
On 9 January 2011, human rights defender Mr Juan Ramón Chinchilla escaped from captivity after being kidnapped the previous day and reportedly tortured by various unidentified individuals.
Further Information
Juan Ramón Chinchilla is a member of the Executive Committee of the Frente Nacional de Resistencia Popular (National Popular Resistance Front) as a representative of the Juventudes en Resistencia (Youths in Resistance) and the Movimiento Unificado Campesino del Aguán (United Campesino Movement of Aguán) and has actively been defending the rights of campesinos in the Aguán region.
On 8 January 2011 at approximately 20:00, Juan Ramón Chinchilla was accosted and kidnapped by unknown individuals on the road to the rural settlement “La Concepción”, in the municipality of Tocoa, as he traveled by motorcycle to his house.
It is reported that as he traveled Juan Ramón Chinchilla became aware that he was being followed by another motorcycle and a car, and therefore placed a telephone call to his colleagues alerting them to the situation.
Upon nearing La Concepción, Juan Ramón Chinchilla further noted that individuals were hiding in the surrounding trees, ai