In a blatant effort to intimidate and silence its critics, Belo Sun Mining has filed a criminal lawsuit targeting more than 30 people – most of them small-scale farmers – as well as community leaders, environmental defenders, researchers, and representatives of Brazilian and international organizations.

Due to our longstanding opposition to the company's plans to carve Brazil’s largest open-pit gold mine on the banks of the Amazon’s Xingu River, the company seeks to criminalize Amazon Watch, its partners at International Rivers and Movimento Xingu Vivo, and local community representatives whose way of life is imperiled by the mine.

This region has already suffered massive impacts from the construction of the Belo Monte mega-dam. Belo Sun’s opponents understand that the company’s plans would destroy what remains of a critically important and unique ecosystem with dire implications for the rainforest and the people who live there.

The company’s efforts are the same SLAPP suit strategy used by corporations in the U.S. and Europe, with even more chilling consequences in Brazil. Amazon Watch is no stranger to being targeted in this way, which is why we are a part of the Protect the Protest Task Force to stand together with allies fighting back against legal bullying. These tactics only serve to strengthen our resolve.