Justice For Saweto
Emblematic case finally goes to court after 5 years since four indigenous leaders were murdered in the Peruvian Amazon. If Not Us Then Who has been working with the Saweto community and allies to tell their story over the years.
Find out more about the case: justiceforsaweto.org/background
Show your solidarity using #JusticeForSaweto
On 1st September 2014 Edwin Chota and three indigenous Asháninka leaders were murdered while defending their forests. They had been denouncing the increasingly violent illegal loggers operating on their ancestral lands for over a decade with little recognition from the government. Through their widows, family and friends we learn about their ongoing fight for land […]
Five years ago, Diana Rios’ father, an #indigenous leader & environmental defender, was murdered.
Diana has been fighting for justice ever since.
In December 2019 the accused finally go to court.
Why is it important?
The need to support the cause of Justice for Saweto is even greater today given the persistent harassment and murder of environmental defenders and Indigenous leaders across the Amazon.
Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of these crimes go unpunished, which is why the successful prosecution of these murders is so important to the cause of environmental defenders across the Amazon and the world.
Follow the case #JusticeForSaweto
Democracy Now interviewed the widows while they were in Lima for the UN Climate Change Conference.
December 2014
Diana Rios is an Ashaninka youth leader from Alto-Tamaya Saweto in the central Peruvian rainforest. In this video she speaks about the urgency of acting now while we still have forests.
Illegal logging is a threat to the world's forests and to the many people who rely on them. “Antamiki” follows a group of musicians to the Peruvian Amazon to listen to the stories of indigenous leaders and learn how consumer choices directly impact forest communities. Featuring Diana Rios of the Saweto community. As all as James Valentine of Maroon 5, Stefan Lessard of Dave Matthews Band, Adam Gardner of Guster and Singer/Songwriter KT Tunstall.
After gathering at Ford for a panel briefing on April 21st, Indigenous leaders marched toward the UN building to bring awareness to the many lives taken by miners and loggers who have been killing people in their communities to take away their land. One day before the signing of the #Parisagreement, implementation plans by UN nations continue to neglect the rights of indigenous communities who have been protecting our forests and mitigating climate change for centuries.