La Jornada: INAH union denounces alleged destruction of archaeological heritage

Members of the Commission for the Protection and Legislation of the Archaeological, Historical and Paleontological Heritage of the National Union of Professors of Scientific Research and Teaching of the National Institute of Anthropology and History presented a complaint to the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) in Chetumal, Quintana Roo, for the alleged destruction of cultural heritage during the dismantling and transfer of 47 pre-Hispanic Mayan structures located in sections 6 and 7 of the Train route Maya, which were installed in the Báalam Tun Memory Park.

At a press conference at the facilities of the INAH National Union, Nohemí Castillo Tejero, Jesús E. Sánchez and lawyers José Manuel Hermosillo and Raymundo Tamay Chuc said they were “dismayed by the irreparable destruction of monuments and the imposition of a false vision of history for tourist purposes.”

Among the accusations against 26 INAH officials are destruction, falsification of immovable archaeological monuments and ideological fraud; malpractice; illicit exercise of public service; coalition or complicity of public servants, and improper use of powers and powers.

The complainants affirm that the complaint does not have the intention of “questioning the development of public infrastructure, but rather requesting clarification as to whether national and international standards that protect the archaeological heritage of Mexico were violated during the execution of the project.”

The INAH reported that it has not yet been formally notified of the complaint. “Once this happens, the strategy to follow will be determined.”