Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Q.R. — The Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) has secured Expo Maya land in the midst of an Ejido dispute. The dispute arose earlier this week when Sedena personnel began the construction of a new base.
On Monday, Sedena arrived with heavy machinery to start construciton of a new 200-room army base, however, the Felipe Carrillo Puerto Ejidos say they own the land and that their construction is illegal.
Elías Beh, one of the Ejidos, stated that the Expo Maya land was loaned to a military party and later recovered with the condition of ceding another 20 hectares during the presidency of Carlos Salinas de Gortari. He said that documents from the Public Property Registry support that the land remains communal.
However on Friday, State Police along with personnel from the Mexican Army, National Guard and the State Attorney General’s Office, closed the property. Signs prohibiting access were placed.
The operation resulted in the complete closure of Benito Juárez Avenue and Constituyentes Avenue, forcing motorists to take alternate routes. In retaliation, the Ejidos blocked the highway to prevent vehicle passage. It is not clear if the property was secured for litigation purposes or for continued construction of the 200-room military base.
