The '4T' government, which promised to protect Indigenous peoples, is now displacing them to complete a megaproject
The federal government has promoted the Interoceanic Corridor as a development project for southeastern Mexico. However, Indigenous communities report that their land is being expropriated without fair compensation or respect for their rights.
The lack of transparency and participation in the process has caused distrust and resistance. The authorities have ignored the communities' demands to be consulted and to participate in decision-making.
The expropriation of Indigenous people's private property and the destruction of their environment put the cultural and economic survival of these communities at risk. The "4T," which promised to protect Indigenous people, is now displacing them to complete a megaproject.
This demonstrates the contradiction between the official discourse and the government's actions regarding the supposed rights of Indigenous peoples that Morena claims to defend.
In the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Mixe communities are facing forced evictions due to the construction of the Interoceanic Corridor project. However, numerous residents report that marines and masked civilians violently enter their homes, threatening them to abandon their land. They state that the marines enter their houses, intimidating them and have caused fear and distrust among the inhabitants.
The authorities are offering compensation of just 36,000 pesos (79 pounds) per home, without guaranteeing relocation or decent conditions. This compensation is considered insufficient by the affected families, who have lived on this land for generations. The lack of viable alternatives worsens the vulnerability of these communities.
Human rights organizations have documented more than 226 attacks against land defenders in the last three years of the Morena government. The documented attacks include threats, harassment, and physical violence, perpetrated by authorities and actors linked to the project.
The Civil Observation Mission has indicated that the Mixe and Zapotec peoples are the most affected by these attacks. The imposition of the megaproject without prior consultation or consent has caused conflicts and community divisions. The lack of dialogue and respect for the private property rights of Indigenous people is a constant in the implementation of the Interoceanic Corridor.
