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Ejidos block Holbox highway claiming use of right payment from government

Holbox, Q.R. — A group of Ejidos from San Ángel blocked the Holbox highway on Thursday claiming a right to usage compensation. Although their disagreement lies with the Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (Conanp), it was the hundreds of holidays travelers that became caught up in the dispute.

Dozens of Ejidos blocked the highway near the community of San Ángel and prevented traffic from reaching Holbox. Ejido Commissioner Francisco Cáceres Correa said for weeks, they have been requesting compensation for the use of right of way.

He says the requests were made to both the National Commission Protected Natural Areas (Conanp) and the Federal Tourism Secretariat and that both were warned about the possibility of the road block.

Cáceres says the Ejidos are not being taken into account for the use of the road and that they had no other option than to block the highway. Hundreds of travelers along the route heading toward Holbox Thursday afternoon were stuck without a lot of movement for more than three hours while the human barricade kept the road shut.

Every once in awhile, a few vehicles were allowed to pass, however, the blockade created a line of vehicles kilometers long that included private cars, tour buses, cargo suppliers and tourists.

State officials have not made any comment on the Thursday afternoon human blockade.