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2 clusters · 26 sources · 3 days · First seen · Last updated

False reports of death of Peruvian indigenous leader

Overview

Américo Pascual Tomisha, a 57-year-old Asháninka community leader in the Ucayali region of Peru, was the subject of false reports claiming he had been killed. The Regional Organization Aidesep Ucayali (ORAU) initially announced that Pascual had been shot by intruders while conducting territorial monitoring to prevent unauthorized copaiba resin extraction in the Yurúa district.

Following the initial report, the announcement was retracted after Pascual appeared in a video broadcast on Peruvian public television, stating, “They say I am dead, but I am here, calm, at my home.” The Peruvian Ministry of Culture subsequently verified his safety and removed previous social media posts regarding the alleged murder. ORAU later confirmed he was safe with his family.

Despite the clarification, human rights organizations and NGOs have used the incident to highlight the persistent dangers facing environmental defenders in the Amazonian border regions. Data from the NGO Global Witness indicates that at least 62 environmental defenders have been killed in Peru between 2012 and 2024, with more than half belonging to indigenous communities.

Entities

Ucayali · ORAU · Ministry of Culture of Peru · Américo Pascual · Peru Ministry of Culture

Timeline

  1. 2 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
    Américo Pascual, Peruvian Amazon leader, is alive after false reports of murder

    Indigenous leader Américo Pascual is alive in the Peruvian Amazon after ORAU and the Ministry of Culture retracted reports of his murder following a video confirming his safety.

  2. 4 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 23 sources
    Américo Pascual, indigenous leader, confirmed alive after reports of death in Peru

    Indigenous leader Américo Pascual Tomisha, initially reported killed in Ucayali, Peru, has been confirmed alive by ORAU and the Ministry of Culture following a false report of his death.

Sources

actualidadambiental.pe · allegrini.it · athina984.gr · businessdaily.gr · caretas.pe · contilnetnoticias.com.br · diariocorreo.pe · elbuho.pe · enikos.gr · ertnews.gr · iefimerida.gr · lapampadiaxdia.com.ar · news.mongabay.com · newsbeast.gr · newsbomb.gr · omegalive.com.cy · politis.com.cy · prensa-latina.cu · protothema.gr · reader.gr · sigmalive.com · telesurenglish.net · tromaktiko.gr · tvmundo.pe · tvn-2.com · worldstockmarket.net

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history