A landless peasant activist has been found dead in Brazil's Amazon state of Para, the fifth murder in a month believed to be linked to the conflict over land and logging in the country’s rainforest region. The body of the victim, Obede Souza, was found over the weekend in the dense forest surrounding his home in the landless settlement of Esperanca, near the town of Pacaja. Police said on Tuesday that the activist was killed by a gunshot to his head outside his home and that an investigation was under way.
Amazon killings Timeline:
May 24: Jose Claudio Ribeiro and wife Maria do Espirito Santo
May 27: Adelino Ramos
May 28: Eremilton Pereira dos Santos
June 2: Marcos Gomes da Silva
June 9: Obede Souza