on Thursday mourned the death of Santiago Manuin.
The 63-year-old Awajun indigenous leader died last night at Luis Heysen Inchaustegui Hospital in Chiclayo (Lambayeque region), where was transferred from Amazonas —his native region— because of the seriousness of his health condition affected by the new coronavirus (COVID-19.)
In a statement, the Society of Jesus in Peru "deeply lamented the death of Awajun leader Santiago Manuin, chairman of the Permanent Council of the Awajun People."
Likewise, it highlighted Manuin's career and his commitment to the defense of indigenous peoples and especially that of their territory.
The
Jesuits appreciated the service that the Awajun leader provided to his people through long years of work at institutions promoted by the Society of Jesus, specifically at the "Agricultural Service for Economic Research and Promotion" (SAIPE) and at the "Center Tunaants Spirituality" —both located in Santa Maria de Nieva district, Bagua province.
"We are confident that his fight for justice and the invaluable contribution to the dialogue between indigenous spirituality and the Catholic Church will continue over time, promoting spaces for understanding and dialogue," the statement stressed.
"We remember with special affection his presence among the Amazonian indigenous leaders who received Pope Francis in Madre de Dios in January 2018 (…)," it said.
The news about Manuin's death in Chiclayo was confirmed by his daughter Luz Angelica Manuin from Amazonas. She recalled that her father was ill at home in Santa Maria de Nieva (Amazonas) and "we thought it was the flu."
"Once things got complicated, he was taken to the local hospital and then to Bagua, where he got worse," she added.