In Memoriam: Remembering 46 Indigenous Defenders Who Were Murdered in 2025 in Latin America

Vicente Fernandes Vilhalva (Guaraní-Kaiowá), 36, was shot and killed by hitmen on November 16, 2025. His murder took place in the Iguatemipeguá I Indigenous Land in the municipality of Iguatemi (Mato Grosso do Sul), in a Land Back action known in Brazil as retomada (land reclamation) territories known as Pyelito Kue. This is not the first time that this community has suffered attacks by agricultural militias.

The community had intensified its Land Back actions in the days leading up to Vicente’s murder, with the intention of stopping the use of agrochemicals that are causing health problems and food insecurity in the area. As a result of their territorial recovery, 20 hitmen arrived in the community and attacked it in an incident that, in addition to Vicente's murder, left four other people injured.

The Aty Guasu organization of Guaraní and Kaiowá Peoples expressed its condemnation of this crime: “Our struggle is for the land, for life, and for Tekoha* Guasu. We refuse to continue being treated as invaders on our own land.”

The National Indigenous Peoples Foundation (FUNAI) demanded a thorough investigation into the murder with the aim of confronting the hitmen operating in this region.

*Tekoha: a Guaraní concept meaning “the place where we are from.” It refers not only to a physical place such as territory, but also to a people's identity and way of life.

Francisco Marupa (Leco), 66, was a leader recognized for his work defending the territory within Madidi National Park, a protected area located in northwestern Bolivia and recognized as the most biodiverse place in the world. The park is also home and ancestral territory to some 60 Indigenous and campesino communities.

Francisco had six children. He was a member of the Indigenous Center for the Leco de Apolo People, and his Indigenous community, Torewa, is part of the Leco de Apolo Community, Land of Origin, a model for Indigenous land titling that began in the 1990s. Francisco had been vocal in his opposition to the threats to his territory by illegal mining, logging, and land trafficking.

He was murdered on February 11, 2025, in his home, because of his work as a defender. A government minister tried to pass it off as a personal dispute, but a variety of national and regional organizations have demanded justice for Francisco's murder, recognizing the risks he faced as a territorial defender.

Francisco's killing for his defense of a national park is not unique in Bolivia, where several protected areas inhabited by Indigenous Peoples are threatened by mining, logging, or infrastructure projects that have been pushed through without proper consultations or the communities’ Free, Prior and Informed Consent. The Bolivian government historically has created divisions among the Indigenous communities inhabiting these territories, establishing parallel leadership structures to those who oppose its extractive projects.

The European Union issued a statement condemning the murder of Francisco and calling for those responsible to be brought to justice in order to guarantee the protection of the Leco People. Despite expressing its commitment to the fight against deforestation and the promotion of human rights in Bolivia, the European Union itself has been unable to pass binding regulations that will guarantee respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples by European companies operating in other countries.

Adán Enevia Dovigama (Embera), 73, left his home in the Bajo Humacas community of the Embera Chamí Unified Reserve in Risaralda on January 5 when he was shot and killed. No one has yet been held responsible for his murder.

Several groups, including the National Liberation Army and the Gaitanista Army of Colombia, also known as the Clan del Golfo or Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, operate in the region where Adán was killed. These groups pose a constant threat to Indigenous leaders for control of the territory, which in some cases results in the murder of authorities or community leaders.

Adán's leadership in his community will be a legacy for the resistance and vindication of the territorial rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Jose Albeiro Liz Muchicon (Nasa) was murdered on January 27 by unknown assailants who entered his plot of land. Jose lived in the U'sxa Guyumús territory of the Nasa people in Tierradentro, Cauca, where he served as a traditional doctor and ancestral knowledge keeper.

This region suffers from extremely high levels of violence due to systematic violence perpetrated by dissidents from the FARC and the National Liberation Army against the Indigenous Guard for territorial control. The Cauca Regional Indigenous Council (CRIC) reported that some of the groups responsible are the Jacobo Arenas Western Bloc of the Estado Mayor Central, dissidents of Ivan Lozada or Mordisco, and the Dagoberto Ramos and Jaime Martinez factions.

The CRIC demanded urgent action in response to the murder of Jose Albeiro, stating: “We strongly condemn the murder of the knowledgeable Elder Albeiro Liz in the U'sxa Guyumus (Togoima) territory in Páez. We demand respect for life!”

The European Union also expressed concern about violence in several regions of the country, including the municipality of Inzá, where Jose was murdered. On the same night that he was killed, Camilo Pardo, another Indigenous Guard from the municipality of Inzá, was kidnapped and tortured.

Jose's legacy in territorial autonomy and community health will remain despite the void his spiritual leadership leaves in the community.

James Tomás Guanga Quelal (Awá), 25, was traveling on his motorcycle with his wife in Ricaurte, Nariño, on February 2 when he was shot and killed. His wife was seriously injured in the attack.

James was a recognized youth leader in his Pialapí Pueblo Viejo Reserve and a member of the Association of Traditional Indigenous Authorities of the Awá Camawari Grand Council. He had also recently been working in the mayor's office in Ricaurte.

His father suspects that his murder was due to a political dispute, as elections for a new governor of the organization to which he belonged were approaching. The violence against Indigenous communities in Ricaurte has led to several social protests demanding reparations for the victims.

The Camawari Indigenous organization expressed its condemnation of the threats and murders of the Awá People and demanded justice for James’s murder, stating: “We reaffirm the path of unity, harmony, dialogue, and resistance of the Indigenous communities, where the actors continue failing to keep their word of dialogue and peace.”

Leonairo Samir Montero Paz (Nasa) served as governor of the Nasa council of Kwe'sx Tata Wala, Puerto Asís, Putumayo, and was a recognized leader in the region as well as a father of three. On February 9, he was murdered by an unknown assailant who was waiting for him at his farm. His wife was also seriously injured in the incident.

Several criminal groups operate in the area, sowing insecurity and violence in Indigenous communities. In this case, the alleged perpetrator is a member of the Comandos de la Frontera, an alliance between FARC dissidents and another criminal group that controls part of the drug trafficking from Putumayo to Ecuador and Brazil. This group is in conflict with other FARC dissidents, creating a climate of widespread violence in the region due to the dispute over drug trafficking routes.

Communities in Putumayo have expressed their concern about the violence: “It is urgent that the Ministries of Defense, Interior, Environment, the Office of the Peace Commissioner, and the Victims' Assistance Unit take decisive and efficient action to implement the policy of protection and assistance for communities in Putumayo.”

Alberto Quitumbo Yatacue (Nasa), 41, was shot and killed on February 10 in the village of La Palma in Toribío by men belonging to the Dagoberto Ramos Front of the Estado Mayor Central. Alberto belonged to the Indigenous Guard of the Toribío Reserve and had previously been the target of other attacks and threats.

Toribío is a rural region affected by territorial disputes between various dissident groups of FARC, the National Liberation Army, and the 57th Yair Bermúdez Front. Several leaders of the Toribío Reserve had received direct threats from the Dagoberto Ramos Mobile Section if they continued to interfere with their activities to control the territory against opposition groups.

The CRIC stated: “The murder of Alberto Quitumbo adds to the ongoing extermination that violent groups are carrying out against the Indigenous guard in the department of Cauca, especially in northern Cauca. We denounce this extermination once again before history.”

Jacinto Chocue (Nasa) was shot and killed on February 18 in the village of San Vicente, Páez, Cauca. Jacinto was an Elder of the Nasa People and served as an ancestral knowledge keeper. He lived in the ancestral territory of U'sxa Guyumus (Togoima).

The director of the Land Restitution Unit denounced his murder: “Jacinto was not only a leader, but also a guardian of ancestral knowledge, a bridge between the past and the present who transmitted the memory of his people. With his death, not only was a life extinguished, but they are also trying to silence the resistance and ancient knowledge of the Nasa community. We cannot allow violence to erase the struggle of Indigenous Peoples for their territory, their culture, their history, and their worldview."

The CRIC also condemned Jacinto’s murder for causing disharmony in the territory, as it is people with roles like Jacinto's who bring harmony. They also reported that on January 28, another community member in the region, Rodrigo Astudillo, had been murdered, while another community member had suffered an attempted strangulation on February 18.

Celimo Chilivico Hurtado (Wounaan) was a member of the Chagpien Medio community in Chocó and worked as a traditional doctor in his village. He left the community to search for his daughter, who had been recruited by the National Liberation Army. Celimo's body was found by colleagues from the Indigenous Guard of the Santa María de Pángala Reserve a few days later, on February 20.

The Organization of the Wounaan Nation of Colombia demanded that the Attorney General's Office clarify the facts and that the armed actors operating in the area respect the rights of the Indigenous communities that inhabit it.

Edgar Tumiñá Gembuel (Nasa), 48, was shot and killed on March 1. Edgar was a community leader in the village of Pueblo Viejo in Toribío, Cauca, and also served as Kiwe Thegna (Indigenous Guard) of the reserve in the Nasa Life Plan Project.

He was a leading figure in the defense of his People's territory and culture and a much loved leader in his community, where he encouraged young people to participate joyfully in the defense of their territory.

Edgar Tumiñá had previously received threats from organized crime groups operating in the region, specifically the Dagoberto Ramos Front, and his brother had also been killed by FARC in 2014.

In a statement, the CRIC denounced that dissident groups have “a plan of direct physical extermination against the Indigenous Guard...” and that “as the Indigenous Guard, we do not recognize these criminals as revolutionaries, due to their paramilitary and terrorist practices.”

Less than a month earlier, Alberto Quitumbo was also murdered in the same Nasa Indigenous Reserve in Toribío.

Cristian Fernando Guanga (Awá), 24, was murdered on March 9 in Tumaco, Nariño, by armed men who were waiting for him. He was an Indigenous leader of the Piguambi Palangala Indigenous Reserve, where he had been deputy governor and was also a member of the Indigenous Guard.

In response to this widespread violence in the reserve, the Indigenous Unit of the Awá People said it had “repeatedly requested support...” due to the constant risk faced by leaders and the Awá community.

Several paramilitary groups such as Los Rastrojos, or the Clan del Golfo, and dissidents from FARC and the National Liberation Army, as well as Indigenous authorities of the Awá People, associate this and other incidents of violence with the conflict between these groups.

As in many cases of murders of defenders, Cristian had previously reported threats against him, but the protection measures in place were clearly inadequate for the level of risk he faced.

Diandra Natalia Zamora (Siriano), 24, was murdered on March 16 in Miraflores, Guaviare. She was a well known youth leader among her People and lived in the Tucán de Caño Giriza Reserve. In addition to her role with youth, she was also the women and family coordinator for the Association of Traditional Indigenous Authorities of Miraflores Guaviare.

FARC dissidents operate in the area where she lived, specifically the Armando Ríos Front of the Southeastern First Bloc. It is known that Diandra was traveling with her family in a vehicle when she was intercepted by men who identified themselves as members of this armed group, and, according to the community, killed her.

The Ombudsman's Office had previously issued an Early Warning (AT 011/21), a mechanism for situations of imminent risk, for human rights defenders in the municipality of Miraflores.

Wilmer Soltarte Pascal (Awá) was murdered on March 24 in the municipality of San Miguel, department of Putumayo. He was well known in his community and worked as a taxi driver, an activity that is essential for daily life and mobility in rural areas.

Wilmer’s murder took place amid a high presence of illegal armed actors and territorial control by criminal structures operating in the area. Putumayo continues to be one of the most dangerous departments for the Indigenous communities that inhabit the territory.

Although Wilmer did not hold a formal leadership position, his death shows how violence affects people who sustain the community fabric through essential work. His death has caused great sadness among his family and friends, and adds to the alarming situation of violence faced by Indigenous communities in Putumayo.

Manuel Betancur (Quillasinga) was an Indigenous authority who was murdered on April 12 in the municipality of Yacuanquer, department of Nariño. He served as Indigenous vice governor and was recognized for his commitment to defending the territory and collective rights of his people.

The crime occurred in a region marked by armed violence and the presence of illegal groups, which continue to put Indigenous authorities and communities that exercise their own forms of government at risk.

Manuel was a respected figure within his community for his leadership and organizational work. His murder leaves a deep political, organizational, and spiritual void for the Quillasinga People.

Erik Anderson Menza Pavi (Nasa), 32, was murdered on April 12 in the municipality of Toribío, in the department of Cauca. Erik served as Khabuwe'sx, a community authority responsible for protecting the territory, collective life, and spiritual balance within the community.

Erik’s murder took place in a region historically affected by the territorial control of illegal armed groups that exert constant pressure on Indigenous communities and their traditional authorities.

According to Indigenous organizations in northern Cauca, this crime constitutes a direct attack on the autonomy and organization of the Nasa People. Indigenous authorities and human rights organizations denounced his murder as part of a systematic pattern of violence against the Nasa People.

Ester Julia Camayo, a community member of La Concepción reserve, was murdered on April 16 in the Mondomo sector of the municipality of Santander de Quilichao, department of Cauca. Ester was a coffee producer and supported her family through agricultural work. She was killed during an attack with explosives in a region marked by persistent armed violence and the presence of various illegal groups.

Ester represented the everyday, and often invisible, leadership of rural Indigenous women. Her death leaves an irreparable void in her community and reinforces calls to guarantee the lives and safety of Indigenous women.

Teófilo González Coqui (Nasa) was shot dead on May 10 by unknown assailants in the Indigenous Council of La Gaitana territory, municipality of Inzá, department of Cauca. Teófilo was a recognized leader of this Council and its spiritual Elder.

As is the case of many other murders of Indigenous defenders, this crime took place in a region under strong territorial control by dissident groups and criminal organizations including the National Liberation Army and the Dagoberto Ramos Front of the Western Bloc, which pose a constant threat to the Indigenous communities that live there peacefully.

According to other Indigenous leaders in the area, Teófilo “was a respected figure for his leadership, ancestral wisdom, and commitment to protecting the territory. His murder has generated a wave of outrage and deep sadness among the Indigenous communities of eastern Cauca, who once again denounce the systematic violence faced by their authorities and spiritual leaders."

Luis Aurelio Araujo Hernández (Awá) was murdered on June 3 while traveling in a vehicle provided by the National Protection Unit that was supposed to guarantee his safety. Unknown assailants shot and killed Luis and his two bodyguards, Jesús Albeiro Chávez and Jackson Solarte, before burning the truck and their bodies.

Luis was the coordinator of the Awá General Council of Ricaurte Camawari, Nariño, which comprises 10 Indigenous reserves. According to civil society organizations, Luis was “the strong voice of his People, the guiding force, the guardian of the mountains and of memory.”

The Ministry of the Interior urged “the judicial and police authorities to find those responsible for these acts, so that they may be punished and held accountable.” Luis’s murder exemplifies how even strong security measures are often inadequate to prevent the murder of human rights defenders.

Iván Darío Álvarez Causil (Zenú) was a young leader of the El Polvillo community in the municipality of San Pedro de Urabá. He was murdered on June 5 in the village of La Florida, Anorí in northern Antioquia, while working construction at an Indigenous school.

Although those responsible for his murder are unknown, several witnesses reported that armed individuals entered the premises and forcibly took Iván and four other workers away. The others were eventually released, leaving Iván as the sole victim.

Jaimé Andrés Rivera Donado, Chief of the Río Alto San Juan de San Pedro de Urabá Indigenous reserve, said that Iván had not received any previous threats. It is believed that armed groups operating in the area may have misinterpreted the regularity with which Iván entered the reserve to visit his partner, and this may have been the reason for his murder.

The Ombudsman's Office has warned that this is a high-risk area due to clashes between the ELN and FARC dissidents against the Clan del Golfo/EGC, and denounced the human rights violations that occur due to various forms of social control by these illegal actors.

Gustavo Alfredo Silva, the mayor of Anorí, spoke about the fear and despair of the community due to the lack of public security in the territory, as well as the area’s abandonment by the national authorities in the face of murders and forced displacement due to the ongoing territorial disputes between the armed groups.

Family and community members will always remember Iván for having served his community and for his struggle to guarantee the right to education for Indigenous Peoples. His murder is another tragic example of the systematic violence that armed groups exert against Indigenous Peoples who inhabit, and are guardians of, territories that have been disputed since long before these groups’ arrival.

Juan Camilo Espinosa Vanegas, 32, was a renowned social leader and councilor in San Andrés de Cuerquía, Antioquia, representing the Indigenous Authorities of Colombia political party. On June 16, he was murdered in broad daylight in the center of San Andrés de Cuerquía.

Juan used a wheelchair due to his impaired mobility. According to authorities, the perpetrator is a 17-year-old belonging to the 36th Front of the Estado Mayor de Bloques y Frente.

Juan had been active in promoting policies of inclusion in the municipality as well as protection for the most vulnerable communities, and was well known in the community for this work.

The Ombudsman's Office issued an Early Warning including San Andrés de Cuerquía, underscoring the level of violence in certain regions where the systematic killings of defenders, the presence of armed groups, and the recruitment of minors for these crimes threaten the stability of Indigenous communities.

William Gaitán (Sikuani) was an Indigenous leader who served as manager of the Indigenous Matsuludani IPS health care provider in the Domo Planas Reserve in the municipality of Puerto Gaitán, Meta. He previously held other political positions in which he fought for access to health care in his community, making him a recognized and respected leader.

On July 13, William was reportedly traveling by land near the Muco River in the La Cristalina sector of Puerto Gaitán with three family members when two armed individuals on a motorcycle shot his vehicle several times, killing him and injuring his son.

The Indigenous Technical Secretariat of the National Commission for Indigenous Territories denounced the incident as a serious violation of human rights and a direct attack on defenders of the territory. They say the incident is part of the systematic violence experienced by Indigenous Peoples in Colombia, and called on armed groups to cease attacks on Indigenous Peoples, and for the authorities to guarantee justice for William and his family.

Several national and state government entities recognized William's legacy for his work to ensure dignified access to health care with an intercultural approach for Indigenous Peoples, and urged the judicial authorities to clarify what happened and find those responsible.

Florilba Ramos and Ferney Elago Caviche (Nasa) were a couple with a strong social commitment and position of great leadership in their community. They were shot dead in their home in the village of Valle Nuevo in Silvia, Cauca, on the night of July 14 by armed men who fled the scene.

As in other municipalities in Cauca, there is a presence of FARC dissidents, the ELN, and other criminal groups in Silvia.

Florilba and Ferney were peace signatories in the 2016 Peace Agreement between guerrilla forces and the Colombian government, and were involved in the Cooperativa Multiactiva Ecomún Esperanza del Pueblo, an organization that supports the reintegration of peace signatories to strengthen the social and economic fabric of communities historically affected by the armed conflict in Colombia.

Since 2016, 472 peace signatories have been murdered, 28 of them in 2025. The Cauca Community Organizations Platform Corporation issued a statement condemning the crime and demanding that the state guarantee the protection of those who defend the territory.

Florilba and Ferney were part of a project dedicated to the collective cultivation of Hass avocados. Their legacy in building peace in the region through their belief in collective processes and the creation of spaces of hope will live on despite the violence that ended their lives.

Mayor Aída Damaris Flor Camayo (Nasa) was shot and killed in her home on July 18. Aída was a leader of the Honduras Reserve in the municipality of Morales, Cauca, as well as a member of the Indigenous Guard.

A few weeks before her murder, two other women, Edilma Cruz and Celmira Camayo, were murdered in the same municipality.

Leaders of the municipality confirmed that community members found the person responsible for Aida’s murder, a local man, who was to be tried in a community hearing. There is no further public information about the verdict. Mujeres CRIC expressed the need to create spaces where Indigenous women can live freely and safely.

The Honduras Indigenous Reserve condemned Aída’s murder and warned about the other murders of women in its territory, stating that “femicides represent the most extreme form of violation of women's rights...”

Marcos Yonda (Nasa) was an Indigenous Elder and spiritual leader from the Talaga territory. He was murdered on July 21 at his home in the municipality of Páez, Cauca.

Marcos played a very important role in his community as an ancestral knowledge keeper and was a guide and source of counsel in many ways for his people.

The killings of spiritual leaders affect the transmission of knowledge and the identity of an entire People, who are left without their role models to teach balance with nature and community life. In the words of the community, “To attack a spiritual Elder is to wound the very heart of the territory.”

The CRIC also expressed grief over Marcos’s murder, noting that such attacks are particularly significant because they generate fear among other communities and disrupt harmony in the territories.

Fernanda Domicó was an Indigenous Trans woman and renowned social leader in the municipality of Dabeiba, Antioquia. She was the first female chief of the municipality's volunteer fire department.

Fernanda was murdered on July 25. According to media sources, her body was found on the banks of a stream. However, the facts of the case have not yet been clarified.

Fernanda was a beloved figure, recognized throughout the community for her commitment to defending human rights and diversity in the community. The mayor of Dabeiba remembered her as a “symbol of courage, dignity, and service to the community.”

Social organizations in the municipality stated: “Fernanda lived in resistance: in the face of rejection, discrimination, and oblivion...” Neither her legacy nor her struggle will be forgotten.

On August 11, Yeison Aizama Variaza (Embera), a member of the Indigenous Guard of the Dai Umadamia Reserve, located in the municipality of El Dovio, Valle del Cauca, was murdered.

The authorities of the Embera Nation of Valle del Cauca reported that Yeison’s body was found abandoned in a field near the reserve in the village of La Cabaña. Grassroots organizations denounced the young man's murder, while demanding justice and clarification of the case.

The Valle del Cauca Regional Indigenous Organization stated that Yeison’s murder is mourned not only by his family and community, but also the entire Embera Nation of Valle del Cauca, who constantly live under acts of violence that endangers their personal, family, and collective safety, threatening their lives and survival as a People.

The National Commission for Indigenous Territories condemned Yeison's murder and demanded justice for Indigenous Peoples: “Each of these deaths brings grief to our communities and constitutes a serious threat to the physical and cultural survival of our peoples...Defending our territories should not cost us our lives!”

Héctor González Epieyu (Wayúu) was a renowned leader and brother of the former governor of La Guajira, Wilmer González Brito. Héctor was known for his commitment to defending his People and for wanting to achieve a just energy transition in the territories of La Guajira. He was also a well known figure among many grassroots organizations and communities, having served as secretary of Indigenous Affairs for the municipality of Uribia.

On August 22 he was attacked in broad daylight in his vehicle as he left his home. Two armed men on a motorcycle shot him repeatedly, causing serious injuries. Although Héctor was taken to a health center, he was already dead on arrival, according to the medical report.

Indigenous leaders, traditional Wayúu authorities, and various communities and grassroots organizations condemned Héctor's murder and expressed their concern about the political and criminal violence in Uribia.

Héctor will live on forever in the memory of the community of Uribia and his family and loved ones. He leaves behind a legacy of peace and justice for the Indigenous Peoples of La Guajira.

José Adelmo Valencia (Nasa) was arriving home in Santander de Quilichao, Cauca, when he was attacked by armed men. After a week in the hospital, he died on November 17. He had already suffered a prior attempt on his life.

José held a variety of community positions, including leadership of the Munchique Los Tigres territory and participation in the Association of Indigenous Councils of Northern Cauca and the CRIC.

ACIN honored José’s long history of community dedication, including the strengthening of self-government and the defense of territory, through which he accompanied various leaders and territories in their struggles.

A fellow Indigenous leader and colleague, Ismael Jumbe Yatacué, said: “How can we forget the difficult times we went through as a legal team... José Adelmo Valencia, thank you forever for your contribution to our families.”

Eduardo Campo (Nasa) was murdered on November 25 while returning home on his motorcycle in the municipality of La Plata, Huila, after participating in an Indigenous Guard event in the territory of Mariana Mandiguga. Eduardo was a member of the Indigenous Guard.

Indepaz reported that Eduardo's murder took place shortly after the Dagoberto Ramos Front made public threats against leaders and members of the Indigenous Guard in Cauca.

The CRIC holds the group responsible for this crime and condemned the systematic persecution of the Indigenous communities of Cauca and their leaders, stating that Eduardo’s legacy “remains under the protection of the spirits of the territory,” and that “his passing is not an end: it is a seed that strengthens our struggle."

Niver Membache Piraza (Wounaan), 21, a member of the Khirardú community, was murdered on November 27 in Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca, while he was with his family. Like many of the defenders murdered throughout 2025, Niver was a member of the Indigenous Guard and a social leader in his community.

Niver was the father of a three-month-old baby and the son of a Wounaan leader. His family had already suffered the consequences of violence in the region when they were displaced from their territory in 2022.

Communities Building Peace in Colombia (CONPAZCOL), an organization of which he was a member, demanded an urgent investigation into his murder and the adoption of preventive measures.

The Ombudsman's Office had previously issued an Early Warning due to the risk faced by social leaders in the municipality of Buenaventura because of the presence of illegal armed groups.

José Miguel Mojica Conchangui (Wiwa) was murdered in the early hours of December 26 in the village of La Mucura in Riohacha, La Guajira. He was celebrating Christmas with his family when armed individuals took him from his home and shot him dead in front of his family.

José was a leader in his community, and his father was a mamo (spiritual leader) in the nearby community of Siminque.

Illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo and Los Conquistadores de la Sierra operate in the area, leading the Ombudsman's Office to issue a warning about the risk to community leaders in that region.

The organization Wiwa Yugumaiun Bunkuanarrua Tayrona issued its own warning in a statement about “the humanitarian crisis and the risk to the communities of the Wiwa Indigenous people...”

On September 28, at around 6:30 a.m., Efraín Fuerez (Kichwa), 46, was killed in Cotacachi, Imbabura. Efraín was a father of two. He was the first fatal victim at the hands of Ecuadorian security forces during the national strike.

The forensic autopsy performed on Efraín revealed that he was struck by a firearm projectile. The Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating this crime as a suspected case of excessive use of force in the line of duty.

The Regional Foundation for Human Rights Advisory Services has filed paperwork for the case to be investigated as an extrajudicial execution, since it was a crime committed by the state.

As expressed in the streets, “Efraín went out to defend life and returned as a symbol of resistance.” He will always be present in the active memory of a people fighting against the injustices imposed by the state.

On October 14, the community of Gunudel, Pueblo Kichwa Saraguro, reported the death of Rosa Elena Paqui, 61, a mother and community member.

Rosa suffered a cardiac arrest, which was reportedly caused by the inhalation of tear gas used by Ecuadorian security forces to disperse protestors and demonstrations. Rosa was the second death recorded in the National Strike.

According to the police report, Rosa was found dead next to her home by one of her neighbors. Although it is unclear whether she was directly involved in the protest, her body was located just meters away from the site where acts of repression and violence took place.

In response to these events, CONAIE stated: “We demand truth and justice for Rosa Elena and for all social activists who have been detained or killed in defense of the rights of our people.”

José Alberto Guamán (Kichwa), 30, was a father of two and member of the Cachiviro community in Otavalo, Imbabura. He was the third fatality recorded during the National Strike.

José was killed on October 15 after being hit by a projectile during the demonstrations in Imbabura. Although he was taken to the local emergency hospital and later transferred to a hospital in Quito due to the severity of his injuries, “Ñoño,” as he was called by his family and friends, died hours after arriving in the capital.

The community of Cachiviro said during his farewell: “We will never forget him; we will always carry him in our minds and hearts...”

On December 27, 2025, two months after the end of the National Strike, Edison David Farinango (Kichwa), 30, became the fourth fatality linked to the excessive use of force in the repression of protests and demonstrations in Imbabura.

Edison was a craftsman, farmer, and builder from the Kichwa community of San Ignacio de Cotacachi in the province of Imbabura. He was hit by two tear gas canisters, one in the leg and one in the back, the latter seriously affecting his kidney function.

Although he remained hospitalized and fought for his life for two months, he never recovered from his injuries.

The Union of Indigenous Campesino Organizations of Cotacachi and CONAIE condemned the repression and expressed condolences to his family and community.

Misael Mata (Maya Q'eqchi') was shot and killed on May 14 by two men who surprised him at his job as a security guard. Misael was originally from the community of Las Flores and was part of the 54 communities in the Sierra de Santa Cruz involved in anti-mining resistance.

This region is of great ecological importance, as more than 60 rivers originate there. Their opposition was focused on the projects of the Canadian company Río Nickel S.A., which has been granted licenses to extract nickel in the area and whose operations would cause contamination of those water sources.

Just weeks before Misael's murder, the alliance of 54 communities had filed complaints before the Congress of the Republic alleging that the company had conducted a fraudulent consultation and demanded that the licenses granted by the Giammattei government be canceled.

Five days before Misael's murder, Marco Antonio Zuleta Quevedo, a forest firefighter who had received threats for his defense of the forests, was also killed.

Arnoldo Nicolás Romero (Ayuujk) was a defender of the territory and commissioner of communal property in Buena Vista, San Juan Guichicovi, Oaxaca. He was reported missing on January 17, and ultimately found dead by his relatives on January 22 after having been shot several times.

Arnoldo led the resistance against the Interoceanic Train, part of the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec megaproject, promoted by the Mexican government.

This project was imposed on Indigenous communities without their Free, Prior and Informed Consent, and without adequate consultation or Environmental Impact Studies in several areas.

Arnoldo's murder should not be considered an isolated incident, but rather an attempt to silence several communities resisting for their rights.

On February 13, Wilfrido Atanacio, Victoriano Quirino, and Abraham Chirino, defenders of the territory of the Ayuujk people of the El Platanillo community, were murdered in Río del Sol, Santo Domingo Petapa, Oaxaca.

It is reported that the victims were traveling by land when an armed group attacked and killed them. Members of the community claimed that members of the armed group El 33 are responsible. Other sources attribute the killings to an agrarian conflict that escalated in 2023.

The Union of Indigenous Communities of the Northern Zone of the Isthmus demanded justice and protection in the face of widespread fear of new ambushes.

On February 28, Cristino Castro Perea (Chontal), a land defender and community leader, was murdered in Barra de la Cruz, Santiago Astata, Tehuantepec, Oaxaca. Two armed individuals on a motorcycle attacked him.

Cristino was a beneficiary of the Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists.

Although he had not previously received threats, it is believed the murder was directly related to his leadership defending the territory. The region faces threats from illegal logging of mangroves and land sales to developers.

The struggle has been ongoing since 2013. While the territory was declared a protected natural area in 2023, it has been insufficient to protect defenders’ lives.

Marco Antonio Suástegui Muñoz (Nahua and Afro-Mexican), 49, was a defender of the territory, a farmer from Cacahuatepec, Guerrero, and an architect. He led resistance to the La Parota Dam and defended Icacos Beach.

On April 18, Marco was attacked at work and shot repeatedly. He was taken to a hospital in Acapulco but died on April 25. Those responsible have not been found.

His case highlights the impunity surrounding attacks on land defenders and decades of persecution tied to opposing powerful interests.

After his brother disappeared in August 2021, Marco’s family continued search campaigns. Precautionary measures were indicated, but authorities ignored repeated calls for protection.

Marcelino Ramírez (Mixtec/Ñuu Savi) was an Elder from Cuajilotes, San Juan Mixtepec, Juxtlahuaca, Oaxaca. He was shot and killed along with his dog on July 10 at his home.

Neighbors attribute the murder to an agrarian conflict that has caused forced displacement after years of escalating violence and attacks.

Marcelino's resistance was expressed by inhabiting his territory by birthright, even in the midst of escalating violence, until the end of his life.

Marcos Aguilar Rojas (Tepehuano-Wixárika), a community leader, was killed on November 26 during an armed attack on the El Caracol communal property in San Lorenzo Atzqueltan, Villa Guerrero, Jalisco.

He and his brother Gabriel were shot while engaged in livestock activities. No one has been arrested, though community members report they have identified those responsible.

The community has fought for restitution of 45,000 hectares long recognized by decree, with ongoing attacks and alleged coverups. Community members protested in Guadalajara and Mexico City demanding justice and recognition of their territory.

Sandra Estefana Domínguez Martínez (Ayuujk) was an activist, lawyer, and defender of Indigenous Peoples, in particular Indigenous women. She was found dead on April 24 after being missing for more than six months, alongside the body of her husband, Alexander Hernández.

Authorities claimed a criminal group was responsible; relatives and activists denounced lack of followup and that the case was not classified as a femicide.

Sandra had publicly denounced sexual violence and gender-based violence. Her family demanded an end to revictimization and criminalization of missing persons and reported harassment and threats after her disappearance.