Crime & Public Safety
Venezuela Indigenous chief found dead, NGO says
Human rights NGO Provea said Tuesday that Julio Rodriguez, an Indigenous leader of the Jivi Ekunay people, had been found dead after being kidnapped for eight days from a southern Venezuelan mining town.
Provea said Rodriguez had been abducted by alleged members of FARC dissident groups and described his death as an assassination. The NGO called for an investigation and swift sanctions against those responsible.
According to Provea's tally, more than 48 Indigenous people from the Pemon, Warao, Jivi, Yanomami, Piaroa and Wayuu peoples have been killed since 2010 by security force agents and non-state actors, including alleged members of FARC and ELN dissident groups.
Venezuela's mining region contains gold, diamonds and rare earths, and AFP reported that it is largely controlled by armed gangs or guerrillas, including FARC and ELN.
Update
Provea said more than 48 Indigenous people from several peoples have been killed since 2010 by security force agents and non-state actors, including alleged FARC and ELN dissidents.
Provea called for an investigation and swift sanctions against those responsible.
The item adds context that armed gangs or guerrillas, including FARC and ELN, largely control parts of Venezuela's mining region.
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 August 2026 at 03:17:30 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The item attributes the alleged kidnapping to alleged FARC dissident members; responsibility has not been independently established in the supplied material.
The exact location where Rodriguez was found dead is not specified.
Source
AFP news report published on .