Romualdo Ochoa Aysa
Romualdo Ochoa Aysa is a Quechua-speaking farmer and human rights defender from Huancuire, in Coyllurqui, Cotabambas.
In 2015, during protests in Cotabambas facing the impact of the activities of the Las Bambas mine, he stood out in the defence of collective rights, demanding respect for agreements and justice for affected communities.
Due to his leadership and defence work, he was unjustly sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison. The Court also ordered him, along with a group of other criminalised defenders, to pay a civil reparation fine which collectively amounted to 50,000 Peruvian sol for the State and 88,600 U.S. dollars for the Las Bambas mining company.
While many human rights defenders (HRDs) can operate freely in Peru, those working on the environment, in particular on the environmental and human rights impact of the extractive industry, face harsh repression, including intimidation, smear campaigns, death threats, surveillance, and judicial harassment. Journalists and trade unionists have also been targeted.
