Yucatán residents burn down illegal beach barrier in property rights protest
Residents in Telchac Puerto tore down and burned a large metal and plastic barrier Tuesday afternoon, just hours after reports emerged that someone had blocked beach access.
Four individuals, apparently workers employed by the landowner who attempted to privatize the beach, were seen taking photos, but this did not deter local residents. The residents cited the General Law of National Assets, which states that deliberately blocking access to beaches as public spaces is illegal.
That morning, port residents reported that someone had blocked beach access near the shelter port, specifically at its first entrance.
Neighbors notified social media and federal authorities, PROFEPA and SEMARNAT, about the blocked beach entrance and requested an investigation. Similar incidents have been reported throughout the year, involving alleged landowners from other countries or states attempting construction on federal land.
The area was blocked with a cyclone wire fence, and the person responsible remains unknown. Port Mayor Alfonso Núñez said he doesn’t know if the previous mayor, Juan Alfredo Marrufo Díaz, sold or granted a concession for the land.
After receiving no response from officials about removing the fence, several residents doused it with gasoline and burned it down.
During the protest and burning of the fence, neither the mayor nor federal or state environmental authorities were present. Public Security Police officers were there but only observed as residents demolished the fence.
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