The Corridor Interoceánico de Isthmus de Tehuantepec (CIIT) is a Mexican infrastructure megaproject that includes a 188-mile corridor of railways, industrial parks, and other commercial infrastructure that stretches across the isthmus of southern Mexico. It is hailed as Mexico’s alternative to the Panama Canal, which has been facing a myriad of problems ranging from water reservoir insufficiencies to political controversy. With the Mexican government investing $2.85 billion into the project and 52 Mexican and foreign companies sending letters of intent to collectively invest $4.5 billion into the corridor, there are high hopes for the CIIT. Despite the bullish expectations, there has been criticism from local communities regarding the social implications of its construction, ranging from environmental impact to the forced relocation of Indigenous communities. With an attitude that echoes that of the United States government during the construction of the Panama Canal, the Mexican government has responded to these criticisms with force.
Examining the contentious development of the Panama Canal can provide insights into the modern social implications of the CIIT. A key aspect of the Panama Canal is its artificial reservoirs. To create these reservoirs and further develop the land for the canal, the American authorities overseeing the project forcibly relocated thousands of Panamanians. Many sacred Indigenous sites were subsequently filled with water as part of the reservoir. Beyond the relocation of the Panamanians, the United States created a Canal Zone under U.S. jurisdiction, creating a colonial dynamic between the American government and the local population. In response to the quasi-colonial occupation of the Canal Zone, the native population frequently rioted and protested against the U.S. government and the Panamanian government which did little to intervene. Notably, Canal Zone Police officers killed several protestors in a clash in 1964. Despite the mass protests and concerns expressed by the local population, the Panama Canal’s construction went on. Even after the canal’s completion, the United States continued to maintain military and political power over the areas surrounding the canal, leaving a lasting social impact on the local populations that were silenced.
Many of the social tensions that were present during the construction of the Panama Canal seem to be present in the development of Mexico’s CIIT. The CIIT is expected to pass through the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Veracruz, which is a region inhabited by various Indigenous groups like the Mixes and the Zapotecs. These groups have voiced their concerns about the megaproject since its inception. A report on the issues surrounding the construction of the CIIT identifies environmental impact, militarization, lack of information, and human rights violations as key areas of concern for Indigenous peoples in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Additionally, while the Mexican government states the project will “strengthen industrial activity,” it ignores the socioeconomic pressures the development will bring to the region.
These pressures are major sources of concern for the Indigenous peoples of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The Zapotecs have been especially concerned about the development of wind farms in the area. As part of the broader industrialization project associated with the CIIT, the Mexican government has plans to install over 2,000 wind turbines in the area, hoping to draw in private and foreign capital to the region and bolster the overall economy of southern Mexico. While the Mexican government claims that the wind turbines symbolize Mexico’s commitment to sustainability, the Indigenous communities have voiced concerns about the social implications of the wind turbines. Zapotec activists Bettina Cruz and Rosa Marina Flores Cruz said, “These projects aim to ensure the continuation of the capitalist accumulation model rather than climate mitigation.” The appropriation of Indigenous land for green energy projects prioritizes economic interests over Indigenous territorial rights, often resulting in the physical displacement of local communities. Additionally, the influx of capital for development is expected to drive up the cost of living. The states of Oaxaca and Veracruz have very delicate local economies, with many relying on cultural practices like crafts and traditional forms of agriculture for income. The effects of development will cause the economic displacement of local communities, further threatening the livelihoods of Indigenous peoples in these states.
In response to the threats posed by the CIIT, Indigenous communities have spoken out against the government through organized protests. On April 28, 2023, government authorities removed the Tierra y Libertad (Land and Freedom) camp that was protesting the CIIT. Formed by Mixe community members, the Tierra y Libertad camp was blocking the construction of a section of the CIIT railway. Shortly after the removal of the camp and its protestors, the National Indigenous Congress released a statement saying:
We denounce with rage that today, April 28, at around 10:38 a.m., a large group of members of the National Guard, the Mexican Navy, and the Oaxaca state police violently attacked those participating in the Camp Tierra y Libertad. . . María Magdalena Martínez Isabel, Elizabeth Hernández Gómez, Adela Severo Teodor, Esperanza Martínez Isabel, Elizabeth Martínez Isabel, and Eliodoro Martínez Isabel were detained without being known where they remain, and comrade Adela Severo Teodor was beaten by members of these military forces.
The violence perpetrated against the Indigenous people who are protesting the CIIT mirrors that of the United States government in its response to protests against the Panama Canal. The similarities highlight the recurring pattern of state-sponsored violence against Indigenous communities defending their territories, with the Mexican government prioritizing economic interest over the rights of their Indigenous peoples.
Additionally, various allegations of fraud and deception have emerged surrounding Indigenous support for the project. Allegations include the use of signatures from deceased individuals to falsely demonstrate community support for land sales, suggesting potential forgery. Additionally, some Indigenous leaders claim they were misled into signing documents without full understanding, raising concerns about consent. These actions have led to accusations that the government is violating Indigenous rights and attempting to manipulate public perception of the project’s legitimacy.
The CIIT provides a grand economic vision for Mexico but simultaneously presents a reality of marginalization and oppression of local communities. The parallels drawn between the CIIT and the Panama Canal highlight the potential consequences of the CIIT; if the developers are left unchecked, exploitation and human rights abuses could be reproduced in the isthmus of Mexico. Urgent dialogue between Indigenous communities and the Mexican government is necessary to avoid the negative social implications of the CIIT.