Mayans trek to Belize to express frustration over case…
After the court case, over a hundred Mayas made their way to the Radisson Fort George where they held a press conference. At the meeting members of the M.L.A. and the T.A.A. expressed their frustration that once again justice will be delayed for the Mayas. The citizens also called on the government to stop stalling and resolve the issue as the infractions on their rights continue unabated.
Cristina Coc, Member, Maya Leaders Alliance
“I am extremely disappointed as a Maya, as a Belizean. I feel personally insulted for my people. I am sad that our government continues to keep trying to take us for a fool. The very nature of the way that the arguments were presented in court today to ask for more time because they are so busy undermines our very existence as Maya people.”
Gregorio Coy, Chair, Toledo Alcalde Assn.
“Everyday that pass without a way for the Mayan to clarify our title to land, the situation gets more difficult. Since the government continues to give away our land, we want to ensure that no more land in Mayan villages is given out without the village’s consent until there is a mechanism to sort out registered Mayan villages title.”
Cristina Coc
“Despite the court’s decision and the Prime Minister’s assurances, the government has continued to grant concessions to lease land and to cut timber in our communities without our consent. Shortly after we won the Supreme Court case of 2007 for Santa Cruz and Conejo, forest officers went to San Cruz to confiscate lumber from one of our fellow villagers. This villager had gotten the consent of his village to extract lumber to build his house, and the forest officer, failing to uphold the judgment of the Supreme Court, came and took it away. Because of the advocacy that we do here at the Maya Leaders Alliance, that lumber had to be returned, thankfully. As we speak, we have learnt that there have been three new logging concessions that have been granted in the Colombia River Forest Reserve without our consent; long term timber concessions, twenty years. The disrespect goes far beyond these examples.”
Greg Ch’oc, Chair, Maya Leaders Alliance
“Mr. Prime Minister, we ask that you unclench your fist and embrace the opportunity to join us on this historic journey to write a new chapter of nation building. We ask that help us close this chapter that has created disparities by removing the barriers that ahs gotten us to where we are today. As we extend this opportunity to you Mr. Prime Minister, please understand that we will not wait until it is convenient for you to join us, we cannot afford to wait any longer, not in these challenging times, not when too much is at stake. We will move forward with or without you.”
Cristina Coc
“We have faith in the justice system. We have seen it rule in our favour before. We have international institutions that agree with us and we are looking forward to a favorable decision. We’re not thinking about losing, it’s not about who wins and who loses here. It is about continuing to defend our rights come what may.”
