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Was Myles Maligned Based On Race?
posted (November 17, 2015)
So, today while we had opportunity, we asked the first Alcalde of Santa Cruz about Cruz's allegation that he was racially discriminated against.

It's a question that's been asked and answered, but because it has been brought up again, we put it to Manuel Pop. Here's what he had to say:

Daniel Ortiz
"He continues to maintain that when he approached you and the chairman of the village, you all treated him with disdained because of his ethnicity. He says you told him plain and straight that he will not be allowed to live there because he is a black man and that you all don't want it mix-up."

Manuel Pop, 1st Alcalde - Santa Cruz Village
"It's not the point. We are not saying because he is a black man. But he did not come to the alcalde. It's the law in the village. He did his own law. He didn't want to listen to us, even the chairman and the alcalde. He want to do his own business. That's why they arrested him."

Daniel Ortiz
"He keeps on maintaining that you all insulted him and treated him as an outsider, because of a race issue. Have you ever uttered any sort of racial slurs against him to make him even suggest or believe that this is true?"

Manuel Pop, 1st Alcalde - Santa Cruz Village
"No. That's not true."

Also, as you heard Myles assert, there is one other Maya villager living in the property being set aside for Uxbenka. Right now, Myles is facing all kinds of notices from the village and the Government, which he has basically ignored.

He said that while he's being pressured to move, this other Mayan violator of the site gets a free pass. We asked the First Alcalde if that's true, and he explained that this villager has also been given an ultimatum to move or else:

Daniel Ortiz
"And that person reportedly according to Mr. Myles, is left to his own devices, while he is being pressured to move. Is there anyone to you mind or to your knowledge living within the Uxbenka site apart from Mr. Myles?"

Manuel Pop, 1st Alcalde - Santa Cruz Village
"Well yes, somebody is living there. But he said that because he built his own house there and after his thatch house is finish building the he will come down to the village. He will not stay back no more there. That's why Mr. Myles have to come down also."

Daniel Ortiz
"Have you all told this other Mayan villager that he must move as well?"

Manuel Pop, 1st Alcalde - Santa Cruz Village
"Yes."

Daniel Ortiz
"And have you given him and ultimatum - a time line that he must remove his structure?"

Manuel Pop, 1st Alcalde - Santa Cruz Village
"Yes. We did that."

The case of the Santa Cruz 13 goes back to court on December 16, and around that time, it will be roughly 6 months since the charge was filed by police. We're told that the Magistrate might be inclined to entertain a strike out motion.

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