Page 12 - AT

A12 WORLD NEWS
Friday 1 November 2019
Peruvian loggers charged in Amazon deaths

By FRANKLIN BRICEÑO noe for three days to the
Associated Press regional capital city, Pu-
LIMA, Peru (AP) — Authori- callpa, to file complaints
ties in Peru have charged and urge forestry officials
five men in the timber in- to take action. They urged
dustry with the 2014 mur- prosecutors to stop illegal
ders of four indigenous ac- logging, presenting photos
tivists who had battled ille- and sketches they made of
gal logging in the Amazon destruction they found.
jungle. Prosecutors say the five
Two timber executives and suspects could face up to
three loggers have been 35 years in jail if convicted.
charged with the shoot- Timber executives José Es-
ing deaths of the activists, trada and Hugo Soria are
prosecutor Otoniel Jara, accused of ordering the
who works in Peru's remote killings, which were alleg-
Ucayali region, told The As- edly carried out by loggers
sociated Press on Wednes- Eurico Mapes, Josimar Ata-
day. chi and Segundo Atachi.
Environmentalists say the The Associated Press was
case is unprecedented in not immediately able to
Peru, where years of illegal reach the suspects or their
logging and, on occasion, In this March 17, 2015 file photo, Ashaninka Indian men, identified by locals as illegal loggers, tie attorneys for comment.
suspected attacks by those tree trunks together to move them along the Putaya River near the hamlet of Saweto, Peru. During the five-year investi-
carrying it out have often Associated Press gation, the men have pub-
been met with an ineffec- licly denied the charges.
tual response from authori- that funded efforts to bring The indigenous group's were killed with shotgun They remain free and are
ties. the alleged killers to justice. leader, Edwin Chota, along blasts in the Upper Tamaya- believed to be living in the
"We hope that the legacy Bewick said he hoped the with Jorge Ríos Pérez, Leon- Saweto Asháninka indig- remote jungles of Peru.
of the victims of this mas- case will "set an example cio Quinticima, and Fran- enous territory along Peru's Jara, the prosecutor, said
sacre can lead to justice," for other indigenous en- cisco Pinedo, were found border with Brazil. prosecutors who were as-
said Tom Bewick, of Rainfor- vironmental defenders dead on Sept. 1, 2014. The activists had defended signed to the case before
est Foundation US, a group across the world." Authorities say the men the forests, travelling by ca- him had abandoned it.q

AP Exclusive: Peruvian loggers charged in Amazon deaths

LIMA, Peru (AP) — Authori- chi and Segundo Atachi.
ties in Peru have charged The Associated Press was
five men in the timber in- not immediately able to
dustry with the 2014 mur- reach the suspects or their
ders of four indigenous ac- attorneys for comment.
tivists who had battled ille- During the five-year investi-
gal logging in the Amazon gation, the men have pub-
jungle. licly denied the charges.
Two timber executives and They remain free and are
three loggers have been believed to be living in the
charged with the shoot- remote jungles of Peru.
ing deaths of the activists, Jara, the prosecutor, said
prosecutor Otoniel Jara, prosecutors who were as-
who works in Peru's remote signed to the case before
Ucayali region, told The As- him had abandoned it.
sociated Press on Wednes- Jara said the three log-
day. gers had been in the area
Environmentalists say the where the bodies were
case is unprecedented in found, while the two busi-
Peru, where years of illegal nessmen had lost revenue
logging and, on occasion, after the indigenous activ-
suspected attacks by those ists accused them of illegal
carrying it out have often case will "set an example blasts in the Upper Tamaya- logging, presenting photos logging.
been met with an ineffec- for other indigenous en- Saweto Asháninka indig- and sketches they made of On one occasion, Estrada,
tual response from authori- vironmental defenders enous territory along Peru's destruction they found. one of the timber execu-
ties. across the world." border with Brazil. Prosecutors say the five tives, allegedly referred to
"We hope that the legacy The indigenous group's The activists had defended suspects could face up to Chota, telling witnesses: "I'll
of the victims of this mas- leader, Edwin Chota, along the forests, travelling by ca- 35 years in jail if convicted. pay whatever... I want his
sacre can lead to justice," with Jorge Ríos Pérez, Leon- noe for three days to the Timber executives José Es- head," according to docu-
said Tom Bewick, of Rainfor- cio Quinticima, and Fran- regional capital city, Pu- trada and Hugo Soria are ments filed by prosecutors.
est Foundation US, a group cisco Pinedo, were found callpa, to file complaints accused of ordering the The bodies of Chota and
that funded efforts to bring dead on Sept. 1, 2014. and urge forestry officials killings, which were alleg- Quintisima were found,
the alleged killers to justice. Authorities say the men to take action. They urged edly carried out by loggers while those of Rios and
Bewick said he hoped the were killed with shotgun prosecutors to stop illegal Eurico Mapes, Josimar Ata- Pinedo are still missing.q