Community leader tortured and killed over land trafficking in Peru

[Judi Lynn]

José Napoleón Tarrillo Astonitas murdered for opposing land traffickers seeking to clear land in the Chaparrí Ecological Reserve, say local witnesses

Dan Collyns in Lima

@yachay_dc
Thu 4 Jan ‘18 06.59 EST

A criminal gang involved in land trafficking has tortured and murdered a community leader in northern Peru, according to his wife and local villagers who witnessed the killing.

José Napoleón Tarrillo Astonitas, 50, was attacked by four men in his home on Saturday night. His wife, Flor Vallejos, told police he was bound by his hands and feet, beaten with a stick and strangled with an electric cable.

As she was covered in a blanket and forced to listen to her husband’s screams, the attackers told him they had been paid to kill him, Vallejos told a national radio station. A local police chief said a murder investigation had been opened and the killers were being hunted.

A community leader in El Mirador village, Tarrillo, known as Napo, opposed land traffickers who had taken over parts of the Chaparrí Ecological Reserve and were clearing land and sowing crops. The reserve is a wildlife hotspot, with one of the largest populations of the rare spectacled bear in South America.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/04/community-leader-jose-napoleon-tarrillo-astonitas-chaparri-tortured-killed-land-trafficking-peru



Google translate:

They cruelly murder rondero in their home
Four strangers entered the house of the lieutenant governor of El Mirador, tied him hand and foot and then beat him and asphyxiate him with a cable
January 04, 2018 - 11:37

. . .

The wife of the deceased indicated that three months ago José Tarrillo Astonitas, had assumed the position of lieutenant governor of the El Mirador farmhouse and there were several people who did not agree.

"He had received threats a few weeks ago and even though I told him to report he did not accept and only said God takes care of me," said Flor.

Also, the woman reported that some residents such as Hipólito Cruzado, Blanca Alarcón, among other settlers, wanted to be removed from their posts and had even spoken with the regional prefect.

"My husband was a defender of the lands of Chaparrí and there are some people who are invading the land, for that reason they were threatening him to retire from his post," he said.

Also, the partner said that for 7 years they have lived in the El Mirador farmhouse, however 4 years ago they were together.

In addition, she said that now she fears for her life, in the face of possible reprisals from the criminals.

For his part, the regional coordinator of the ronderos, Ortencio Julcahuanca, said that the deceased was a very correct person and always defended the lands of Chaparri of this mafia.

https://diariocorreo.pe/edicion/lambayeque/chiclayo-asesinan-rondero-en-su-vivienda-en-chongoyape-794703/