Case History: Darwin Javier Ramirez Piedra
On 15 July 2015, the National Court of Quito ruled in favour of environmental rights defender, Mr Darwin Javier Ramírez Piedra, denying efforts to return him to jail.
Javier Ramírez was originally detained in April 2014 and following a trial was sentenced to 12 months in prison. Following an appeal, that sentence was reduced to 10 months, with the court ordering his immediate release, allowing for the fact that he had already spent that period of time in pre-trial detention. He was released on 10 February 2015.
Darwin Javier Ramírez Piedra is President of the community of Junín, in the region of Intag in northern Ecuador. He works to promote environmental rights and to protect human rights connected to environmental issues, such as land rights and the right to water. He has been a leader of the opposition to mining within the Intag region, in particular the Lurimagua mining project, directed by Ecuador's National Mining Company (ENAMI).
On 15 July 2015, the National Court of Quito ruled in favour of environmental rights defender, Mr Darwin Javier Ramírez Piedra, denying efforts to return him to jail.
Javier Ramírez was originally detained in April 2014 and following a trial (see below) was sentenced to 12 months in prison. Following an appeal, that sentence was reduced to 10 months, with the court ordering his immediate release, allowing for the fact that he had already spent that period of time in pre-trial detention. He was released on 10 February 2015.
Empresa Nacional Minera (ENAMI) - the company bringing the charges against Javier Ramírez - then appealed to have the last 2 months of the original sentence implemented. On 15 May 2015 The Imbabura Court of Appeal restored the original prison sentence and ordered the detention of Javier Ramírez for 2 months.
The 15 July ruling ends the efforts to incarcerate Javier Ramírez. However, Javier Ramírez continues to have a criminal conviction on his record.
While Front Line Defenders welcomes the ruling in favour of Darwin Javier Ramírez Piedra, it reiterates its concern that the original charges were brought against him solely as a result of his peaceful and legitimate work in defense of environmental rights in Ecuador. The brother of Javier Ramírez, and fellow environmental rights defender, Mr Victor Hugo Ramírez Piedra, is also accused of rebellion on the basis of his alleged involvement in the attack. He remains at large.
Environmental rights defender Mr Darwin Javier Ramírez Piedra faces two months imprisonment following a decision taken by the Imbabura Court of Appeal on 15 May 2015 to extend his prison sentence by two months.
The decision to increase the sentence against Javier Ramírez was taken following an appeal lodged by ENAMI for its extension. The environmental rights defender had initially been sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment on the charge of 'rebellion', however this was reduced to 10 months' on appeal, and Javier Ramírez was released on 10 February 2015 having already spent 10 months in pre-trial detention. He was arrested on 10 April 2014, and accused of partaking in an attack against members of ENAMI that had taken place on 6 April 2014. Javier Ramírez was in his home at the time of the attack, however multiple testimonies attesting to this were ignored by the presiding judge during his sentencing. No substantial evidence has been presented against him. The environmental rights defender remains at liberty pending an appeal lodged by his defence against the most recent decision.
The brother of Javier Ramírez, and fellow environmental rights defender, Mr Victor Hugo Ramírez Piedra, is also accused of rebellion on the basis of his alleged involvement in the attack. He remains at liberty.
