Agents from Profepa (Procuraduria Federal de Proteccion al Ambiente), the “legal enforcer” for Mexico’s environment agency, Semarnat (Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales), this week supervised the removal of cyclonic fencing around a 42-hectare area bordering the Tenacatita beach erected in August 2010 by a Guadalajara developer claiming title to the land. The agency also says it took down an illegal metal gate that was restricting access on the only road leading to the pristine beach on Jalisco southern coast.
The Profepa press release says inspectors first became aware of the illegal fencing during seasonal checks made at 476 Mexican beaches during Easter Week. Federal law determines that all beach areas in Mexico must have free public access.
In August 2010, armed with a court order, Villalobos managed to get hundreds of locals – squatters as he referred to them – evicted from their beachfront homes and seafood businesses in a violent early morning police operation endorsed by then governor Emilio Gonzalez of the National Action Party (PAN). He then policed the beach area with his own security guards, who would rigorously refuse access to anyone they deemed undesirable.
In 2013, state police officers acting under the instructions of Jalisco Governor Aristoteles Sandoval dismantled the illegal checkpoint set up on the road, although Villalobos’ henchmen were still allowed to patrol the area.
The latest move by Profepa to remove all the fencing surrounding the disputed zone will give renewed hope to members of the local farm cooperative (ejido) who have been involved in a bitter two-decade land dispute with Villalobos, a hard-nosed businessman who has never hidden his desire to build a luxury tourist development there.
A handful of North Americans who had purchased land in the disputed zone have also not been allowed back since Villalobos’ takeover. Unfortunately, neither they or any locals will be permitted to reclaim their properties, at least until the legal situation is resolved.
La Huerta municipal authorities have promised not to issue any kind of license or authorization granting locals permission to reopen their restaurants or work in the federal zone.
State officials say the final decision on the ownership of the land must come though the court system.