Truth Behind the Tracks: Infrastructure and Injustice
Protests, Resistance & Advocacy
Protestas, resistencia y defensa
Protestas, resistencia yéetel defensa
Explore how Indigenous communities, environmental defenders, and international allies have organized against the Maya Train. This section includes protest timelines, solidarity campaigns, legal resistance, and activist testimony from the ground.
Explora cómo las comunidades indígenas, los defensores del medio ambiente y los aliados internacionales se han organizado contra el Tren Maya. Esta sección incluye cronogramas de protestas, campañas de solidaridad, resistencia legal y testimonios de activistas desde el terreno.
Explora bix le kaajo'obo' indígenas, le defensores ka'a jeets' yéetel le aliados internacionales ku séen organizado xu'ullsa'al Tren maaya. Le sección analte'obo' yaan cronogramas protestas, campañas solidaridad, resistencia legal yéetel testimonios activistas tak le lu'umo'.
📅 Protest & Resistance Timeline (2018–2025)
📅 Cronología de Protesta y Resistencia (2018-2025)
📅 Cronología Protesta yéetel Resistencia (2018-2025).
2018 – AMLO announces the Tren Maya project; early objections raised by Indigenous leaders.
2019 – UN OHCHR raises concerns over flawed consultation process.
2020 – Construction begins; Sélvame del Tren movement gains visibility.
2021 – Declaration of the project as “national security”; military assumes construction duties.
2022 – Large-scale protests erupt in Mérida, Tulum, and Mexico City. CartoCrítica publishes deforestation evidence.
2023 – Rights of Nature Tribunal holds public hearings; Kanan Ts’ono’ot collective expands underground cenote mapping.
2024 – Environmental defenders and legal teams escalate international pressure; over 25 legal complaints filed.
2025 – SEMARNAT publicly admits irreversible damage; government launches restoration plan amid continued protest.
Articles
“Militarization, Ecocide, and Community Division Caused by the Maya Train in Campeche” – Avispa Midia: https://avispa.org/militarization-ecocide-and-community-division-caused-by-the-maya-train-in-campeche/
“Is Mexico’s Mayan Train a Boondoggle?” – The Nation: https://www.thenation.com/article/world/is-mexicos-mayan-train-a-boondoggle/
“Mexico’s Maya Train Threatens Forests, Indigenous Communities” – Al Jazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/6/5/mexicos-maya-train-threatens-forests-indigenous-communities
“Environmental Defenders Under Threat in Tren Maya Corridor” – Global Witness: https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/environmental-activists/defenders-mexico-maya-train/
“Statement of Solidarity with the Struggle Against the Maya Train” – Chiapas Support: https://chiapas-support.org/2020/05/03/statement-of-solidarity-with-the-struggle-against-the-maya-train/**
“Militarization, Ecocide, and Community Division Caused by the Maya Train in Campeche” – Avispa Midia: https://avispa.org/militarization-ecocide-and-community-division-caused-by-the-maya-train-in-campeche/
“Is Mexico’s Mayan Train a Boondoggle?” – The Nation: https://www.thenation.com/article/world/is-mexicos-mayan-train-a-boondoggle/
“Mexico’s Maya Train Threatens Forests, Indigenous Communities” – Al Jazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/6/5/mexicos-maya-train-threatens-forests-indigenous-communities
“Environmental Defenders Under Threat in Tren Maya Corridor” – Global Witness: https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/environmental-activists/defenders-mexico-maya-train/
“Statement of Solidarity with the Struggle Against the Maya Train” – Chiapas Support: https://chiapas-support.org/2020/05/03/statement-of-solidarity-with-the-struggle-against-the-maya-train/
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Regular protests have been held by Indigenous communities, environmental defenders, and youth coalitions in cities like Tulum, Mérida, and Mexico City (Al Jazeera, Global Witness).
Many demonstrations have been met with police or military presence, with some activists reporting surveillance or intimidation (Chiapas Support, Avispa Midia).
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International Media Coverage:
“Mexico’s Maya Train Threatens Forests, Indigenous Communities” – Al Jazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/6/5/mexicos-maya-train-threatens-forests-indigenous-communities
“Environmental Defenders under Threat in Tren Maya Corridor” – Global Witness: https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/environmental-activists/defenders-mexico-maya-train/
“Statement of Solidarity with the Struggle Against the Maya Train” – Chiapas Support: https://chiapas-support.org/2020/05/03/statement-of-solidarity-with-the-struggle-against-the-maya-train/
“The Mayan Train: A Tourist Dream and an Environmental Nightmare” – The Guardian (recommended future source)
Legal & Organizational Advocacy:
CEMDA and Greenpeace México have filed legal challenges regarding the lack of environmental review (CEMDA).
UN OHCHR has issued statements warning about insufficient consultation and rights violations (UN News).
The Rights of Nature Tribunal hosted international hearings to collect testimony from affected Maya communities (Rights of Nature Tribunal).
Rainforest Rescue and EarthRights International support transnational awareness and funding (Rainforest Rescue, EarthRights)
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