La Derecha Diario Mayor of Mérida commented that she won't protect the government palace on 8M
Amid threats to public and private property, the Mérida city council won't protect its municipal palace.
In recent years, the city of Mérida has been the scene of various social demonstrations that have sometimes resulted in graffiti and damage to historic buildings, including the Municipal Palace.
For example, in August 2021, demonstrators made graffiti on the columns of the Government Palace and the Municipal Palace during a protest demanding justice for José Eduardo Ravelo Echeverría.
Subsequently, specialists from the City Council and the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) assessed the damage caused to these structures.
Current position of the Mérida City Council
Despite precedents like the one mentioned, the Mérida City Council has decided not to implement special protection measures for the Municipal Palace
since there is a possibility that graffiti may occur during future demonstrations.
The city council mentioned trusting in the "peaceful nature" of the protests and in the citizens' respect for the city's historical heritage.
Reactions from the community and heritage experts
The City Council's stance has caused various opinions among the community and heritage conservation experts.
Some citizens believe it is essential to protect historic buildings, regardless of the nature of the demonstrations, to preserve the cultural identity of Mérida.
On the other hand, there are those who support the City Council's decision, arguing that implementing protection measures could be interpreted as a criminalization of social protest.
Conservation experts point out that while it is important to trust in the civility of the demonstrators,
it is also necessary to have contingency plans to act quickly in case of damage to the heritage.
These plans could include training personnel in cleaning and restoration techniques, as well as collaboration with specialized institutions like INAH.
Preventive and response measures of the City Council
Although special protection measures will not be implemented, the Mérida City Council has a Civil Protection Regulation,
which establishes actions for prevention, assistance, and recovery in situations that may affect the municipality, including human-origin disasters.
This regulation seeks to organize prevention activities and establish functional relationships with agencies from the three levels of government,
aiming to foster linkage with the private sector and society in general.
Additionally, the City Council has implemented programs like the Mérida Municipal Civil Protection Program 2021-2024,
which reinforces action lines in risk prevention in the face of emergencies or natural or human-origin disasters that may affect the municipality.
The Mérida City Council's decision not to take special protection measures for the Municipal Palace against possible graffiti reflects an ideological pressure from the feminist agenda.
However, it is essential that the authorities maintain contingency plans and rapid response strategies to ensure the conservation of these emblematic buildings.
More posts: