Guatemala: Arrest of human rights defender Mr Rubén Herrera
http://frontlinedefenders.org/node/22085

On 15 March 2013, Mr Rubén Herrera, human rights defender and coordinating member of Asamblea de Pueblos de Huehuetenango Por La Defensa del Territorio (Huehuetenango Villages Assembly for Land Defence ADH) was arrested. Rubén Herrera remains in detention, facing a total of twelve charges, while a trial date has been set for 30 May 2013.

ADH is a coalition of organisations and individuals engaged in the defence of land and environmental rights in the department of Huehuetenango, including campaigning for the protection of natural resources and for prior and informed consultation rights for villages affected by large scale development projects.

On 15 March 2013, at 7.30am, Rubén Herrera was arrested as he was leaving his home in Huehuetenango city. He remains in detention and faces a total of twelve accusations, including terrorism, burglary, abduction and kidnapping, and damage to private goods. Rubén Herrera has had access to a lawyer and a trial date is scheduled for 30 May 2013.

The accusations are mainly linked to his alleged involvement in events which occurred in the municipality of Santa Cruz Barillas, department of Huehuetenango, in May 2012, when riots took place against the hydro project Santacruz, managed by energy company Hidralia Energy, to whom the Government issued a hydroelectric dam license in 2010. 22 other persons have also been issued with an arrest warrant in relation to these events, 11 of whom were imprisoned and subsequently acquitted.

It is reported that no evidence exists connecting Rubén Herrera to the above charges, while his opposition to the Santacruz project has always been legitimate and peaceful. Front Line Defenders has also learned that Rubén Herrera has been the subject of previous acts of criminalisation and judicial harassment, as a result of his work in defending land and environmental rights.

Front Line Defenders expresses concern at the arrest of Rubén Herrera, and believes his detention to be motivated by his legitimate human rights work, in particular his defense of the country’s natural resourses and his peaceful opposition to large scale projects which affect the communities of Huehuetenango.

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