Mexican Squatters Claim Land

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30809, 22 July 1965, Page 11

Mexican Squatters Claim Land

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter) MEXICO CITY. Thousands of peasant “squatters” in at least 10 Mexican states are setting a headache for* local administrators by asserting their “rights” to own their own plots of land. The squatter movement stems from years-old impatience with successive government measures aimed at breaking up large estates and distributing the land to peasant fanners. Although between 1958 and 1964 about 14,000,000 acres had been distributed, it was estimated that nearly 700,000 farm

workers were still without land. Census-takers from the department were sent out to report on the position and the conclusion was reached that squatters with the longest tenure would be given rights to the land. More recent “invaders” had to be dislodged but wherever possible alternative plots of land would.be found for them. This official acceptance of squatters’ rights has been sharply criticised by medium fanners and ranches who are now finding tens of thousands of land-hungry peasants laying claim to their lands. The present wave of squatting began in mid-May when 200 peasants settled on a chicken farm in the State of Tlaxcala. Since then the numbers have risen to 700, the squatters—nicknamed “parachutists” —claiming the land was uncultivated, and the chickenfanners demanding guarantees from the government. “Blind Eye” Farm-owners have alleged that some State governments turn a blind eye on the squatters, who have already begun sowing corn and moving in their livestock. The State authorities retorted that they had sought Federal help in evicting the squatters but this had not been forthcoming. One solution put forward was for the State governments to buylarge tracts of the disputed lands and to sell plots to the squatters on six-year mortgages. This was promptly rejected by the National Farmers' Confederation as tending to compound a felony. An official of the Confederation said: “Apart from the fact that the owners do not want to sell their land, there is not enough space for all the people who are demanding land.” Apart from Tlaxcala, squatters are now on the move in Michoacan. Jalisco, Guanajuato, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Chiapas, San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas and part of Durango. And previous experiences of such invasions suggest that in spite of eviction notices they are likely to hold on to the plots they have won.