Amazonas: Awajún residents suffer attacks and receive death threats for illegal mining

The advance of illegal mining in El Cenepa, province of Condorcanqui, Amazonas, has become a threat to human rights defenders. On Wednesday, October 26, the premises of the Organization for the Development of the Border Communities of Cenepa (ODECOFROC) was attacked by people linked to illegal mining, as reported by its leaders, who managed to get out and get to a safe place.

The Awajún leaders of Cenepa denounced that they are receiving death threats for defending their territory from illegal economies, for which they demand more concrete actions from the central government and the Police to guarantee the integrity of their leaders and communities in the face of the advance of illegal mining. .

According to what they point out, the attackers would be community members of the community of Suwa Pagki who would be linked to illegal miningbecause in the morning hours they received different threats from this sector.

They burned their offices

The facilities of the offices of his organization were burned, as well as the space that functioned as a kitchen and dining room. Goods such as mattresses, chainsaws, technological devices, among others, were looted; They also reported the theft of a large sum of cash.

The Awajún leaders Augostina Mayán Apikai and Santiago Manuin Mayán were at the scene, who witnessed the attacks on the indigenous organization’s premises.

They were held for several hours, their belongings and money were stolen, but they did not suffer physical attacks.

Despite the fact that hours before they warned about this attack, no authority went to the organization’s premises to deal with the conflict.

They denounce that the State of Emergency declared in El Cenepa, Amazonas, is not respected due to the increase in illegal mining. (Photo: Diffusion)

The state of emergency is not respected

As it is recalled, on Monday, October 24, the ODECOFROC organization and several of its bases began a blockade of the Cenepa River to draw the attention of the authorities so that they carry out more interdictions against illegal mining, because despite the fact that the area is in the state emergency since June this year, illegal miners ignore and continue with this activity.

“The State extended the law (state of emergency) for two months, that is why it is the guarantor of the right, I feel that this interdiction case is going to be stronger because they are already acting criminally and with vandalism”pointed out the president of ODECOFROC, Hortez Baitug.