World Archaeological Congress supports Santa Cruz thirteen

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WAC writes to the Prime Minister

Punta Gorda town, Toledo. Thursday, October 1, 2015. The Maya Leaders Alliance (MLA) of Toledo today circulated a letter from the World Archaeological Congress (WAC) that was sent to the Prime Minister of Belize at the end of August regarding “the treatment of Maya Citizens of Belize”.

The letter addresses “recent damage to the archaeological site of Uxbenka” and goes on to denounce what the WAC says was the “unlawful arrest of Maya village leaders.”

The arrest of the Maya leaders referred to in the letter to the Prime Minister by the WAC stems from an incident on June 20, 2015 in Santa Cruz village, Toledo when villagers, the Alcalde and Chairman attempted to forcibly evict Rupert Myles from the place where he is living because it was an archaeological site.

There was public outcry when pictures emerged showing Mr. Myles shackled and tied up by the residents of Santa Cruz village.

The villagers claim that the detention/shackling of Mr. Myles was because he had verbally threatened the Maya leaders during a village meeting.

Santa Cruz prayer for peace

A few days later, thirteen villagers of Santa Cruz, including the Alcalde, the second Alcalde and the Chairman were arrested and charged for the illegal detention of Rupert Myles.

The WAC letter to Prime Minister Barrow states that “rather than arresting the violator of the Uxbenka site, the police arrested the Maya leaders who sought to defend it.”

The case against the Santa Cruz thirteen continues to slowly makes it way through the court system.

Earlier this week, the preliminary stage of the case returned to the Magistrate’s Court in Punta Gorda town for adjournment until the end of the month when the matter is expected to proceed.

The executive committee of the World Archaeological Congress notes that it has not gotten any response to its letter that was sent to the Prime Minister on August 30.

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