Tren Maya Megaproject: Racism, Militarization and State of Exception against Indigenous People

Abstract

The “Tren Maya” megaproject is an insignia development of the current federal administration in Mexico, led by Andrés Manuel López Obrador. In my opinion, this project has several characteristics that make it emblematic of the ideological framework, practice and public policies of this government, which is self-proclaimed as the Cuarta Transformación (Fourth Transformation). In this paper I discuss these characteristics that include some direct impacts on the rights of the local Indigenous people, and even on the human rights of those people who live in the surrounding lands affected by this train. Other aspects discussed are: 1) the instrumental use of the cultural diversity, particularly the representative elements of the Indigenous cultures; 2) the militaristic ideology utilizing this cultural diversity, and more, the militarization of the whole project, and 3) the hidden declaration of the state of exception in order to avoid the oversight of this megaproject.