The Association for the Protection of Las Granadillas Mountain’s (APMG) was formed by residents in Zacapa, Guatemala, who were concerned that illegal and over logging, monoculture and large-scale cattle farming had significantly damaged the ecosystem of the mountain they lived on. Through an analysis of the deterioration of the mountain, they found that over time the lower part of the mountain had lost 70% of its forest.

The excessive logging and farming also had an adverse effect on the water table, which thousands rely on. The APMG’s work focuses on protecting the remaining 20-30% of the mountain’s forest as well as encouraging reforestation efforts. Reverend José Pilar became involved with the organisation around the time of its founding as members sought support from the Lutheran church.

Threats to the organisation and its members began around 2009, after they began to challenge the illegal logging carried out by national and international logging companies. In January 2009 arrest warrants were issued for Reverend José Pilar and two others in APMG, who were accused of coercion, instigating crimes and disturbance of private property in connection to their efforts to protect the mountain. They were ultimately cleared of all charges by Zapaca’s Criminal Court.

In November 2010, a local landowner and some logging company employees had destroyed two walls that had been constructed to restrict access to heavy vehicles for logging purposes. Villagers and the APMG worked to rebuild the barrier, which sparked confrontation and a media smear campaign by the landowner who said the organisation had illegally detained his vehicles. When the case was finally heard in April 2011 the judge found, as on other occasions, that the charges lacked any legal basis.

Reverend José Pilar states: “all of the activities that the communities have undertaken to have the mountain declared a protected area have been carried out in the spirit of non-violence, peacefully and legally. Nonetheless, plantation owners have responded with legal and criminal attacks.”

A significant milestone was met in December 2011, when the National Council of Protected Areas ruled that the Las Granadillas Mountains fulfilled the requirements to be declared a protected area. The APMG and their supporters are one step closer to protecting the ecosystem on the national level.

The criminalisation incidents Reverend José Pilar faces are unfortunately not uncommon. Some of the human rights defenders most vulnerable to criminalisation are those, like the APMG, who campaign for economic, social and cultural rights. Many companies and states view them as hindrances to development policies and economic gains. These have economic and political power far greater than the citizens, and are able to take actions that can legally, and even physically, threaten human rights defenders.

Some of the strategies used include unlawful detention and accusations of rebellion or even terrorism. These targeted actions can result in significant psychological distress for human rights defenders and their families. Media smear campaigns and legal actions against organisations can undermine their legitimacy and credibility, potentially weakening their ability to work.

The experiences of Reverend José Pilar and the APMG with efforts to criminalise their work are a perfect example of some of the lengths people will go to in order to maintain control over natural resources. The ecological crisis in Zacapa, Guatemala, is not unique. The actions against APMG serve as a stark reminder of the importance of supporting their right to protect their environment without physical threats or misuse of the legal system to stop their efforts.

“We have come out of each encounter strengthened to continue the fight, in the knowledge that the Las Granadillas Mountain is a gift from God that we have to protect because in many respects our survival depends on it” Rev. José Pilar

Article by Katie Hortenstine