They wrote letters to government officials asking that the Mexican forestry agency evaluate the ecological effects of logging on the Sierra and distributed information sheets, educating other campesinos of the consequences of indiscriminate logging. On a few occasions their protests actually stopped the logging, forcing subsidiaries of Boise Cascade like Costa Grande Forest Products to sit at the table with the campesinos and listen to their requests. Eventually, Boise Cascade left the area, claiming that the inconsistency of wood supply had forced them to close shop. But many others were convinced it was directly related to the activities of Mr. Montiel's organization. Among the people most angered by the campesino activists and community leaders were the caciques who profited from selling the hardwoods to Boise Cascade.
Many caciques have close ties to the military and to corrupt government officials.
They blacklisted several community organizers, including Mr. Montiel, and accused them of planting marihuana and belonging to leftist guerrilla movements. The Mexican army began looking for Mr. Montiel and the other campesino leaders who were hiding in the Sierra. Mr. Montiel and Mr. Cabrera were illegally arrested on May 2, 1999. Hardwood logging resumed almost immediately after their arrests. Mr. Montiel and Mr. Cabrera were tortured and forced to confess to crimes they did not commit.