A pivotal trial begins in Peru this week, testing the nation's resolve to combat violence against environmental defenders in the Amazon. Five men face charges of contract killing for the 2023 murder of Kichwa tribal leader Quinto Inuma Alvarado, with prosecutors seeking unprecedented life sentences.
A Life of Defence Cut Short by Ambush
Quinto Inuma Alvarado was shot and killed on 29 November 2023 while travelling by boat along a river route in the San Martín region of Peru's northern Amazon. The attack, which also injured another community member, followed years of the leader denouncing illegal logging and drug trafficking within his community's territory of Santa Rosillo de Yanayacu.
His son, Kevin Arnol Inuma, aged 30, described his father's profound commitment. "Being a real environmental defender requires a lot of sacrifice – walking through the forest, in sun and rain, and exposing yourself to danger," he said. Kevin revealed his father was acutely aware of the risks, often warning his family: "He used to tell us that one day they might kill him and that we should be prepared."
A Landmark Prosecution and a Flawed Protection System
This case marks the first time in Peru that charges of contract killing have been brought in relation to the death of an Indigenous environmental defender. Prosecutors allege the suspects, believed to be illegal loggers, targeted Inuma precisely for his role in defending Indigenous land and reporting crimes to authorities.
The trial highlights systemic failures. Despite being granted a security detail under a state protection mechanism created in 2021, the measures for Inuma were never implemented. Cristina Gavancho, a lawyer with the Instituto de Defensa Legal, stated the killing followed "years of threats and official warnings that went unheeded."
A Test for Justice and a Signal for Latin America
Of the six originally charged, five will stand trial. A sixth suspect was killed last year during an attempted arrest. Prosecutors assert they have built a strong case, including forensic gunshot-residue tests and witness testimony placing the accused at the scene. Investigators have also linked the suspects to individuals Inuma had repeatedly reported.
Legal experts and advocates view the trial as a critical juncture. A conviction with life sentences would be unprecedented in Peru for such a crime. "This case is significant because it is the opportunity that the Peruvian state has to establish an exemplary sanction," Gavancho emphasised. Advocates argue a strong ruling could send a powerful signal across Latin America that attacks on environmental defenders will not enjoy impunity.
The case unfolds against a grim backdrop. Indigenous organisations and groups like Global Witness report that at least 35 Indigenous defenders have been killed in Peru over the past decade, with few cases ever reaching court. The outcome will be closely monitored by international observers as a barometer of justice in one of the world's most dangerous regions for those protecting the Amazon rainforest.
