The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Todd Steiner, (415) 488-7652, tsteiner@TIRN.net
Peter Galvin, (520) 907-1533, pgalvin@biologicaldiversity.org
Jaclyn Lopez, Costa Rica: (506) 8503-4497, U.S. cell (727) 490-9190,
jlopez@biologicaldiversity.org

Arrests Made in Costa Rica Following Worldwide Rallies for Jairo Mora, Murdered Sea Turtle Activist

Costa Rican authorities made arrests Wednesday in connection with the murder of Jairo Mora Sandoval, a sea turtle activist who was murdered in Costa Rica two months ago. The arrests, made in a series of raids near Limon, were announced Thursday, the same day as demonstrations around the world, led by Turtle Island Restoration Network (SeaTurtles.org) and the Center for Biological Diversity, demanded justice for Mora.

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica

Costa Rican authorities made arrests Wednesday in connection with the murder of Jairo Mora Sandoval, a sea turtle activist who was murdered in Costa Rica two months ago. The arrests, made in a series of raids near Limon, were announced Thursday, the same day as demonstrations around the world, led by Turtle Island Restoration Network (SeaTurtles.org) and the Center for Biological Diversity, demanded justice for Mora.

As part of that effort, more than 137,000 signatures were submitted to the Costa Rican government calling for the conviction of Mora's murderers and better protection of Costa Rica's beaches. Mora was a dedicated 26-year-old protector of sea turtle nests and eggs on the country's Caribbean coast, where turtle egg poaching threatens sea turtle populations.

"We are relieved that arrests have been made, but we remain vigilant to ensure that right people have been arrested, and are brought to justice," says Todd Steiner, executive director of Turtle Island Restoration Network.

"While we're greatly encouraged by the arrests, we won't stop until Costa Rica's beaches are safe for sea turtles and humans alike," said Peter Galvin, the Center's director of programs. "Costa Rica's a country with a great history of working to protect its natural resources. We want to see that tradition continue."

"Jairo's brutal murder was an assault on those who protect endangered wildlife around the world. Justice for Mora is crucial to keeping wildlife and its defenders safe," said Jaclyn Lopez, a Center attorney.

Lopez helped organize and participate in a rally for Mora in Costa Rica; and in Los Angeles, Galvin and Steiner co-hosted a press conference outside the Costa Rican consulate. Similar events were held in Spain, Germany, El Salvador, Ecuador, India and Australia.

At the Center for Biological Diversity, we believe that the welfare of human beings is deeply linked to nature — to the existence in our world of a vast diversity of wild animals and plants. Because diversity has intrinsic value, and because its loss impoverishes society, we work to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. We do so through science, law and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters and climate that species need to survive.

(520) 623-5252