Mahahual, Q.R. — A roadblock set up by angered residents outside the town of Mahahual has been removed. The blocking of traffic south of the town started shortly before noon Wednesday by residents demanding talks with the local government.
The group blocked road access in an area that connects the city of Chetumal and Xcalak in protest of recent evictions they say are illegal. The roadblock was put in place to add pressure, according to the residents, after failed attempts to talk with local authorities.
It was around 3:00 p.m. when State Undersecretary Nabil Eljure Terrazas arrived to talk with the group. Blockade leader Fernando Hernández Peña met with Eljure Terrazas upon his arrival Wednesday afternoon.
The pair came to an agreement regarding eviction operations being headed by the State Attorney General’s (FGE) Office. According to Eljure Terrazas, since the FGE is an autonomous body, they cannot stop the evictions but the operations will be monitored to ensure they are carried out in compliance with the law.
He reported that there are currently four cases of land disputes in the Mahahual area that involve private individuals and property ownership. In the event of a legal eviction, support will be provided to those affected.
Eljure Terrazas said that on behalf of the state government, they will work to speed up the regularization of land as well as improve basic services in Mahahual.
Both sides agreed that the State Secretariat of Public Works (SEOP) will carry out road cleaning, maintenance, and repair work in the area.
The roadblock was put in place hours after a hostile middle-of-the-night eviction in Tulum left homes in ruins and those living on the land without any place to go.
