UN concerned over violence against environmentalists and indigenous in Costa Rica
September 6th, 2013 (AFP & InsideCostaRica.com) The United Nations representative in Costa Rica has joined the Defensoria de los Inhabitantes (Ombudsman) to express his concern about recent violence against indigenous persons and environmentalists in the country.
“We call for nonviolence and for the protection of environmentalists and the indigenous communities protecting their territories,” said Yoriko Yasukawa, resident coordinator of the United Nations System in a press release.
Yasukawa said that the country needed to “effectively enforce the Indian Act of 1977, which expressly protects the right of indigenous communities to their territories.”
Days ago a park ranger and a volunteer were attacked while attending to a complaint of poaching, and in a separate incident an indigenous man was attacked who tried to report a case of illegal logging.
In June, the UN delegation expressed “deep regret” over the murder of environmentalist Jairo Mora, who was killed after reporting threats he received from criminal groups on the country’s Caribbean coast. Eight people have been arrested in connection with the crime.
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