A forum held at the UNAM Cephcis (National University of Mexico) has brought to light the devastating impact of the Maya Train on indigenous communities across the Yucatan Peninsula. The megaproject, touted as a means of economic development, has instead led to increased violence, dispossession, and militarization in areas where it operates.
Activists from Campeche and Quintana Roo pointed out that the train is not a useful means of transportation for local residents, who prefer to use other, more accessible modes of transportation. Instead, the project has brought about a process of social disintegration, increasing violence and drug trafficking in communities such as Felipe Carrillo Puerto.
“The train travels through our area without passengers because it’s useless to people,” said Ángel Sulub, a member of the U Kúuchil K Ch’i’ibal’on Community Center. “It’s a racist and dispossessing project that doesn’t consider the mobility of Indigenous peoples.”
Sara López, representative of the Xpujil Regional Indigenous and Popular Council (CRIPX), denounced the forced displacement, legal threats, and social fragmentation brought about by the train’s construction in various communities in Campeche. In Escárcega and Candelaria, children and the elderly must cross under the train to reach their schools or health centers.
“The railroad runs through the middle of our community, with no safe pedestrian crossings, putting people’s lives at risk,” López said. “It’s not a project designed for the people.”
The growing militarization in areas such as Calakmul has become a major concern, with increased presence of the Army and National Guard leading to fear among residents. Murders, kidnappings, and disappearances have also risen, making it difficult for defenders of the territory to engage in dialogue with civil authorities.
As López pointed out, “We don’t have water, but we have a train. That’s not social justice.”
Defenders of the territory have been criminalized, persecuted, and denounced by the federal government itself, putting their safety and work at risk. The Maya Train has become a symbol of oppression and marginalization, rather than a means of development and inclusion for indigenous communities.
Source: Noticaribe
