The government’s appeal of the 2010 Maya Land Rights decision in favor of the Toledo Maya began today in the Court of Appeal, and following the morning session, Amandala had a chance to interview Ligorio Coy of Santa Ana, Toledo, who is also the chairman of the Maya Leaders Alliance (MLA).
Whereas the Government of Belize continues to maintain its stance that the Maya seeking recognition of customary land rights in Toledo are not entitled to those rights, because they are not indigenous to Belize but recent migrants from Guatemala, Coy is firm in his belief that “…we are the indigenous people.”
Santa Ana is a village of about 300 villagers, said Coy, and they do not exclude Belizeans of other ethnic groups from living among them.
Coy said that there is a language link between the present-day Maya and those who had been living in Belize in pre-colonial times.
“In the temples of the Maya, the ancient Maya, the written words on the stela and tombs, we understood,” said Coy. Nimli Punit is Kekchi, Uxbenka is Mopan and Lubaantun is written in Mopan and means “when they were tired they rested there,” said Coy, referring to well-known Maya locations in Belize. “That gives us the courage and the strength that we are indigenous.”
We asked Coy to tell us what he knows of the Manche Chol: “We have heard about the Manche Chol… Our music, they are still with us in spirit. We heard music in the ancient temple, which is the same instrument that we use now.”
He added, “We don’t have any more communication with them…. they are not living with us now.”
We asked Coy, “How would you describe yourself?”
“I am a Kekchi Maya,” he said, indicating that although they can be distinguished from the Mopan Maya by language, their appearance is the same and they understand each other’s languages.
We asked Coy: “Are you fearful that the court may change what was decided in the Supreme Court?”
“I have no fear, because we are indigenous,” he responded.
He said that if the Court of Appeal would indeed fail them, they will appeal the decision.
We asked Coy if he has any idea how much acreage of land they are claiming for the 38 villages. He told us that he has no idea.
Asked to address the difference in opinion among some Maya, some of whom oppose customary and collective land tenure, Coy indicated that this dispute has a political root.
Both political parties tell the people, “…if you vote, I will give a lease or plot of land.” He added that, “…when they get in position, they forget about them [the people].”
He also said that whereas there are those who have leases for individual plots of land, even those persons may still engage in customary practices.
On the question of exclusion of other Belizeans from Maya villages, Coy said this is not their practice.
“Every Belizean has a right to land,” he said, affirming their respect for the rights of the Garifuna people living in Barranco and the East Indian and Creole people living in Forest Home.
What if an East Indian wants to live in Santa Ana? That person has to go to the leaders of the village, said Coy. Then the community will come together and listen to the request, and if they agree, conditions are set.
Maya communities have traditional laws, said Coy, including laws for burial of the dead. A villager also needs to cooperate, work and contribute, and they all move together when farming and don’t destroy the forests, he added.
If a person fails to comply with the community rules, there is a fine. “It is not a fine that would not be more than $100, maybe $20 or $15.
These local laws are separate from national laws passed by the Government of Belize, he explained.