Environmental leaders from 14 provinces gathered in Villa Ciudad Parque, Córdoba, to denounce the increasing persecution they face when opposing oil, mining, and agribusiness extractivism projects. The urgency focused on Mendoza, where social mobilization for the preservation of water resources has been met with strong criminalization of protest.
The case of those detained for water
Tension increased after the arrests that occurred on April 8 during a march against the modification of the Glacier Law. Although several activists were released, the case of Adrián Torres (electrician and leader of the Assembly of Necessity and Urgency) remains critical.
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Judicial irregularities: The Assembly for Water denounces a “vendetta” through the fabrication of serious charges, such as the alleged “attempted theft of a weapon,” to prevent cases from being resolved in traffic courts and to maintain detentions.
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Legal rejection: Despite having no criminal record, the habeas corpus filed by Torres’ defense was rejected by the Mendoza judiciary.
Human Rights violations and international treaties
Leaders like Federico Soria denounce that Alfredo Cornejo‘s administration prioritizes punishment over dialogue, clearly violating the Escazú Agreement. The accusations against the security forces are alarming and include:
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Abuse of authority.
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Complaints from detained women, promoted by the APDH.
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A history of more than 40 detainees under the current provincial regime, which assemblies describe as an attempt at social disciplining.
The birth of the Periphery Network
In this context of vulnerability, the Periphery Network for socio-ecological transition was born, a national network of organizations and self-convened individuals seeking to protect environmental leaders at risk.
«We have already informed the Mendoza government that we have videos and evidence documenting their actions. We demand the prompt release of those deprived of their liberty,» declared Leonardo Grosso, a member of the network and former president of the Environment Committee in the House of Representatives.
Towards a new paradigm
The work axes of this federal movement not only focus on resistance but also on building alternative public policies to the extractive model and education for a paradigm shift. The Periphery Network has already scheduled its next meeting for September in the province of Mendoza, reaffirming its commitment to the defense of common goods.
