In Oaxaca, defender Yesica Sánchez Maya, director of Consorcio Oaxaca, pointed out that the entity is a pioneer in the criminalization of people, as nothing has been done for the release of defender Pablo Lopez Alavés, who has been imprisoned for 14 years in the Etla prison for protecting the forest and water of his Zapotec community of San Isidro Aloapam in Ixtlán. Yolanda Pérez Cruz, Pablo's wife, describes these more than 5 thousand days as a hell of injustice and abuse of power. Before being detained, Pablo led an honorable life, growing his food and protecting his territory. Yolanda now fights against the absence of her husband and the threats she faces in demanding justice in a community where defending the land seems not to be a right. Recalling the sacred forests that Pablo protected, Yolanda emphasizes that deforestation has not stopped since her husband has been in prison. Water scarcity and tree logging continue as Pablo remains incarcerated. Despite the difficulties, Yolanda regularly visits her husband in prison, bringing the crafts that he makes. In addition to being parents of five children and a grandchild, Yolanda and Pablo have suffered from criminalization, harassment, and racism from the authorities. Pablo's case has been reviewed by the American Bar Association's Human Rights Center, which has confirmed violations of his rights and the lack of impartiality in his judicial process. Despite the evidence indicating Pablo's innocence, authorities have not acted to release him. The governor of Oaxaca, Salomón Jara Cruz, has been criticized for not intervening in the case and allowing injustice to continue. Yolanda's struggle for her husband's freedom is an example of resilience against a system that criminalizes those who defend the land and its natural resources.
