Report: 14 Shamans Killed in Loreto Region

We have just learned that over the last 20 months, 14 shamans have been murdered in Peru's northeastern jungle region of Loreto.

According to the newspaper La República: The provincial prosecutor's office said that the murders were allegedly ordered by the mayor of Balsa Puerto, Alfredo Torres, and carried out by his brother, Augusto, locally known as "the witch hunter."  Only seven bodies have been found, however - either shot, stabbed or hacked with machetes. The seven other shamans have been reported missing. Roger Rumrrill, a leading researcher on Amazonian issues, said the murders are related to "protestant sects" that Torres and his brother belong to, the daily said. "For these protestant sects, the shamans are people possessed by demons, so they have to be killed," Rumrrill said. More details from the Peruvian Times. Take ActionPlease ask authorities to immediately address these atrocities and prevent further murders. Contact one or more of the following: Office of the President of Peru President Ollanta Humala Secretary General Luis Chuquihuara Chil Minister of Justice Francisco Eguiguren Praeli Email:  secretariageneral@presidencia.gob.pe http://www.presidencia.gob.pe The US ambassador to Peru in Lima Her Excellency Rose M. Likins Embassy of the United States Avenida La Encalada cdra. 17 s/n Surco, Lima 33, Peru Phone: (51-1) 618-2000 Fax: (51-1) 618-2397 General email: LimaACS@state.gov  The Peruvian ambassador to the US His Excellency Harold W. Forsyth Embassy of Peru 1700 Massachusetts Ave., N.W Washington D.C. 20036 Phone: (202) 833-9860 to 9869 Fax: (202) 659-8124 http://www.peruvianembassy.us/en.html Email: webadmin@embassyofperu.us Assistant to the Ambassador Ms. Sara Barboza Phone: (202) 833-9860 Fax: (202) 659-8124 sbarboza@embassyofperu.us Political Department Head of Department Mr. Pedro Bravo Telephone: (202) 261-0269 Fax: (202) 659-8124 pbravo@embassyofperu.us The Peruvian ambassador to the United Nations His Excellency Gonzalo Gutiérrez Reinel 820 Second Avenue, Suite 1600 New York, N.Y. 10017 Phone: 212-687-3336 Fax: 212-972-6975 Email: onuper@unperu.org United Nations Human Rights Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) High Commissioner Ms. Navanethem Pillay Palais des Nations CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland Email: infoDesk@ohchr.org  Amnesty International Secretary General Salil Shetty Phone: +44-20-74135500 Fax: +44-20-79561157 1 Easton Street London WC1X 0DW, UK http://www.amnesty.org/en/contact (contact form on their website)

Please let your voice be heard. Thank you. Susan Mokelke Executive Director On behalf of the Foundation for Shamanic Studies