Don Julio Garcia Agapito

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Don Julio Gualberto Garcia Agapito was a Peruvian environmentalist who was murdered on February 26, 2008 after reporting a shipment of illegally harvested mahogony in Peru. Don Julio was Lieutenant Governor of the town of Alerta in the Tahuamanu Province of Madre de Dios, Peru.

[edit] Life

Don Julio Garcia was a Brazil nut producer and local leader in Alerta, Peru. He was born in Iberia, a small city to the north along the Interoceanic Highway in Madre de Dios, Peru, in the MAP Region. In 1984, he moved south to Alerta. He lived there with his wife and three young children. He was known as an energetic environmentalist in the community.[1]

[edit] Murder of Don Julio

On February 26, 2008, Don Julio reported the trafficking of 34 logs of illegal mahogany to Peru's Natural Resource Management Agency, INRENA. The mahogany had been logged along the Peru-Bolivia border and driven to Alerta by Sr. Amancion Jacinto Maque, approximately 27 years old and resident of a neighboring community, and driver Sr. Angel Vivanco Gonzales in a vehicle owned by Sra. Victoria Jacinto Maque and Raul Vargas. The truck was confiscated by a police officer in Alerta and driven to the local INRENA office. While Don Julio was in the office, Sr. Vivanco attempted to steal the mahogany-laden truck.[2] With an extra set of keys, he drove the truck off the property. The police official followed in his vehicle.

According to a witness account taken by the Human Rights Office of the Parochial Defense Council of Iberia (Defensoría Parroquial de Iberia), Sr. Jacinto entered the INRENA office and shot at Don Julio 10 times. Eight of the bullets hit their mark. Don Julio died instantly in front of two witness. Sr. Jacinto fled the premises and allegedly crossed the border into Peru.[3] He has not been seen since. Neither Sr. Vivanco nor Sra. Victoria Jacinto Maque has been charged with any crime.

The truck carrying illegal mahogany was eventually recaptured and the wood confiscated by INRENA.

Don Julio was 44 years old.


[edit] References

  1. ^ A la memoria de Don Julio, Teniente Gobernador de Alerta, Madre de Dios, Perú - MAP - Forum
  2. ^ Matan de 7 disparos a teniente gobernador, en Madre de Dios
  3. ^ Amazonia.org.br
  1. A la memoria de Don Julio MAP Forum. 17 March 2008.
  2. Matan de 7 disparos a teniente gobernador, en Madre de Dios Cronica Viva. 28 February 2008.
  3. Peruvian Illegal Mahogany Taking Lives Amazonia.org.br. 20 March 2008.
  4. Amazon environmentalist gunned down in Peru Rhett A. Butler. Mongabay.com. 14 March 2008.
  5. Murder on the Resource Frontier Andrew Revkin. Dot Earth Blog @ New York Times. 17 March 2008.
  6. Amazon Disgrace Grist.org. 17 March 2008.
  7. Asesinan a teniente gobernador de siete disparos en Madre de Dios Andina. 28 February 2008.