"I'm delighted to join the Sierra Club in honoring Rodolfo Montiel Flores with the Chico Mendes Award, named for another hero who sacrificed his life in his struggle to defend human rights and safeguard the environment," said Ethel Kennedy. "Rodolfo's quest to protect the forests of Guerrero exemplifies Robert Kennedy's belief that 'those with the courage to enter the moral conflict will find themselves with companions in every corner of the world.'"

"Rodolfo Montiel's bravery and dedication represent the highest qualities in environmental protection," said Alejandro Queral, Sierra Club's Human Rights and the Environment Program director. "The arrest, torture and imprisonment of Montiel and Cabrera represent the worst actions of those in power against people and the environment."

Montiel and his colleague, Teodoro Cabrera, are currently in prison for their efforts to halt the rampant logging in their farming community. Montiel, one of the founding members of the Organización de Campesinos Ecologistas de la Sierra de Petatlan y Coyuca de Catalan, A.C. (Organization of Campesino Environmentalists of the Sierra de Petatlan and Coyuca de Catalan), organized farmers to oppose the rampant, and possibly illegal, logging in these mountains in Guerrero, Mexico.

"It is an honor for the Sierra Club to bestow this award to Rodolfo Montiel. We are hopeful that soon the government of President Fox will put an end to this sad event in the history of the environment in Mexico and secure the freedom of these environmental activists," continued Queral. "We hope that Presidents Bush and Fox discuss the human rights violations against these environmentalists when they meet on February 16. Just as environmental and human rights groups in both countries are working more closely together, we hope our public officials will also each out to each other to address these issues."

On May 2, 1999, Montiel and Cabrera were arrested by members of the 40th Infantry Battalion of the Mexican Army, who beat them, threatened them at gunpoint and allegedly tortured the two men, forcing them to confess to trumped-up charges of drug trafficking and illegal possession of weapons. The Sierra Club and Amnesty International believe that these charges were created to imprison Montiel and Cabrera for their environmental activism. Last year, Amnesty International declared Montiel and Cabrera Prisoners of Conscience.

In mid-July, the Mexico Commission on Human Rights released the findings of their investigation in the case. The Commission declared that Montiel and Cabrera had, in fact, been tortured, that they have been improperly detained and that they were not in possession of firearms when arrested, as the Military had claimed.

The Sierra Club established the Chico Mendes Award 1989 to recognize individuals or non-governmental organizations, outside the United States who have exhibited extraordinary courage and leadership, at the grassroots level, in the universal struggle to protect the environment. Previous recipients include the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (Nigeria), and Aleksandr Nikitin (Russia).

The Chico Mendes Award is named for the Brazilian rubber-tapper who was killed after speaking out for responsible logging practices in the rainforest.

Edgar Cortez Moralez of the PRODH stated that PRODH (the human rights group representing Montiel and Cabrera in court) will file an amparo (an appeal filed when an individual's constitutional rights have been violated) tochallenge the court's decision to uphold the conviction. Cortez stated that once the amparo is filed, "The Mexican government will have yet another opportunity to recognize the human rights violations against the environmentalists and see that justice is done in this case."

The award to Montiel reads:

For extraordinary courage and leadership in defending the old-growth forests of Mexico's Sierra de Petatlán at the cost of personal freedom, and for inspiring individuals and communities to unite in their opposition of the destruction of the natural world.

Por su extraordinaria valentía y liderazgo demostrados al defender los bosques de la Sierra de Petatlán, México, aún cuando el costo ha sido perder la libertad; y por inspirar a individuos y comunidades para unirse en su oposición a la destrucción de la naturaleza.

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