Residents removed posts and barbed wires along San Antonio Tlayacapan’s boardwalk as they considered the fencing to be a clear encroachment, and accident risk.
Citizens of San Antonio Tlayacapan cut the wires that were blocking access. Credit: Armando Esquivel.
Armando Esquivel (San Antonio Tlayacapan).- Residents of San Antonio Tlayacapan removed poles and barbed wire from the shore of Lake Chapala because they considered it a clear invasion of the federal zone and because the sharp fencing is a risk to local people.
During the action on May 20th, the activists were met with insults, shouts, and even threats. The activists gathered on the San Antonio Tlayacapan boardwalk. They were inspired by similar activists in Ajijic who work tirelessly to protect the free and public access to the Ajijic boardwalk. Little by little more people arrived, including women, men and senior citizens, all willing to defend public land.
The first action was to remove black plastic covering the construction of a completed fence. The plastic covering had closure seals from the Government of Chapala. As they removed the plastic someone came out to videotape the protesters. They decided to walk east, where they found several posts with wires on the shores of the lake.
There they found posts with barbed wires impeding the passage of people along the beach. Given their placement, some of the fences will be underwater as the lake level rises during the rainy season. Submerged barbed wire fences are a major hazard for anyone trying to access the lake. They’re also very difficult to remove once they’re underwater. The activists said they are bothered by these fences since there is a real risk of someone entering the lake, and getting stuck in the wires. This is not speculation on their part, people have been killed and injured by submerged fences in the lake.
In one of the nearby properties, two men leaned out from their terrace to shout at the citizens who were removing the posts. They yelled things like, «Stop what you’re doing! What didn’t you hear? This is a crime. We are going to call the police.» They took pictures of the activists and waited for them to leave rather than confronting them directly.
About 15 posts were removed, and barbed wire on the posts was cut. Cutting the fences restored access to the shore of the lake for all citizens. The activists of San Antonio Tlayacapan said that they will continue protecting access to the lake and that they will fight against the invasions of the federal zone.
Translated by Amy Esperanto
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