Pubdate: Mon, 28 Aug 2000
Source: Associated Press
Copyright: 2000 Associated Press
Author: Natalia Parra, Associated Press Writer

JAILED MEXICAN ENVIRONMENTALIST SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS IN PRISON

ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) -- A peasant leader recently recognized by a U.S.
environmental group for his efforts to protect old-growth forests was
sentenced to more than six years in prison Monday. Human rights and
environmental groups immediately denounced the decision.

A judge sentenced Rodolfo Montiel, leader of a rural ecological group in
Mexico's Pacific coast state of Guerrero, to six years and eight months in
prison.

A second member of his group, Teodoro Cabrera Garcia, received a 10-year
sentence. Both were convicted on drug and illegal arms possession charges.

Montiel claims the charges were lodged in retaliation for his environmental
efforts, a contention backed by a coalition of international human rights
and environmental groups that have been trying to secure his release.

``We profoundly regret what happened today,'' said Cristian Rojas, education
coordinator for Amnesty International's Mexico office. ``This represents a
step backward in the process of obtaining justice.''

Rojas told The Associated Press that the court's action will only provoke
``an international pressure even greater than what has already existed.''

``We will pursue this case until they are freed,'' said Rojas, who noted
that Amnesty's Washington office already has petitioned Mexico's
President-elect Vicente Fox to intervene. Fox takes office on Dec. 1.

Montiel and Cabrera Garcia were detained on May 2, 1999.

Montiel's group forms human chains to stop logging trucks from passing
through Guerrero. He is widely considered by environmental groups to be a
fearless crusader for trees. He and his supporters believe old-growth
forests in Guerrero are being excessively logged.

Local authorities say Montiel and his supporters were protecting marijuana
plants. In addition, the Mexican defense department says that the two
prisoners admitted belonging to guerrilla groups allegedly operating in
Guerrero.

In April, the 44-year-old Montiel was one of seven recipients worldwide of
the dlrs 125,000 Goldman prize, given by the San Francisco-based Goldman
Environmental Foundation in recognition for efforts to preserve the
environment.

Amnesty, which has declared Montiel a prisoner of conscience, and Mexico's
Human Rights Center claim that both Montiel and Cabrera Garcia have suffered
brutal torture at the hands of police trying to extract confessions from
them.
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