Protests over destruction of Tajamar mangrove swamp grow

Activists called on the United Nations not to hold the Conference of the Parties (COP 13) on Biological Diversity in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, after the Tajamar mangrove swamp was destroyed in Cancún to build a real estate project.

The petition on change.org had been signed by almost 61,000 people by Saturday morning.

The National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) investigates if authorities fulfilled the obligations to respect, protect and guarantee the human right to a healthy environment when they granted the permits and licenses to build the project.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism issued a press release arguing that the National Fund for the Promotion of Tourism (FONATUR) acted according to regulations.

Also the Green Party (PVEM) said it would submit a request to cancel the project and file criminal complaints against the officials linked to the destruction of the mangrove and the death of animals such as crocodriles and birds.

Carlos Puente Salas, national spokesman of the party, said that the PVEM would file a complaint before the Unit for the Investigation of Environmental Crimes.

Yesterday activists and citizens demanded the dismissal of the head of the Environment Ministry, Rafael Pacchiano, the head of the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection, Guillermo Haro and its delegate in Quintana Roo, Carolina García Cañón.

(With information from Julián Sánchez)