They become inaccessible due to violence

• Tour guides refuse to take groups of tourists to certain areas due to controls on drug trafficking

• Government says problems are “societal” and access has not been closed

Mexico is a very rich land in both natural and cultural resources. However, drug trafficking has poisoned much of that wealth and, although the war against drug trafficking has been going on for some decades, from time to time we hear about new cartel movements. An example is the threat of avocado control a few years ago, but now it seems we have to talk about tourism, which cancels trips to Maya archaeological sites.

Guides do not want to take their groups on these expeditions, while the government says there is no danger. More like.

Country’s fifth employer, It may seem exaggerated to read that cartels are restricting the freedom of people who want to visit certain historical monuments, but in the current context, it does not seem so far-fetched. A few months ago, Science magazine had conducted a study in which it had revealed the statistics of drug trafficking in the country. He himself said it was difficult to estimate figures for the “black box of drug trafficking”, but estimated the strength at 175,000 people, making it the fifth “employer” in the country, ahead of very important business groups.

In fact, they point out that this is a problem that is difficult to solve because they continue to recruit hundreds of people every week as deaths have increased among the groups and forced recruitment is the most common system among these groups.

Mobile and identity control, With this context in mind, the news arrived in January: drug traffickers had hijacked tourism in Chiapas. This is something that was repeated by several national media, including statements from two tour guides who wished to remain anonymous and who said that some monuments were impossible or very dangerous to reach.

These guides claim that some Mayan tourist sites are impossible to visit due to cartel violence. The ruins of Yaxchilan, Bonampak or Lagartero are an example and the guides confirm that it is common to see armed people nearby. In fact, he says that he does not take his group there because of the activities of drug smugglers.

“It’s like you asked me to go to the Gaza Strip. They ask your identification to see if you are resident and live in that area. They take your phone, you have to give them the password and they Review your conversations Check that you don’t belong to a “rival” group, says one guide, “In any one of them, a rival group may come and open fire.”

mixed messages, Although some of these places, where guides had refused to visit, are still open, tourist visits have been reduced in recent months, leading to the cancellation of some previously established appointments. However, the government’s message is completely different: “It is wrong, biased and irresponsible to affirm that these archaeological areas are under threat from drug trafficking,” says the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).

In the statement, he denied that looting had occurred in Bonampak or Lagartero, stating that they are areas that are open to the public and there were no reports of property damage. And they confirm that some areas have been closed, but not for “necessarily security-related” reasons.

Furthermore, the Yaxchilán archaeological zone is open, but the reason for the cancellation of tours is “social conditions that prevent the community of Frontera Corozal from offering a boat transfer service to the archaeological site”, but they also warned that “INAH in “It is no stranger to the problems, but it is not the institution capable or in charge of addressing them.” Guides claim that this route was closed due to continuous infiltration by gunmen.

And a landlord who has turned off the tap, If the problems of drug trafficking were minor, the case of Tonina has added to Mexico’s archaeological experience. It is a gorgeous place that is one of the most interesting points for tourism not only because of the structures, but also because of the texts and challenges of the Maya civilization found there. And the case is… confusing: A person has blocked the way.

It turns out that a man named Alfonso Cruz owns the land on which the route to the archaeological zone is located and in December last year he decided to stop allowing people free access. The reason? He declined payment for his land from the National Institute of National Assets. The man had an agreement with INAH by which he was remunerated for the use of his land, but in recent months payments had stopped and his land was treated not as cultural property, but as space for livestock. Was reclassified. Its price was very low overnight, wow.

INAH’s statement refers to the case, saying that this “dispute with an individual” is in the process of review to award the right compensation and that they hope to reach an agreement soon.

indigenous tragedy, And in the middle of all this are the Cholas or Lacandons, descendants of the Maya who continue to live in the region and are being decimated by forced recruitment by the cartels. As if this were not a tragedy enough, these indigenous communities have centers where crafts are sold, boat tours are given, and accommodation is offered. And the lack of tourism is hurting the economy of those communities.

We will see what happens in the future, but the important thing is that those jungle areas are strategic points for drug traffickers, who have also opened secret landing strips as a major point for the drug trade, Therefore, it does not seem realistic to think that the situation will improve in the short term.

Image | PashiX

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