Mexico's plans for Chiapas angers locals

Mexico wants to transform its southern state of Chiapas into an international tourist attraction, but the indigenous communities that live there reject the plan - arguing that they don't want their ancestral land to be exploited by the government or multinational companies.

The Mexican government is proceeding with plans anyway. According to court documents, they have already hired a US consulting firm to come up with an $85m development which includes luxury hotels owned by international chains.

Protests by the indigenous communities have been met with force. Earlier this year, one person was killed and more than 100 arrested when protests erupted after the government seized a toll booth operated by locals at a park entrance.

The military now patrols the area. Those who oppose the project believe it is an attempt to intimidate them.

The growing distrust between the government and the autonomous communities in Chiapas has left human rights groups worried.

Al Jazeera's Rachel Levin reports from Chiapas, Mexico.

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• Chiapas
• Zapatista
• Al Jazeera
• aljazeera
• Rachel Levin
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• indigenous communities
• Mayan
• Palenque
• San Cristobal
• Agua Azul

[CenturionTolteca]

The state of Chiapas by itself is richer and bigger than many other tiny countries in central america and the caribbean. Chiapas has many archeological sites, ancient mesoamerican cities that represent our heritage, plenty of natural resources like oil, gold, mercury, amber, precious woods and natural beauties like the Pacific coast seashores, Cañon del Sumidero and Agua Azul waterfalls. Proud to be Mexican.

[Chapulinazuladomx]

Chiapas , Mexico - - is where the biggest and most important Hydroelectric in Latin America is located. Mexico's economy is the strongest. Multinationals can do business in Mexico and create jobs as long they respect our natural habitats, our cultural values, and our indigenous rural communities.

[sculpto]

Not far from the eastern side of the canyon is the dump for the city of Tuxtla. The vultures that thrive on scavenging in the dump have made the entrance to the canyon their nesting/breeding ground. There are literally thousands of disgusting vultures that live right at the entrance to the canyon. This is not natural and they weren't there 15 years ago. Vultures stink. Chiapas has massive infrastructure problems already. Adding this kind of tourism will only make things worse.

[sculpto]

Someone mentioned the Sumidero canyon.. well.. here is a perfect example of how trashed nature is.. Sumidero was pristine when I first saw it back in the late 80s. Today it is a toilet bowl. A shanty town was built on the western cliffs and the residents dump their garbage directly into the canyon.. now there are thousands of empty plastic bottles floating around. On the eastern shore there is a cement/plaster factory but that is not the worst...

[sculpto]

Locals got electricity I think it 96 or 97 and that started a lot of rivalry within the community. Some people were in favor of development and others against it. But really this land is fragile and can't handle the volume of tourism it was already getting let alone the increases that the government wants to see happen. The reality is the tourism the government has planned is literally death for what is most beautiful in Chiapas.  Stopping it is probably not possible.

[sculpto]

I have been going to Chiapas since 1986. I was at Agua Azul in 1986 and probably 100 times since. I stopped going to Agua Azul in 1999 because it was already being destroyed from over use. One step off the trail was like stepping in a toilet.. freaking disgusting! It has been years since the local community got much benefit from the tourism development. There are no hotels onsite.. all the visitors were coming in on buses from San Cristobal or Palenque and staying in hotels in those places.

[mexicanisimo1994]

Felipe Calderón fuck you! You as the "president" of Mexico should respect the people's decision. We, the people of Mexico, don't want more stupid American hotels on our soil. Stop selling our homeland pinche FeCal!

[goldencrusader1]

This is a beautiful state, fuck you Mexican government. Respect the land and its inhabitants!!!

[CenturionTolteca]

Proud to be Mexican !

[countypolk863]

This has.america writen all over it.