“Was this indigenous leader killed because he fought to save Ecuador's land?”

…Shuar families have already been displaced by the project, which if completed will result in the destruction of 450,000 hectares of cloud forest…[Jose] Tendetza’s family, supporters and lawyers suspect that his opposition to the mine led to his death – the third violent death of a Shuar leader in six years…Tensions are still high….On…23 May Ecuador’s interior minister…announced…that police had arrested two men on suspicion of Tendetza’s murder… both Shuar men employed as labourers by EcuaCorriente…The two men, however, have not been charged with any crimes…Tendetza’s brothers blame his death on his opposition to EcuaCorriente [part of Corriente Resources]…In a statement to the Guardian, a spokesman for EcuaCorriente said: “We regret that insinuations have been gathered which constitute an affront to the company’s reputation and law-abiding behaviour. We have demonstrated, and we will continue to do so, total respect and regard for people and cultures, and that is reciprocated by the communities which surround us, who as proof, participate and mostly collaborate in the decent and respectful work of our company.”…