Profepa Ignores Court Order on Yucatán Megaproject

Mérida, Mexico — Seven weeks after the Third District Court ordered the suspension, first provisional and then definitive, of the Ciudad Maderas real estate megaproject, the company continues construction unimpeded, and the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) has not executed the ordered closure, according to Sergio Oceransky, a member of the Yansa Foundation.

The activist recalled that the provisional suspension was issued on October 9 and the definitive one on October 24, but Profepa has taken no action to date to enforce the suspension. Due to this inaction, he filed an incidental motion to report that the company not only continued working but “boasts about it on social media.”

According to Oceransky, in its report to the court, Profepa stated that it did not close the project because it “does not see the need,” considering there are no irregularities, which he interprets as “a clear admission of non-compliance with a federal court order.”

He described this behavior as an example of how “this institution appears to be at the service of private interests” and announced that he will continue with criminal actions against the responsible officials. “I will not stop until justice is done,” he stated.

The Yansa member questioned what communities without legal support can expect if, even in a case with a firm ruling, environmental authorities do not act. He pointed out that an in-depth reform is urgent, starting by cleaning corruption from Profepa, INAH, and other institutions, and affirmed that he agrees with the demand to dismiss those responsible in Yucatán.

Defamation and Threats

Oceransky also reported an escalation of attacks targeting the Yansa team, including the dissemination of false information, intimidation attempts, and threats to physical integrity. He noted that payments have even been offered to people to organize protests against them and “create a context that could justify some type of action against our physical integrity.”

This climate of harassment worsened after a violent incident against Alejandra Poot, a member of the Yansa Foundation.

Poot recounted that since she began her rights defense work related to the Ciudad Maderas case, she received messages warning her to stop getting involved. “Last week, a situation occurred that I cannot detail for legal reasons, but several state and federal security forces came to assist; there is a detainee, recordings of what happened, and a complaint in progress,” she explained.

The defender emphasized that this type of aggression “would not happen if the authorities did their job” and warned that she will continue with the necessary legal actions: “I will not allow damage to the work of the Yansa Foundation, as it is beautiful and fully legitimate.”

Finally, she called on the state and federal governments not to use public institutions in favor of private interests: “I urge the state and federal government and the prosecutor’s office to adhere to the law and be respectful of human rights.”