed formal reports with local police and the public prosecutor. Additionally, around 40 members of the Kakataibo Indigenous Guard mobilised on 10th July 2024 to support search operations throughout Puerto Azul. Reports from the community suggested that Isacama had been abducted in Aguaytía and transported along a trafficking route towards Codo del Pozuzo in Huánuco.

This fatal incident reflects a broader trend of threats against Indigenous leaders in Peru. As previously reported by the CIVICUS Monitor, on 17th December 2023, Benjamín Flores Ríos, another Kakataibo leader, was found deceased at his home in Mariscal Cáceres in the Padre Abad province. ORAU has identified 40 Indigenous leaders from Ucayali and Huánuco who remain under threat due to their defence of Indigenous lands. Between 2020 and 2024, at least 34 Indigenous defenders have been killed, including four Kakataibo leaders. Illegal activities in the Ucayali, Huánuco, Pasco and Junín regions, including narcotrafficking, timber trafficking and land invasions, pose severe security risks for Indigenous leaders and defenders.

The community has condemned ongoing threats and violence from criminal networks engaged in narcotrafficking and unauthorised resource extraction. On 17th July, Indigenous leaders have declared a state of emergency. They also urged foreign governments to halt activities that fuel violence through exploitation and invasion of the Amazon.

Conviction of peasant community leaders

On 25th July 2024, the Unipersonal Criminal Court of Cotabambas in Apurímac sentenced 11 community leaders to prison terms ranging from eight to nine years. The court found them guilty of aggravated property damage, disturbing the peace and obstructing public services in connection with protests against the Las Bambas mining project. The defendants were also ordered to pay civil reparations, including USD 13,280 to the state and USD 88,000 to the mining company, assigned as “solidary” liability.

The convicted leaders, including Virginia Pinares Ochoa (8 years and 10 months), recipient of the 2022 National Human Rights Award in Peru, and former community defence leaders Rodolfo Abarca Quispe and Ronal Andrés Vello Abarca, participated in a September 2015 protest to address the impacts of unconsulted changes to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Las Bambas project. This amendment, which replaced a planned mine duct with overland transportation routes, sparked concerns about environmental and social impacts on local communities. The protest escalated when police intervened, leading to violent clashes that resulted in three protesters’ deaths. Despite these fatalities, investigations into these deaths have seen no substantive progress, fostering a perception of impunity.

This decision, pending appeal, has led to substantial discourse on the criminalisation of social protest and the targeting of community leaders who participate in collective actions to protect their environment.

Intimidation campaigns target human rights defenders and CSOs

Since July 2024, Juan José Muñico Gonzales, associated with the right-wing movement “La Resistencia,” has used his social media account to accuse Jennie Dador, Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Coordinator (CNDDHH), of inciting violence during protests and distorting the organisation’s human rights mission.

On 20th July 2024, Muñico alleged that NGOs were “advocating violent marches,” “seeking foreign funding,” “justifying violence on their behalf,” and “receiving a portion of compensation funds.” His posts included a digitally manipulated image of Dador, depicted as covered in blood, spurring online hostility towards her and the CNDDHH. On 22nd July 2024, Muñico continued these claims, responding to messages of support for Dador by asserting that his actions were not meant as intimidation or threats.

Further, on 19th July 2024, Willax, a television channel aligned with the far-right, aired a programme accusing the CNDDHH of orchestrating a “radical strike” against President Boluarte’s administration. The broadcast referred to Dador’s attendance at a press conference endorsing the strike, alleging that “EU funds are supporting this communist strike.” On 22nd July 2024, Minister Javier González Olaeche appeared on the same programme, condemning the protest and alleging EU support aimed at “undermining Peruvian democracy.” In response, the EU issued a statement on 24th July 2024, firmly rejecting these claims.

These incidents are linked to the protests held on 19th July 2024 (see peaceful assembly), organised by civil society groups, including the CNDDHH, to address democratic, social and human rights concerns in Peru under President Dina Boluarte’s administration.

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), reported that these intimidation campaigns by “La Resistencia” against the CNDDHH are not isolated events, as the group exhibits a continued pattern of aggression towards human rights organisations and journalists (see expression). Although the prison sentence was suspended, it stands as a formal conviction. Later, on 31st January, the group’s leader received a similar sentence of one and a half years for defamation against IDL-Reporteros. His sentence was commuted to 70 days of community service.

On 13th November 2023, members of “La Resistencia” gathered outside the APRODEH offices in Lima, displaying banners and using loudspeakers to direct insults at APRODEH and its Executive Director, Gloria Cano, who also serves as the FIDH General Secretary. Demonstrators labelled APRODEH staff “terrorist defenders” and called for their expulsion from Peru. The incident was reported to the Prosecutor’s Office and is currently under investigation.

Approval of law on crimes against humanity

On 9th August 2024, the Peruvian Congress passed Law 32,017, which restricts investigations into and the prosecution of acts that may constitute crimes against humanity and war crimes committed before 2002. As previously reported, the law would affect ongoing investigations and trials related to Peru’s internal armed conflict (1980–2000), halting proceedings and annulling convictions in cases involving significant human rights violations, including those against activists.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) called for the immediate repeal of this law and urged the relevant judicial authorities to prevent its enforcement:

“Under international law, statutes of limitations cannot be invoked to prevent the investigation of serious human rights violations, such as torture, extrajudicial executions, or enforced disappearances. This principle has been reaffirmed by the Inter-American System of Human Rights and is enshrined in the Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity, to which Peru is a party.”

Dismissal of investigation against Asháninka leader

On 8th August 2024, a Peruvian court granted a motion of inadmissibility, formally excluding Ángel Pedro Valerio, an Indigenous leader and President of the Central Asháninka del Río Ene (CARE), from a judicial investigation related to the disappearance of four people in Puerto Ocopa in April 2023. The investigation, initiated by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, relied on limited, anonymous witness testimonies attributing involvement to someone named “Ángel,” which was later applied to Valerio.

The case faced substantial procedural concerns. Authorities did not notify Valerio or provide him an opportunity to defend himself, and the only evidence linking him to the alleged crime came from three anonymous witnesses. Throughout the eleven-month investigation, the court requested preventive detention for Valerio despite evidence confirming his attendance at an Asháninka Congress in Puerto Shampintiari, located approximately 12 hours away from Puerto Ocopa at the time of the incident.

Peaceful Assembly

Between July and August 2024, several protests occurred, a few of which are highlighted below:

• On 5th July, the Federation of Artisanal, Ancestral and Traditional Fishers from the districts of Ventanilla, Santa Rosa, Aucallama, Barranca and Chancay protested in Lima to demand accountability from both Repsol and the Peruvian Government. The protests were a response to unresolved socio-environmental and economic issues stemming from an oil spill on 15th January 2022, affecting Peru’s coastal ecosystem and disrupting local fishing livelihoods. The protesters underscored their calls for “social justice” as they continue to face economic and environmental challenges resulting from the spill.
• On 17th July, residents from the Chancay district in Huaral province gathered at the construction site of the Chancay Megaport to stage a peaceful protest. Community members demanded a formal dialogue with Cosco Shipping, the company overseeing the megaproject, to address significant concerns related to the development’s impact on their properties, physical and mental health and overall well-being.
• On 19th July, hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Lima to call for President Dina Boluarte to resign. Gerónimo López, General Secretary of the General Confederation of Workers (CGTP), reported widespread protests across Peru, including Cusco, Arequipa, Moquegua, Junín and Lima. Textile unions gathered at the Ministry of Labour, while the Telecommunications Workers Union protested outside Telefónica. Deputy CGTP Secretary Gustavo Minaya noted support for the National Civic Popular Strike.
• On 1st August, residents of Challhuahuacho district in Cotabambas, Apurímac, organised a peaceful mobilisation to express solidarity with human rights defenders recently sentenced for protesting Las Bambas’ mining project (see association).
• From 27th to 29th July, thousands protested nationwide to call for justice for the 50 civilians killed and 716 injured during clashes with state security forces in protests throughout 2022 and 2023. In Lima, the demonstrations centred in Plaza Dos de Mayo were attended by people from various Andean regions, including areas with the highest casualty rates. Protesters carried symbolic black coffins and placards, demanding accountability from President Dina Boluarte and state authorities for alleged human rights violations during the protests. On 28th July, protesters clashed with police in the city centre of Lima. As a result, the police detained two protesters.

Amnesty International finds top state officials potentially liable in protest deaths

A new report by Amnesty International found that actions and omissions by Peru’s highest state officials, including President Dina Boluarte, may have contributed to lethal consequences during protests held between December 2022 and March 2023. The report outlined specific examples of potential negligence by police, military and senior public officials, pointing to a failure to prevent or address repeated repressive tactics. Such lapses may signify a breach of duty to ensure accountability and uphold human rights obligations.

The report documented that, between December 2022 and March 2023, this situation resulted in the deaths of 50 civilians and one police officer, alongside injuries to over 1,400 people. Despite President Boluarte’s sworn statement to the Public Prosecutor’s Office that she had no direct contact with military and police commanders, the report revealed that she held multiple meetings with armed forces and police leaders. These encounters could have served as opportunities to order adjustments to the tactics in use at the time, yet she refrained from doing so, according to the report.

Expression

Pepper-sprayed while covering Huaycán Anniversary event

On 18th July 2024, Flor de Milagros Núñez, a photojournalist with the online outlet Mataperrea, reported being pepper-sprayed by a municipal security agent in Ate. The incident occurred during confrontations between district officials and community leaders. Tensions escalated when Mayor Franco Vidal’s administration limited the Community of Urban Self-Management Huaycán's (CUAH) participation in the event, leading to a confrontation as community leaders approached the main stage in Huaycán’s Plaza de Armas.

The National Association of Journalists of Peru (ANP) condemned the attack, labelling it an abuse of authority and excessive use of force that infringes on press freedom. The ANP urged authorities to identify and hold the security agent accountable to prevent future attacks on journalists.

Journalist Gustavo Gorriti targeted

Peruvian investigative journalist Gustavo Gorriti, known for exposing corruption in Latin America, is currently the subject of a criminal investigation and a coordinated smear campaign.

During protests in Lima on 28th August 2024, a far-right group with ties to political figures that Gustavo Gorriti, director of IDL-Reporteros, has implicated in his investigations, displayed defamatory posters targeting him. Since 2023, incidents of intimidation and harassment have been documented near both Gorriti’s residence and the IDL-Reporteros offices, leading the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to issue precautionary measures in July 2023.

Organised by the group “La Resistencia,” which supports the political party Fuerza Popular, these demonstrations included participants allegedly throwing objects, along with insults and slurs referencing Gorriti’s ethnicity and personal character. These incidents prompted IDL-Reporteros to relocate its office, though protests reportedly resumed at the new location on 29th May 2024. In January 2024, two members of “La Resistencia” received convictions for defamation over social media attacks, with one supporter sentenced to 18 months in prison for defaming Gorriti.

Gorriti is currently facing judicial harassment. On 20th February 2024, the political party Fuerza Popular filed criminal charges against Gorriti and two prosecutors investigating the “Lava Jato” corruption case, alleging organised crime, bribery and influence peddling. Additionally, petitions were submitted to the National Justice Board seeking the precautionary suspension of prosecutors Rafael Vela and José Domingo Pérez for alleged misconduct.

On 9th April 2024, Gorriti invoked journalistic privilege and declined to release telephone records requested in March 2024 by the prosecution, which pertained to communications with the prosecutors during the 2016–2021 investigation period. Subsequently, on 23rd April 2024, a Congressional motion was filed proposing the establishment of an investigatory commission to examine alleged information leaks related to former President Alan García.

Journalists face defamation lawsuit from Congress President

On 3rd June 2024, the 5th Unipersonal Criminal Court of the Superior Court of Justice of Cusco formally notified journalists Yessica Bazalar and Carlos Carrillo of a criminal defamation lawsuit initiated by Alejandro Soto Reyes, President of the Peruvian Congress. The case stems from Bazalar’s public criticism of Soto’s performance as a representative of Cusco. Specifically, Soto’s claim references a statement made by Bazalar on 12th February 2024, in which she remarked, “One of the politicians who most embarrasses Cusco, without a doubt, is Alejandro Soto.” Although Carrillo was originally implicated in the case, he was later removed, leaving Bazalar as the sole defendant.

Bazalar argued that the lawsuit forms part of Soto’s sustained campaign to stifle press criticism, pointing to the limited support for Soto within Cusco and the public criticism he continues to face from his constituency. This lawsuit is not the first instance of legal action involving these journalists. Both Bazalar and Carrillo face an additional defamation suit brought by Soto after reporting on the hiring of Soto’s partner’s sister in Congress, an allegation that Soto denied. National media corroborated the family connection, yet the case remains active, with a hearing scheduled for 2025. Carrillo is also subject to a separate defamation claim after covering a Latina investigation into Soto’s mother’s acquisition of a mausoleum at a discounted rate.

The National Association of Journalists of Peru (ANP) condemned the repeated use of criminal defamation suits by Congressman Soto as a tactic to intimidate journalists offering critical perspectives. The ANP criticised the judicial system for allowing such cases to proceed without thorough assessment, warning that these actions threaten press freedom and undermine the right to freedom of expression.

In a separate case, on 12th July, during a televised interview, Peru’s Minister of Interior, Juan José Santiváñez Antúnez, announced intentions to initiate legal action against Ricardo Velazco, a journalist with the weekly publication “Hildebrandt en sus Trece” and its director, César Hildebrandt. The ANP expressed strong disapproval of the Minister’s statements, emphasising concerns over press freedom.

Troll attack forces cancellation of IPYS “Judicial Gag” presentation

On 23rd August 2024, the Institute of Press and Society (IPYS) held an online event to present its report, Judicial Gag, which examined the use of legal proceedings to intimidate journalists investigating issues in Peru. The presentation, led by report author Patricia Hoyos and featuring contributions from journalists Paola Ugaz and Rosario Romaní, was disrupted by online attackers who forced the session to end prematurely. During Romaní’s account of prolonged judicial harassment allegedly instigated by Ayacucho’s regional governor Wilfredo Oscorima, trolls interrupted by projecting violent and pornographic images, coupled with loud noises, overwhelming the session.

IPYS condemned this interruption as an attack on freedom of expression, highlighting the risks faced by journalists and those defending press freedom in Peru. Despite efforts by the event’s administrators to block these intrusions, the disruptions ultimately prevented the completion of the presentation.