SMA PROGRAMS: INDIGENOUS RIGHTS:
An International Campaign

Isidro, his community and the basic rights of his people to their traditional lands are being supported by an international coalition of NGOs and law firms offering pro-bono services.

Isidro’s release was due to a snowballing of international pressure in the spring of 2004, led by US attorney, Marcia Newlands of HellerEhrman LLP, Lewis Gordon of the Environmental Defenders Law Center (EDLC) and by Consejo EcoRegional Sierra Tarahumara A.C. and SMA in Chihuahua.

The Sierra Club, Amnesty International, and Global Response applied increasing pressure over the past six months. Rainforest Action Network, Global Greengrants, Angelica Foundation, Rausing Trust, the Sierra Club and numerous others also supported this campaign.

Isidro was helped tremendously by the Centro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Agustin Pro in Mexico. Isidro’s attorney, Lic. Fausto Salgado worked tirelessly for the past fifteen months for Isidro’s release for a diminutive fee. Fausto is the leading human rights attorney in Chihuahua, a totally dedicated public interest attorney who defends a number of indigenous cases each year with little or no support.

Agustin Bravo and Ramiro Castellano of Consejo EcoRegional Sierra Tarahumara A.C. have also been a tireless defenders of Isidro’s cause and that of his community.

In case the Tribunal Agraria fails to recognize their rights, the case of the Coloradas de la Virgen land claims is being prepared for the InterAmerican Court for Human Rights by the Washington based firm, Wilmer Culter and Pickering LLP in cooperation with Consejo EcoRegional Sierra Tarahumara A.C., EDLC and other associates.