Cristian Ferreyra Murder Trial Begins in Santiago del Estero

The trial of seven men accused of being involved in the murder of indigenous farmer Cristian Ferreyra in 2011 began today in Monte Quemado, Santiago del Estero.

Ferreyra, 23, was gunned down in a rural farm on 16th November 2011 as he prepared a gathering with friends and other local farmers. The meeting was to discuss how to defend an area of land belonging to his indigenous community Lule Vilela that was under threat from encroaching agribusiness interests.

Ferreyra, a member of the Farmers Movement in Santiago del Estero (MOCASE-VC), died on the way to the nearest town, 50kms away, while his friend and colleague Darío Godoy was badly wounded.

In the trial, Javier Juárez is accused of murdering Ferreyra and injuring Godoy. Jorge Ciccioli, a local businessman that claimed to own the contested land, and Demetrio Palomo are charged with being accomplices. Four other men face charges for causing injury, threats, and abuse of firearms.

The trial is considered “historic” as it marks the first time a local businessman has been charged with a murder amid an ongoing conflict over lands in northern Argentina.

“The violence used against members of MOCASE-VC are part of a long territorial conflict in Argentia’s Gran Chaco region, including Santiago del Estero,” wrote the Centre for Social and Legal Studies (CELS) in a statement today. “The encroaching agricultural frontier and insecure land ownership creates a context of increasing human rights violations against farmers and indigenous communities, especially in terms of land rights, food supply, and the right to a dignified life.

“During an extended conflict over lands in this region, no political, judicial, or police authorities in the province have intervened to end the land clearings, or the attacks and threats towards the farming communities,” continued the statement.

In the last few weeks MOCASE-VC have reported several instances of threats made against them, including one video in which a landowner make a direct threat with a gun.

The post Cristian Ferreyra Murder Trial Begins in Santiago del Estero appeared first on The Argentina Independent.