Behind the femicide of the environmentalist Javiera Rojas in the Chilean region of Antofagasta, feminist and environmental defense organizations demand justice for Rojas. At the same time, the leftist candidate Gabriel Boric called for clarification of the facts as soon as possible. “It is urgent to protect environmental defenders from the State, acting to prevent intimidation, harassment and attacks on those who fight for the environment,” wrote the candidate of Approve Dignity.
“Violence is permanent”
The Social and Environmental Committee of the CF8M, of which Rojas was a member, pointed out that “the confusing context described so far does not allow us to affirm until now that it is due to her capacity as defender; however, we can assure that it is framed within the gender violence that violates women every day ”.
“Violence is permanent in those territories that are sacrificial for women, and can reach such horrifying instances as the one experienced by our partner, thereby making visible the cruel alliance that exists between extractivism and patriarchy. For this reason, we will not rest until justice is done for Javiera Rojas ”, concludes the statement from the feminist and environmental organization.
Rojas’s body was found in an abandoned house last Sunday. This week the Investigative Police (PDI) arrested two suspects and the Antofagasta Guarantee Court issued preventive detention for the two men.
For his part the presidential candidate Gabriel Boric called for clarification of the facts and “determine the corresponding criminal penalties.” “It is urgent to protect environmental defenders from the State, acting to prevent intimidation, harassment and attacks on those who fight for the environment”the left-wing candidate said on Twitter.
“In full democracy it is persecuted”
Meanwhile, deputies Catalina Pérez and Marcela Sandoval, president of the Lower House Environment Commission, asked the National Human Rights Institute (INDH) to participate in the investigation together with the Prosecutor’s Office. For her part, the constituent Bárbara Sepúlveda referred to Rojas in a session of the Constitutional Convention and regretted that “In full democracy, environmental defenders are persecuted, harassed, harassed and murdered”, said quoted by the newspaper The counter.
“In Chile it is tremendously dangerous to defend the environment. In full democracy it is persecuted, harasses, harasses and murders women environmental defenders. Many of these murders make them look like suicides or accidents ”, Sepúlveda added that in this sense he recalled that “in 2016 they killed Macarena Valdés for defending the water, the 2013 they killed Nicolasa Quintremán, opposed to Endesa’s Ralco plant in Biobío. The 2019 they killed Marcelo Vega Cortés, opponent of Celulosa Arauco ”.
“My condolences to his colleagues, family and friends. Although nothing could bring you comfort at this time, I just want to respectfully say that Javiera’s struggle is echoed and amplified in this Constituent Convention. In his name, we will make an ecological Constitution and we will enshrine the human right to water“Added the constituent.
The former senator and former center-left presidential candidate Yasna Provoste, said that the death of the activist “must be investigated in depth and promptly.”“Your case cannot go unpunished”affirmed the Christian Democrat
According to ONG Global Witness, Latin America is the most dangerous region for environmental defenders with 148 of the 212 murders committed in 2019. The NGO Fundación Glaciares Chilenos pointed out that “the murder of Javiera Rojas shows how dangerous it is to be an environmental defender in Latin America. No more dead environmental defenders!”
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