The local community set up a protest camp outside the farm, but then the police started a brutal crackdown. A few days ago, in the early hours of the morning, they broke into the village where 15 Mayan women, children and elderly people were in the camp. More than 100 riot police beat, tortured and stole the belongings of the people.

Since then, intimidation and criminalisation of the community has continued. In a protest in support of Sitilpech, 4 people were arbitrarily arrested. They have been released but two are facing charges. A judge even agreed that two these arrests were illegal. 

To fight back, the community has decided to take the pork giant to court. Under the Mexican constitution, Indigenous groups have to give their consent for companies to operate on their land…and Kekén has been operating without their consent for years.

It’s a case they can win, but activists need to quickly raise the funds to pay for the costs of a legal process of this magnitude, a process that they are carrying out together with the organisation Kanan Derechos Humanos. Together, we can get them the money they need to shut down the pork megafarm for good – and ensure their water is safe for all to drink. Can you chip in to help? 

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