Approximately 25 people helped in the removal of the cyclone fences. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).–  After more than six months of inactivity, the group Pueblos Unidos de la Ribera resumed  removing illegal fences on Federal land, this time in the eastern part of Ajijic. The group rallied about 25 people  on March 28 to remove two fences that obstructed the passage along the shore of Lake Chapala. 

The first  fence was located  at the end of  Donato Guerra street . The group contacted the owner by telephone who claimed to have a concession from the National Water Commission (CONAGUA) and to maintain this fence for the safety of her home. However an agreement was not reached with her to leave the fence intact.

Initially, the woman agreed to show her documents supporting the use of the federal land, but minutes later, she told them that she should not show anything to anyone other than an authority, so the group proceeded to remove the chain-link cyclone fence

During the first demolition, officers of the Chapala police arrived and said that only a report would  be made of the action. However, several activists pointed out that they were asked to identify themselves and have their faces photographed. They  complained  that they felt intimidated by the officers because they were carrying weapons although no weapons were drawn at any time.

Later, the protestors moved further to the east of the town, at the top of Revolucion Street, where a farm under construction had been fenced almost to the edge of the lake. The  chain-link  was quickly removed, however, the next day it was put up again.

A citizen on horseback supported them by pulling the cyclone mesh to tear it down. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

After the removal of these invasions of federal property, those gathered talked about other points in Ajijic that have the same situation, agreeing to monitor and  re-remove fences in the places that had already been liberated to the west of the delegation, as well as to help people from other towns to replicate the «anti-fencing» movement. 

» We miss the times  when you could walk from Chapala to Jocotepec along the lake shore. Those times will return, if we all unite for this cause, so that our descendants can enjoy the free beaches, which are everyone’s right,» said a member of Pueblos Unidos de la Ribera.

Last April 1st, the activists met again to support  residents of the San Antonio Tlayacapan and then continued on to the Pueblo Mágico.

Pueblos Unidos de la Ribera is a movement that was formed early in August 2021. After three  actions in which all kinds of fences were torn down on the eastern beaches, between the area of Tio Domingo and Villa Lucerna, they decided to demonstrate at the offices of CONAGUA in Guadalajara.

Although the agency «gave in» and promised to be more attentive to the invasions by deploying more inspectors, in addition to indicating that they were not committing a crime by removing the obstructions, to date, CONAGUA has ignored the agreements.

Translated  by Patrick O’Heffernan.