Momentous moment for Maya lands in Belize
We just heard from our colleagues at the Maya Leaders Alliance of Southern Belize (MLA) that a Supreme Court decision regarding their land rights – one they’ve been waiting for for over a year – is expected on Monday, June 28.
The Maya of Belize have been fighting for their land rights for a long time, with some precedent-setting victories along the way.In 2007, the Supreme Court of Belize found that the Maya people living in the villages of Conejo and Santa Cruz hold rights to the lands and resources they use and occupy. The Court found this was consistent with the constitutional rights afforded to the citizens of Belize and Belize’s obligations under international law, and ordered the Government to respect the areas occupied and used by the Maya people of Santa Cruz and Conejo.A new case went to the Court in 2008, seeking to guarantee these same rights to the remaining 36 Maya villages in Southern Belize.Meanwhile, however, the government has been granting concessions in these same areas to outsiders.
A decision is expected this coming Monday. Please check back then for an update!
The MLA recently denounced a series of activities taking place on their lands, involving the granting of oil exploration concessions, logging, and dam development, contrary to the customary practices of the Maya people, the conservation of natural resources and the general interests of the broader Belizean community. These kinds of activities are initiated without the consent or participation of the Maya communities, and are in part the result of not having their lands secured. It is hoped that Monday’s decision will help give the Maya power to determine the kind of development they want, following their own priorities.
The MLA is an alliance of Maya organizations in Southern Belize, and has played a critical role in uniting communities around their land rights. The RF-US has supported the MLA for the past three years in their efforts to have their lands and resources recognized. This has included community workshops, mobilizations around various court dates, village boundary negotiations, and support for the MLA coordinator.
If you would like to support the MLA, particularly in face of these new challenges, please click here (indicate you want to support the Maya), or email Christine Halvorson, Program Director of the RF-US.Your contribution will go directly to the MLA.