TOLEDO ALCALDES ASSOCIATION

Voice of America Road, Punta Gorda Town, Toledo, Belize, C.A.

Email: taa1992@gmail.com Telephone: (501) 662-1663

24.07.2015 PRESS RELEASE

Maya Communities Stand with Santa Cruz 13 for Justice
Punta Gorda, Toledo On July 28, 2015, Toj* on the Maya Calendar, the Santa Cruz 13 will be
back before the Magistrate Court in Punta Gorda.
The Maya leaders, including the spokesperson of the Maya Leaders Alliance, Cristina Coc, were
arrested by the police special forces on June 24th, 2015. At 4:00 AM the police stormed homes
in Santa Cruz, dragged unclothed men out of their homes, handcuffed them, and drove them to
the Punta Gorda Police station. During the arrest a grandmother and four of the villagers were
injured. When they were brought before a Magistrate they were charged for the alleged unlawful
imprisonment, common assault and aggravated assault of Mr. Rupert Myles during a fajina on
June 20, 2015 in the Maya village of Santa Cruz. Their bail was set at 10.000 each.
The arrest came after the Prime Minister made a public statement condemning the Santa Cruz
leaders at a time when the Prime Minister admitted that he did not have all the facts related to the
case. The Maya villages of southern Belize view the rash act by the police as an act of the
Government of Belize against the Maya people. It is an attempt to undermine the Alcaldes' dully
sworn duties to preserve peace and order in the villages.
Since 2014 Mr. Myles was advised by Santa Cruz village leaders on the illegality of building
within the Uxbenk Maya sacred site. He responded by threatening the community and
challenging the local authority. Ignoring the village rules and requests to protect the sacred site,
Mr. Myles built a house and bulldozed a part of the temple Uxbenk. On June 20th, 2015 Mr.
Myles was invited to a fajina to discuss his illegal occupation of the sacred site. At the fajina he
became unruly and threatened to harm the villagers by means of a firearm. Under the authority
granted to him by Belizean laws, the Alcalde acted to avoid violence and detained Mr. Myles.
The Alcaldes system has been responsible in maintaining community spirit and harmony for
centuries in the Maya villages. Maya villages are well known for minimal criminal rates in the
country.
The Punta Gorda Police has been informed of the issue since 2014. They were invited to the June
20th fajina, as well as the Belize Defense Force, but did not show up. Following proper
procedures, after detaining Mr. Myles, the Alcalde made numerous attempts to reach the police
to hand him over but the police never arrived. To resolve the situation, an agreement was reached
with the Alcalde and Mr. Myles and he was released. Recently, the representatives of the
National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) met with Santa Cruz village leaders on July
17th. Santa Cruz villagers are encouraged that NICH will protect Uxbenka Maya sacred site
from any infringement according to the laws of Belize.
Once more the Alcaldes from the Maya villages and the Maya people remain resolute in their
position to stand with the women, men and children of Santa Cruz in calling upon the Prime
Minister and government authorities to offer all Belizeans, including the Maya people, full
protection of their rights and to be treated with justice and respect.

TOLEDO ALCALDES ASSOCIATION

Voice of America Road, Punta Gorda Town, Toledo, Belize, C.A.
Email: taa1992@gmail.com Telephone: (501) 662-1663

On Sunday June 26, 2015, at 1:30 PM, neighboring villages and friends of Santa Cruz will gather
at the Santa Cruz Community Center to hold a Prayer for Justice. We call on friends in Belize
and around the world to join us in asking the Creator for strength, wisdom and guidance for
healing, reconciliation and justice.
--*Toj symbolizes Tojil, the deity of the Sun and the equilibrium with justice, life, and hope. It is a
day to make payments for our lives, its benefits, and to liberate ourselves from all which is
negative.
--END