Land is Life Condemns the Murder of Alba Bermeo Puin, Indigenous Defender and Anti-Mining Activist in Ecuador

Latin America is a violent environment for Indigenous leaders who are defending their territories from extractivist industries. The spiral of violence that Indigenous peoples are facing has again claimed a new victim, this time in Ecuador over the past weekend.

Alba Bermeo Puin, a 24 year-old Indigenous defender and anti-mining activist, was murdered on the night of October 21st by people associated with illegal mining in the communities of Río Blanco, Cochapamba and Yumate. She was five months pregnant.

According to human rights organizations and local Indigenous associations, the murder is affiliated with an unprecedented escalation of threats and violent attacks against community leaders opposing mining activities in their territories. Throughout the past two weeks, at least three armed attacks by illegal miners have taken place in these communities. The authorities did not react to the complaints of the local people.

In 2018, the community of Río Blanco won a court case against the Chinese-Ecuadorian mining company, Ecuagoldmining, due to the violation of their rights to free, prior and informed consent. This court victory halted the mining activities of the company. However, since the court ruling, the State of Ecuador has failed in fulfilling its responsibility to protect the rights of people in this region. The failure to maintain public order and security has led to a profound expansion of illegal mining activities in the area. The situation constitutes a dual violation of rights; not only has the right to free, prior and informed consent been violated, but also the right to life and the right to territory is being systematically violated due to the inaction of the State towards criminal groups that illegally extract mineral resources in these territories.

Land is Life firmly stands in solidarity with the Ecuadorian communities facing this tragedy. We condemn the violence and the State’s failure to protect the right to life of its citizens, specifically Indigenous defenders. Land is Life demands that the State of Ecuador take urgent action to stop illegal mining, and to provide remedy to the family of Alba.