Mexico arrests 13 at water-rate protest by Mayas

[Judi Lynn]

Aug 21, 5:30 PM EDT

Mexico arrests 13 at water-rate protest by Mayas

By MARK STEVENSON
Associated Press

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Police on Mexico's Caribbean coast arrested 13 activists during a demonstration by Maya Indians against water rate hikes.

The Mayas were the original inhabitants of the area, south of the resort city of Cancun. But they have been pushed into poor, dry farmland inland as resorts pop up along the coast.

Households in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, the most important remaining Indian-majority town, had long paid a flat $5.20 monthly fee for water.

But the state water authority began installing water meters last year and started charging households more for water use of over 10 cubic meters (2,640 gallons) per month per family.

More:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LT_MEXICO_MAYA_DISPUTE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-08-21-17-30-27

[lunasun]

1. Seems the big resorts taking over (and destroying the area for Mayans) could pick up

The difference