Attempted killing of Carlos and Benjamín Hoyos Soria
On 7 July 2018, human rights defender Carlos Hoyos Soria and his brother, Benjamín Hoyos Soria, were attacked by three unknown assailants who opened fire on them.
Carlos Hoyos Soria is an environmental human rights defender and community leader of the Shipibo community of Santa Clara de Uchunya, in the Peruvian Amazon. Since 2013, the community has been fighting against the violation of their rights to their traditional land by palm oil companies and land traffickers. He is also a member of FECONAU, one of the oldest indigenous federations of the Peruvian Amazon, which represents indigenous organisations of more than 30 native communities. The federation advocates for the recognition of indigenous communities’ rights and preservation of their ancestral territories.
On 7 July 2018, human rights defender Carlos Hoyos Soria and his brother, Benjamín Hoyos Soria, were attacked by three unknown assailants who opened fire on them.
On 7 July 2018, at approximately 8:30 a.m., Carlos Hoyos Soria and his brother, Benjamín Hoyos Soria, went to inspect the boundaries of their community and discovered a new kilometre long clearing in their land. While returning to their community, they were intercepted by three unknown assailants who proceeded to open fire on them. Carlos Hoyos Soria and his brother managed to escape. Neither of the brothers suffered bullet wounds, however Carlos Hoyos Soria sustained a dislocated shoulder when diving away from the gunfire, and both brothers are in a state of shock. Carlos Hoyos Soria, his brother, and his wife, left the community hours after the attack, seeking refuge in a nearby city.
This is not the first time that members of the Santa Clara de Uchunya community have suffered attacks. On 5 January 2018, two armed and hooded persons arrived at the home of a community elder, who proceeded to question and threaten his daughter-in-law and stating that they were looking for community leaders and members in order to kill them. On 11 December 2017, 11 members of the community, including Carlos Hoyos Soria, were fired upon while surveying a deforested area of their territory. They identified one of the assailants as a member of the security team of the palm oil company Ocho Sur P. S.A.C..
Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned over the attempted assassination of Carlos Hoyos Soria and his brother, especially given its occurrence in the context of a sustained series of attacks against the community.
Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Peru to:
- Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of land, environmental and human rights defenders from Santa Clara de Uchunya community, including Carlos Hoyos Soria and his brother, in consultation with the defenders.
- Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the attack against Carlos Hoyos Soria and his brother, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards.
- Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Peru are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.
