Greg Ch’oc
The Mayan Leaders in the buffer communities held an emergency meeting this afternoon in light of Cabinet’s decision. The spokesman for the Mayan leaders is SATIIM’s Executive Director Greg Ch’oc. Having now confirmed that approval has been given to extend the permit of US Capital Energy, Ch’oc says that aside from taking legal recourse, the leaders will use all necessary action to block US Capital Energy from entering their customary land.
Via Phone: Greg Ch’oc, Executive Director, SATIIM
“Now that you’ve confirmed it, the community leaders met in emergency session today to discuss several of the urgent matters related to US Capital and Government’s decision. In respect of the decision of Cabinet, two decisions were taken by the communities: one, they have instructed the legal team to move the court on this matter. Two, they have taken the decision that should government—this is before I have now learned that government has taken this decision—they will block and they will use all necessary action to block US Capital from entering their Maya customary land. And their resolve is fortified by the decision and ruling of Justice Michele Arana. So that is their position that they wish to communicate with this country.”
Duane Moody
“So an all out faceoff between these buffer communities, their leaders and U.S. Capital Energy?”
Via Phone: Greg Ch’oc
“Well the government has that fiduciary responsibility to decide what road we must take and if they abandon that, then obviously the community will ensure what is guaranteed under this constitution and what is guaranteed by Michele Justice Arana’s ruling is affirmed and that the community enjoy those rights that the United Nations Declaration has affirmed and successive claims before the Supreme Court have affirmed.”
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