Murder of Mexican activist triggers calls for better protection of campaigners

BOGOTA: A prominent environmentalist in Mexico was shot dead over the weekend, highlighting the dangers facing activists in Latin America and prompting calls for better protection of land and indigenous rights campaigners.

Isidro Baldenegro, an environmental rights activist, was killed by gunmen on Sunday in Mexico’s northern state of Chihuahua after having received death threats.

A community leader of Mexico’s indigenous Tarahumara people, Baldenegro was known for his fight against illegal logging in the country’s Sierra Madre mountain region. For years he led non-violent protests against logging projects, including sit-ins and human blockades.

“The killing of Isidro Baldenegro Lopez is a tragic illustration of the many dangers faced by those who dedicate their lives to defend human rights in Latin America, one of the most dangerous regions in the work for activists,” said Erika Guevara- Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International, in a statement on Wednesday. “It is imperative that Mexico investigates this crime and that all governments across the Americas take more action to promote and protect the very important work human rights activists do with so much courage.”

Baldenegro, one of Mexico’s most prominent environmentalists, was awarded the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize in 2005 for his work against deforestation. — Reuters