The invasion of a part of the Yalcobé farm, owned by the company NaturAceites, keeps oil palm harvesting operations interrupted and has generated concern among local authorities, who warn that this type of event responds to a pattern of illegal occupations and subsequent sale of land.
Rodrigo Díaz, representative of NaturAceites in Fray Bartolomé de las Casas, reported that the occupation began on Friday of last week, after the company received information about a meeting in the La Vilmita neighborhood, where, as he indicated, people were being recruited to invade private property.
According to Díaz, around 80 women, accompanied by children, initially entered the farm. Agents from the National Civil Police (PNC) went to the scene and urged the group to leave, which happened around 11 a.m.
However, that same day, at approximately 3 p.m., the group returned, this time accompanied by men. According to the company representative, the PNC intervened again to warn that it was private property, but the occupants stated that they would not leave the place until there was an order from a competent authority.
Díaz explained that, since then, the occupants have remained intermittently on the land, which totals about 25 hectares, a situation that has prevented the normal development of agricultural activities.
He added that three workers were forced to abandon their work after being threatened with knives, so the company decided to suspend the harvest to avoid exposing the staff.
“We have not been able to harvest the oil palm due to the presence of these people. We have not wanted to put our workers at risk,” he stated.
Complaint to the MP
NaturAceites filed a complaint about the case last Friday and ratified it on Monday before the Public Ministry (MP).
Díaz indicated that prosecutors and investigators have already carried out a visual inspection at the site; However, he expressed concern because, while the legal procedures progress, the occupants continue to settle on the land.
According to the company representative, about 25 hectares of oil palm cultivation are currently affected.
He also assured that the occupants began to take measurements, place stakes and raise nylon traps inside the property.
Likewise, he pointed out that the company received information that a professional had prepared plans of the area that, presumably, are used to offer spaces to third parties. Díaz indicated that this situation will also be reported to the corresponding authorities.
The representative of NaturAceites called on the authorities to expedite investigations and guarantee respect for private property rights.
“We are not the only ones who face this problem in Guatemala. We ask that those who, according to our information, deceive people by offering them land that do not belong to them be investigated,” he said.
Mayor describes invasions as “a cancer”
The mayor of Fray Bartolomé de las Casas, Walter Ayala, stated that the invasion affects only a part of the Yalcobé farm and assured that this type of conflict has been repeated for years in the municipality.
The mayor indicated that, according to the information collected, the occupants come from a nearby settlement known as the La Vilmita neighborhood and maintained that some of them previously obtained land, later sold it and then participated in new invasions.
“It is a way of operating where they harm those who legally own their properties,” he said.
Ayala stated that he disagrees with any illegal occupation, regardless of who owns the land.
“Respect for private property must prevail. It does not matter if the land belongs to a company, a farmer or a person who with great sacrifice obtained his plot,” he said.
The mayor also pointed out that the invasions have become “a cancer” that affects both owners and the image of the municipality.
In their opinion, the authorities must set precedents to prevent these events from continuing to occur.
The mayor added that the problem does not represent the entire population of Fray Bartolomé de las Casas, but rather a small group of people.
In addition, he recognized that population growth and the decrease in available land have increased the demand for land in the municipality; However, he stressed that this situation does not justify illegal occupations.
Finally, he called on the institutions in charge of investigating the case to act in accordance with the law and resolve the conflict through legal means.
*Stay up to date with the Now newsletter. Key information at the moment it happens. Subscribe here.