Supporters argue the accusation is unfounded because the land in question has already been recognized as Garifuna collective territory under binding international court decisions. The organizations say the case reflects a broader pattern of increasing pressure against Garifuna communities defending their ancestral territories. “The lawsuit against the five human rights defenders and members of OFRANEH is plainly illegal and arbitrary,” the organizations write in the letter. Beyond the criminal case itself, the groups expressed concern about what they describe as an increase in racist rhetoric targeting Garifuna communities. The organizations also praised OFRANEH’s decades-long work defending Garifuna rights and protecting coastal ecosystems, describing the group’s efforts as nationally and internationally recognized.