A crowd was holding back two workers of the Conap and two agents of Diprona in the facilities of the Inter-Agency Operations Center (COI) of Saint Michael the Palotadain the Reserve of the The Mayan Biosphere, Saint Andrew, Peten.
He National Council of Protected Areas (Conap) reported on July 3 that last Monday, at around 5:30 p.m., about 200 people from Cruce a Dos Aguas, in the Multiple Use Zone of the Maya Biosphere ReserveThey arrived at the facility designated to take it and set it on fire.
In addition, the institution indicated that two workers of that entity and two agents of the Nature Protection Division (Diprona) of the Civil national police (PNC) were retained by the peat and transferred to the community Cruce a Dos Aguadas.
Three other Conap employees and Other people hid and were brought to safety, it was stated.
For several hours, the whereabouts of the detained persons remained unknown. On July 3, it was learned that the persons were released and they are safe.
Conap added that when it became known about accident A judge was asked for an appeal Personal exhibition in favor of the detained workersbut due to the conflict at the site the order could not be executed.
The conflict was handled with the Departmental Government of Peténhe Conap, Civil national police and the Guatemalan Army.
Dissatisfaction
Conap said the group of residents’ dissatisfaction was due to a court order to remove a telephone antenna, which was allegedly installed in an area not permitted in the Maya Biosphere Reserve.
According to the entity, a dialogue process had been initiated with the affected community and it was agreed that the transfer of the antenna to a suitable location would be arranged, with the coordination of the company in charge.
However, the group of residents “carried out actions that were contrary to the law, kidnapping Conap and Diprona personnel,” the institution said.
They call for “recovery of governability”
Due to the actions against state workers, the National Association of Non-Governmental Organizations for Natural Resources and the Environment (Asorema) and the Non-Governmental Organizations Related to Natural Resources and the Environment Registered with Conap issued a statement.
In the document, they point out that there is a “serious crisis of ungovernability” in the protected areas of Petén.
They rejected the detention of the workers, as well as the “vandalism and criminal” acts that were recorded.
Given the situation, the entities are asking the authorities to implement actions to restore the governability of the territory and to increase the presence of security forces.
They also ask the Public Prosecutor’s Office to carry out criminal prosecution against those who participated in the “criminal acts” and to investigate the case.
In addition, they are asking the Congress of the Republic to allocate “decent” budgets to government entities responsible for the protection of natural and cultural heritage.
Images of the incident
Conap shared images of the incident at the checkpoint set on fire by a mob.
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