Akumal, Q.R. — Residents outside Akumal partially closed a road in protest of the arrest of a local land guardian. Access to Xuxubí in Akumal was blocked Monday due to a land dispute involving cenotes.
A group of residents from the community of Xuxubí in the Akumal area closed the main road as a form of protest. The peaceful street demonstration was organized after the arrest of a resident over a land conflict.
The blockade was set up at the entrance to the community and along a road used to access the cenotes.
Santos Pech, a group protestor, said the protest began after the arrest of Juan Mastah Uk Sunday afternoon. He was arrested after people claiming to own the land filed a complaint against him for living on the property.
According to Pech, that land is part of national lands and Mastah was living on it as a guardian.
During the Monday evening protest, demonstrators said they spent months trying to bring the conflict to the attention of authorities, adding that they have faced threats from the alleged owners of the land, which has increased tension.
On Monday, residents requested the release of Juan Mastah and a review of the case while holding signs that read “Free Juan” and “Akumal is not for sale”.
