“Indigenous Parents Face Legal Action for Protesting Maya Train Construction in Yucatán”

Four mothers and a father from the Citilcum, Izamal indigenous community in Yucatán were compelled to issue public apologies after protesting the construction of the Maya Train. Their protest was due to the train's construction blocking the route the community's children took to school.

In mid-May, these parents blocked the train tracks to appeal to federal authorities. They requested the relocation of the “Manuel Rodríguez Acosta” and “Benito Juárez” primary schools, which operate during morning and evening shifts respectively. The train's passage obstructed the path to the schools, making it difficult for the children to attend classes.

Additionally, the parents protested the incomplete construction of a gradient beneath the Maya Train bridge, which further impeded the passage of children and their families. They also expressed concerns about the dust from the construction, which was negatively affecting the health of the school children due to the school's proximity to the train.

In response, the Olmeca-Maya-Mexica Airport, Railway and Auxiliary Services Group, S.A. de C.V, (OMM), the government company overseeing the construction and administration of the Maya Train, filed criminal complaints with the Attorney General's Office (FGR). The complaints alleged that the parents were obstructing federal communication routes. The FGR subsequently issued citations for the parents.

On June 19, the villagers were notified of the complaints. To avoid further legal action, they agreed to issue a public apology to the Maya Train. On Tuesday, the women involved presented themselves at the municipal commissioner’s office, where they signed a document pledging not to repeat their protest actions to the detriment of the company and its users.

However, the situation was further inflamed when Cristian Orozco, the Secretary of the Interior's delegate in Yucatán, informed the community that a promised school relocation would not be carried out due to budget constraints. This announcement sparked widespread anger. The Secretary of National Defense (SEDENA), which manages OMM, has yet to comment on the issue.