Beaten by Locals After Climbing UNESCO Heritage Site
Private Sanctions Frequently Occur Amid Unstable Security in Mexico
In Mexico, a foreign tourist who illegally climbed the Mayan civilization ruins was reportedly beaten by local residents and then detained.
On the 21st (local time), Mexican local media such as Diario de Yucatan and Debate reported that a 38-year-old German national was arrested by police after illegally climbing the El Castillo pyramid in Chichen Itza, Yucatan state.
It was confirmed that the man evaded the eyes of the management personnel stationed around and crossed over protective facilities near the pyramid.
The man climbed to the top of the El Castillo pyramid via the stairs to the ancient religious ritual altar, then immediately came down and was caught by the management personnel and police officers.
Then, dozens of people in the crowd who witnessed the scene indiscriminately assaulted the man as he was being taken outside by the police. The man, who was injured and bleeding, was treated and then detained.
The situation was recorded on video and spread through local social networking services (SNS).
Chichen Itza is known as one of the central cities of the Maya people who settled and prospered in the region from the 600s to the 1200s. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988 and was also named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World selected by UNESCO in 2007.
Climbing the El Castillo pyramid has been prohibited since 2008 to protect the structure and prevent damage.
At the time of the incident, about 9,000 people had gathered at the site. During this period, many tourists visit the El Castillo pyramid to see a phenomenon called the "Descent of Kukulkan" (a feathered serpent in Maya mythology). The "Descent of Kukulkan" is a phenomenon caused by shadows created by the unique pyramid design.
Meanwhile, in Mexico, there are frequent cases where residents, unable to endure the unstable security situation, impose private sanctions on criminals without due legal process.
Last year, in Taxco, Guerrero state, located 150 km south of Mexico City, a suspect who kidnapped and murdered an 8-year-old girl died after being beaten by residents. He was reportedly caught by angry residents and beaten in front of police officers while being transferred to a detention center after being arrested by the police.
Also, in southern Mexico, which suffers from violent crimes by drug cartels, residents have formed vigilante groups under the pretext of fighting organized crime. In 2021, a vigilante group in a mountainous village in Chiapas state caused controversy by burning down 12 houses and kidnapping 21 people under the pretext of finding members of criminal organizations.
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