They ask the Chamber to reverse persecution against environmentalists – 2024-04-18 01:28:02

Gloria Silvia Orellana

@DiarioCoLatino

The legal defense of the environmental activists of Santa Marta and ADES presented this April 17, an appeal against the decision to open a trial ordered by the Court of Sensuntepeque, Cabañas, in the Preliminary Hearing on April 10.

“Despite the lack of evidence about the crimes charged and the participation of the accused in the commission, the First Instance judge of Cojutepeque decided to elevate the case to Public Hearing and send our community colleagues to trial,” the statement said.

Therefore, they reiterate that when appealing to the Second Section Chamber of the Center of Cojutepeque they ask to reverse what they consider an “illegal and unjust resolution” against environmentalists.
It was totally inappropriate for that case to advance to the Sentencing phase.

“Without the corpus delicti and with a contradictory account from a suspicious witness, protected as the main evidence,” they noted.

“The honorable judges of the Chamber have in their hands the decision to stop this instrumentalization of the judicial system to persecute and criminalize environmental activists who defend water, ecosystems seriously threatened by the possible reactivation of metal mining,” they reiterated.

Therefore, they demanded respect for legality, justice and freedom for the environmental defenders of Cabañas.