A/HRC/39/17 63. Concerning India, allegations have been received about the failure to ensure free, prior and informed consent in the states of Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana in the context of logging, mining and conservation projects affecting Adivasi lands and resources. In August 2017, 10 persons, among them 7 women, were arrested when they conducted a peaceful demonstration against the eviction of 40,000 families, among them Adivasi communities, as a result of the megaproject for the construction of the Sardar Sarovar dam in the Narmada river valley. 23 Concerns have been raised by the mandate in north-east India about Adivasis who have been attacked, stigmatized for alleged association with Maoist Naxalites and prosecuted under security legislation, including in the states of Chhattisgarh and Telangana.24 64. The Special Rapporteur visited Mexico in 2017 and observed that threats, harassment and criminalization of members of indigenous communities during consultation processes tended to undermine the “free” character of those consultations. For example, members of the Yaqui tribe have suffered various attacks, threats and criminalization for opposing the construction of an aqueduct and a gas pipeline, and for demanding consultations and that their free, prior and informed consent be sought for projects built in their territories. The indigenous leader Mario Luna was detained in 2014 on criminal charges of illegal deprivation of liberty and theft for leading community protests. Since his release he has continued to be threatened and attacked, despite calls from the National Commission for Human Rights of Mexico to ensure his protection and the requesting of precautionary measures in favour of the Yaqui community by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. 25 She also observed the serious situation of attacks and violence against indigenous communities in the Guerrero Mountains, the Sierra Tarahumara (Chihuahua) and Chiapas. 65. In Ecuador, concerns have been raised over several situations, including attacks against and criminalization of Sápara leaders including Gloria Ushigua on charges of terrorist acts, sabotage and obstruction for opposing petroleum exploitation on indigenous territories.26 66. In Thailand, indigenous livelihoods such as rotational farming and beekeeping have been banned and indigenous peoples have been evicted from lands declared “protected areas” despite evidence of the contributions of indigenous peoples’ traditional livelihood practices to biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation and adaptation (A/71/229, A/HRC/6/15/Add.3 and A/HRC/24/41/Add.3). 67. On 3 May 2017, the Supreme Court of Peru acquitted the Quechua defender Máxima Acuña de Chaupe, who had been charged with illegally occupying land. Due to her opposition to the Yanacocha mining company, she has been the victim of several attacks, intimidation, attempted evictions and judicial harassment. On appeal, she was acquitted of all charges and her land rights were recognized. The Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, together with other special procedure mandate holders, has sent several communications relating to Ms. Acuña de Chaupe’s case27 and has also expressed concern over the conviction of the Aymara leader Walter Aduriri, who was sentenced to seven years in prison in July 2017 on charges of causing disturbances in the context of protests against mining concessions in the Puno region of Peru.28 68. In Ethiopia, indigenous Anuak land rights defenders have been prosecuted under antiterrorist legislation and subjected to prison sentences, torture and solitary confinement.29 69. In 2012, authorities in the Russian Federation introduced a so called “foreign agent law”. According to the law, non-governmental organizations must declare themselves 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 14 IND 8/2017 and IND 9/2017. IND 1/2016 and IND 2/2017. MEX 10/2015 and MEX 7/2017. ECU 2/2017. PER 1/2014, PER 3/2015 and PER 1/2016. PER 9/2017. ETH 3/2016.