Chichen Itza It works normally, although a section of the highway remains blocked by residents of communal lands, guides and street vendors denounce the corruption of the person in charge of the archaeological zone, informed the Director of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), Diego Prieto Hernandez.
The anthropologist also declared during an interview in Live Aristegui that recommended to the authorities of the compound that they file a criminal complaint for slander and non-pecuniary damage.
This after merchants, guides, artisans and residents of neighboring common areas demonstrated outside the place denouncing discriminatory acts and ill-treatment by the director of Chichén Itzá, Marco Antonio Santos Ramirezat the time that they requested the dismissal of the latter.
On the contrary, Diego Prieto Hernandez He maintained that said request is due to the fact that this group opposes the proposal to order the commercial activities carried out in the place, since the passage of street vendors has been restricted. According to the official, this activity is “too invasive”.
According to the anthropologist, the site is the most visited archaeological zone in the country, along with Teotihuacán, exceeding 2.5 million tourists a year. This provides productive jobs, services of all kinds and benefits to communities, the official said.
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However, he pointed out that there are interests that want to take advantage of the number of visitors that come to Chichén Itzá. According to Prieto Hernández, merchants seek to enter the place to sell their products, but he pointed out that this is being regulated due to the “constant complaint from visitors”.
However, he announced that, with the program to improve archaeological zones that will be implemented, places will be provided so that artisans can offer their articles.
The director also accused some people of spreading “slander”, “falsehoods” and “unfounded accusations”. He maintained that one of the members of this group is a relative of a person who stabbed the head of security at the compound a couple of years ago.
“This speaks of the conflict in an area, where what the Institute deals with is to seek concord, cordiality, agreement and, I insist, the benefit of the communities,” pointed.
Likewise, he reiterated that the site seeks to include the language closest to the archaeological site, that is, the peninsular Maya. This against the accusations of the demonstrators that They ensure that the authorities prohibit vendors, artisans and tour guides from speaking in that language.
Diego Prieto Hernandez He also assured that in Yucatan half of the inhabitants, as well as the researchers, archaeologists and workers speak that language.
Given the situation, the anthropologist reported that a meeting will be held this Tuesday with the protesting groups, together with the Ministry of the Interior (Segob), phonaturthe INAH and the government of Yucatan.
Finally, he clarified that there is still a road blockade at the height of Pisté but reiterated that the agency maintains a dialogue with the people involved.
This Monday, around 700 ejidatarios, guides and street vendors blocked two access roads to the site’s facilities, in protest against various INAH law enforcement actions.
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The road blockade that began at 7:00 local time achieved its objective: to prevent the passage of vehicles that would transport national and foreign tourists, although the pre-Hispanic site was not closed, revealed EFE.
Thus, the site that daily receives thousands of visitors remained semi-empty, ceasing to receive significant economic income, as visitors from Asia, Europe, North and Latin America arrive.
Besides, A group of ejidatarios revealed to EFE that the authorities of the archaeological zone during the day prohibit them from going up to the Castle of Chichén Itzá, but that at dawn they charge up to 5,000 dollars for tourists of various nationalities to climb the 365 steps.
It was also indicated that in the case of tourist guides who decline to pay a percentage of profits, they go as far as not allowing the passage of groups of international visitors.
Faced with the accusation about charging to climb the pyramid, Diego Prieto Hernandez stated during an interview in Live Aristegui that recommended to the authorities of the compound that they file a criminal complaint for slander and non-pecuniary damage.
At the request that the director of the site be removed; the delegate of the INAH Yucatan Center, Jose Arturo Chab Cardenasassured EFE that the agency under his charge “will not dismiss” Santos Ramírez and will be respectful of the demonstrations.
Later, the INAH reported in a statement that the archaeological ruins remain open to the public and that this body favors “dialogue with all sectors involved in the operation and use of the archaeological zone” at the time he sued “a direct dialogue, without intermediaries”.
With information from Aristegui and EFE
