San Miguel de Allende, Gto — San Miguel residents have denounced the irregular demolition of 19th century “Benito Juárez” Park walls, this park was named World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO” back in 2008, reported Zonafranca.com.mx online newspaper.
The civil organization “Salvemos San Miguel” reported since January the inadequate intervention of these walls with techniques that put their conservation at risk, but on the evening of May 2nd, the demolition works started (for some reason, the demolition works started late at night).
Therefore, the organization demands that municipal authorities submit the corresponding permit before the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), and asks authorities to point out the people responsible for the destruction of these walls, and it looks like the person who took the decision is contractor Juan Luis Garcia.
In addition, Angel Gastelum, head of the Cultural Heritage Department of San Miguel de Allende, is also being held responsible.
In fact, the organization Amigos del Museo A.C. (INAH’s auxiliary association in San Miguel) sent an official letter informing the INAH state delegation that these “remodeling’ works started without the proper authorization, and world heritage infrastructure has been irreversibly destroyed, which is considered an attack against the cultural heritage of the nation that obviously must be punished as a crime.
Apparently, the Delegation was not aware of this work.
The Salvemos San Miguel organization made the following statement on their facebook page:
During the night of May 2, the demolition of the perimeter walls of Benito Juárez Park, a public space built on the 19th century, began during the evening hours, even though this park was designated in 2008 as World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO (#PatrimonioCulturaldelaHumanidad by #UNESCO).
Salvemos San Miguel reported since January the inadequate intervention of these walls with techniques that would put their conservation at risk; today we ask ourselves if the municipal authorities have official authorization from the National Institute of Anthropology and History for the demolition of these walls; otherwise they would be commiting a premeditated federal crime.
The people responsible for the destruction of this historical heritage of #SanMigueldeAllende are the Municipal Administration Public Works authorities and Juan Luis García G., who is the contractor in charge of the expansion of the park’s perimeter sidewalks.
We call upon Architect Ángel Gastelum, head of the Department of Cultural Heritage to give a public explanation of this most unusual situation.
The organization Salvemos San Miguel was born at the end of last year as Salvemos Aldama, when the Municipal Government had the intention of remodeling historic Aldama street, one of the most beautiful in our beloved city, a project that was reversed thanks to the citizen mobilization.
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