Burnt body of 71-year-old British activist Paul McAuley was found on Tuesday in the youth hostel that he ran in the Amazon rainforest in Iquitos, Peru.
Mr McAuley worked along with indigenous individuals in his native country Portsmouth and campaigned on several environmental issues for several years. He also belonged to the Catholic teaching order De La Salle Christian Brothers. Besides, he was awarded with an MBE during the 90s for establishing a school in a poor region of Peru capital, Lima.
A probe has been initiated into the matter and the officials are now questioning the 6 people who resided in the hostel.
Notably, Mr McAuley garnered international attention back in the year 2010, when Peru’s government gave orders for expulsion. He was being accused of inciting turmoil among people to protest against environmental ruination. At the time, several people came in support of Mr McAuley which eventually led to failure of the government’s attempt.
It was in the year 2000 that Mr McAuley first journeyed to the Amazon in Peru in order to support the native activists. He hoped to teach the Peruvians in the Amazon their human and environmental rights, Mr McAuley told the BBC in the year 2010.
