Edilene and her husband Isaque Dias Ferreira,  lived in the settlement 10 de Maio, in the municipality of Alto Paraíso, state of Rondônia.

The human rights defenders, married and with a 7-year old daughter, were both members of LCP (‘Liga dos Camponeses Pobres de Rondônia e da Amazónia Ocidental’) and fought for a long time for the right to land of many families in the region.

They were a very active couple of farmers in their community, frequently participating in meetings of the National Commission to Fight Violence in the countryside and in the city. They were linked to the National Agrarian Agency, and several other events about the rights of rural workers.

The young couple also denounced criminal acts perpetrated by landowners in the area and had already received various death threats.

On September 13, 2016, when Edilene, 32, and Isaque, 34, were heading to their piece of land, they were ambushed and hit by gunshots. The couple did note resist the injuries and passed away at the site of the attack. Sadly, the name of both community leaders was added to a vast list of victims linked to the fight for land in the state of Rondônia.

In a sad and honest announcement, LCP recalled that the young activists participated in many of the League’s meetings and in 2014, Isaque was elected coordinator, along with his companion Enilson Ribeiro, also murdered in 2016.

The couple will not be forgotten and will forever be linked to the defence of human rights. In the words of LCP:

“Companion Edilene, present in the fight!

Companion Isaque, present in the fight!”