Issues

PBI-Guatemala accompanies Human Rights Law Firm at trial of Mayan Poqomchi defender Sofia Tot accused of “usurpation”

On February 20, PBI-Guatemala posted: “Yesterday, #PBI accompanied the Human Rights Law Firm at the Cobán Courts Tower, Alta Verapaz, at the beginning of the conclusions of the Sofia Case. Sofia, Mayan Poqomchi woman, is criminalized and accused of usurpation of private property in protected areas and exploiting its resources. Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Honduras observes protest by Lenca community of Tierras del Padre criminalized for “usurpation” of ancestral lands

On February 20, PBI-Honduras posted: “We celebrate the closing of the process against the 11 people from the Lenca community of Tierras del Padre criminalized for the crime of usurpation. On February 16, when the final letters of freedom were granted to the defenders in the Criminal Court in Tegucigalpa, Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Mexico accompanies family of Náhuatl land defender Samir Flores on the fifth anniversary of his murder

On February 20, PBI-Mexico posted: “It has been 5 years since the murder of Samir Flores. We remember Samir as one of the referents of the work in defense of #human rights and indigenous peoples in Mexico. From @PBI_Mexico we accompany his family today in the community of Amilcingo.” Latinus Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

Canadian court finds Likhts’amisyu Clan Wing Chief Dsta’hyl guilty of criminal contempt for upholding Wet’suwet’en law

Photo: Chief Dsta’hyl disables a Coastal Gaslink bulldozer. Photo by Michael Toledano. Abolish CIRG has just posted: “Justice Tammen rules Dsta’hyl is guilty of criminal contempt. Referring to the Wet’suwet’en law of trespass vs the injunction: ‘The two legal orders cannot comfortably co-exist in the circumstances.’” It adds: “Dinï ze’ Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Mexico accompanies acquittal of Nahuatl water protector Miguel López Vega criminalized for defending the Metlapanapa River

PBI-Mexico has posted: “PBI also accompanies the victory. We remember this long road and we feel very happy because Miguel López Vega was acquitted of all charges against him, he defeated the criminalization of his legitimate work in defense of the Metlapanapa River and the right of the Nahua peoples Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Guatemala accompanies Maya Q’eqchi’ defender Lesbia Artola of the CCDA-Verapaces to the Public Ministry

PBI-Guatemala has posted: “On Thursday [February 15], PBI accompanied the Campesino Committee of the Highlands (CCDA) of the Verapaces, to a summons issued by the MP [Public Ministry] to the Cobán District Prosecutor’s Office, in relation to a complaint against one of its members. Concern continues over the alarming increase Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Mexico celebrates Federal Court ruling that recognizes Indigenous Rarámuri community’s ancestral rights, annuls forestry permits

Photo: PBI-Mexico accompanied the Indigenous forest community supported by CONTEC when they blocked the Creel-San Rafael  highway for five hours on November 19, 2022, in a protest demanding legal recognition of their territory. PBI-Mexico has posted: “PBI-Mexico celebrates the recognition of the ancestral lands of the Indigenous Rarámuri forest community Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

Canada calls for an immediate ceasefire, warns against offensive in Rafah, but exports “military goods” to Israel

Photo: In response to the Israeli military bombing of Rafah, an emergency rally was held outside the Prime Minister’s Office in Ottawa on February 12. On February 14, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated: “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire is urgently needed”, “a military operation into Rafah would be catastrophic”, “the International Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Colombia accompanies CAJAR lawyer Reynaldo Villalba during the fraud and bribery trial of former president’s lawyer Diego Cadena

PBI-Colombia has posted: “We accompanied @ReynaldVillalba of @Ccajar [the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers’ Collective] in the framework of the proceedings related to the trial being carried out against lawyer Cadena. Guarantees are urgently needed in the climate of defamation and threats.” Diego Javier Cadena Ramírez was Álvaro Uribe’s lawyer. Uribe Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Colombia accompanies San José de Apartadó Peace Community and dhColombia at meeting with Canadian Embassy

On February 14, PBI-Colombia posted: “”As peasants, our greatest strength is the land,” says @cdpsanjose [the San José de Apartadó Peace Community] accompanied by @dhColombia [the Association of Human Rights Defenders Network] in a meeting with [the Embassy of] @CanadayColombia and @ONUHumanRights [United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights]. Guarantees Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago