In regard to the concert in honor of Yucatecan icon Armando Manzanero, that will take place in the archaeological site of Chichen Itza on February 3, academics and researchers of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) have been working in Mexico City and Merida to denounce the illegality of this event which, they say, allows the use of archaeological goods to be commercialized and goes against the Federal Law of Monuments.
In this matter, Joel Santos, General Secretary of the National Union of Scientific Research Professors of the National Institute of Anthropology and History, declared that a group of experts in Mérida has requested the immediate suspension of this concert authorized by INAH and the Secretariat of Culture. And on Moday Jan. 29, this group of experts appeared before the Federal Court of Administrative Justice in Mexico City, demanding the cancellation of this show.
Yucatecan Musician Armando Manzanero (Photo: La Vanguardia)
However, even if the court’s response is favorable, it will be difficult to have the official rule before the date of the concert. For this reason they have been planing mobilizations in Chichén Itzá on the day of the concert.
In a report dated November 1, the director of the institute, Diego Prieto, notified Armando Manzanero that the event had been authorized based on Article 30 of the General Law of National Assets and had the endorsement of the Archeology Council. In the same report, Prieto refers that the request this event’s authorization was signed by the general coordinator of Social Communication of the Presidency, Eduardo Sánchez Hernández, and the Secretary of Culture and Arts of Yucatán, Roger Metri Duarte.
When authorizing the event, the INAH requested the organizers some administrative technical specifications, such as coverage of an insurance policy for 40 million dollars (about 760 million pesos), a seating capacity that should not exceed 5, 200 attendees. In addition, they are prohibited from drilling, fixing or placing any object or structure on archaeological monuments.
Source: Diario de Yucatán.
