Venezuelan Indigenous Leader Found Dead After Kidnapping by Colombian Guerrillas

Indigenous leader Julio Rodriguez, kidnapped on August 2 in a mining town in southern Venezuela near the Colombian border, has been found dead. The human rights NGO Provea confirmed the death on Tuesday, reporting that Rodriguez had been missing for eight days.

The NGO stated, "The assassination of the indigenous captain (chief) of the Jivi Ekunay people, Julio Rodriguez, who had been forcibly disappeared for 8 days, after being kidnapped by alleged members of the FARC dissidents, is confirmed." Provea is demanding a swift investigation and sanctions against those responsible for the act. They also called for urgent measures to protect the lives and territories of indigenous peoples.

Venezuela's indigenous territories hold significant mineral wealth, including gold, diamonds, bauxite, coltan, and rare earths, in addition to the country's vast oil reserves. NGOs like Provea report that Colombian guerrilla groups, such as the National Liberation Army (ELN) and FARC dissidents, control entire sectors of mining areas near the Colombian border. These operations often occur with the complicity of local security forces.

According to Provea, over 48 indigenous individuals from various peoples have been killed since 2010 in conflicts within indigenous territories. These killings have been attributed to state security forces and non-state actors, including alleged members of FARC dissidents and the ELN. These territories are either under military control or disputed by criminal governance structures.

In April, Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, approved a mining law favorable to private investment, particularly foreign, under pressure from Washington. However, experts suggest that the presence of armed groups complicates investment and may deter potential operators.

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The assassination of the indigenous captain (chief) of the Jivi Ekunay people, Julio Rodriguez, who had been forcibly disappeared for 8 days, after being kidnapped by alleged members of the FARC dissidents, is confirmed.