THE NEWS
By Maricela Bastida
The Otomí town of San Francisco Xochicuautla reported that Grupo Higa obtained tenders to build a stretch of road in their community and said that they will ask the National Human Rights Commission to issue a testimonial for the abuse of their individual and Otomí indigenous rights.
Informants said that nine years ago, the State of Mexico’s government, then led by Enrique Peña Nieto, authorized the company to build the highway.
José Luis Fernández, of the indigenous community, the construction of the highway has been opposed for nine years because the area that will be modified is home to a sacred forest.
“It is a sacred forest that produced water for Mexico and Toluca, in addition to 11 boroughs and 11 municipalities,” Fernández said.
The inhabitants of Xochichuatla said that since 2007, when the work began on their land without warning, their rights have been systematically violated.