Controversy Brews Over Bush Stick Extraction in Indian Creek

[00:00:00]Earlier this week, tensions flared in Indian Creek Village over the extraction of bush sticks, and Maya Leaders Alliance spokesperson Cristina Coc found herself in the middle of it. Coc says she was passing through from Independence Village when she stopped at the scene. She explains the usual approval system has broken down, forcing villagers to rely on petty permits from the Forest Department. But those permits still require local sign-off, and Coc says that didn't happen.

[00:00:31]On the ground, she confirmed a permit was issued without the required recommendations.

[00:00:37]>> And this is why the villagers were upset because they did not this person did not get the requisite recommendation from the alcalde, so they did not know about this. So, to them it is it is an illegal extraction.

[00:00:51]But it was allowed because it was coming from the village council who agrees with the third party that that is the third party's land, and so they feel that they have to go ask permission. The other side feels that we shouldn't have to ask permission on our own lands. We have our own permitting system, we should be following that. But because there's no cooperation between the leaders, there's a breakdown in the governance in that village. It's ineffective, and I will tell you that I have in my humble view, none of the leaders are willing to humble themselves and actually do what is right and good for the members of their village.

[00:01:29]Second, the villagers have come because of this division, they have eroded every respect for each other, every respect for their leaders. They don't respect the village police, they don't respect the alcalde. And I will tell you that there's a lot of lies that are told, and have to I have to say it that way, Paul, because there's no other way.

[00:01:52]In fact, the alcalde was not there.

[00:01:54]He was not the one stopping the material from moving.

[00:01:58]When I arrived there, the alcalde was not there, only the chairman was there.

[00:02:03]Shortly after my arrival, a whole truckload of young men who were under the influence, brought by members of the village council, came and instantly started to throw blows.

[00:02:18]And that was my primary concern. I did not want anybody to get hurt, and I wanted to try to de-escalate the tension because it's unnecessary to kill ourselves over a piece of bush stick.

[00:02:34]>> Village leaders plan to meet with the forest department next week to find a peaceful way forward.