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Courtney Weatherburne reporting
Today, the planks that once formed the walls of Nicolasa Cus' home are now just a pile of worn wood. And work on the cement structure concerned residents erected in its place has ceased.

Cus squatted on and developed this piece of land and has been living here for 12 years. But the peace she and her two daughters once enjoyed was shattered early Thursday morning when RECONDEV workers came to demolish her house.

Nicolasa Cus, Resident
"I was at home sleeping when I heard the banging on my door. The guy said good morning and I said good morning, right now. I was asleep. I woke up out of my bed and I was like where is my key, because I usually lock the door from inside because its only me and my girls sleeping there. So I got my key and I opened the door. You know when you just woke up from your sleep - I just pulled my door a little bit, because my door hard to open. I see the police pushed his head through my door and he said Miss we have a paper for you that we came to demolish your house now. I told him what and he started to read the paper for me. I told him to leave the paper on the machine, I'm going to read it. I'll change and get ready. He says no, get going he told the guys. When I heard the zincs, i just grab what I have to grab and I went. By the time I saw my little girl, she was already at my neighbour's house and she was very traumatized of this. I am totally disappointed with what they did to me, treating me like animals."

RECONDEV has responded in a release saying this half acre of land belongs to them. It states that it is a commercial parcel and not for residential use. It continues by saying that Cus never purchased the parcel of land and has been occupying the land illegally. RECONDEV says that as far back as 2015, they have been instructing her to vacate the premises, but, every time, she would refuse. They say they have invited Cus to their office many times to discuss this issue but to no avail, so they had no choice but to remove her from the land. Their release ends by saying "squatting is illegal and it will not be tolerated. Presently over 500 applications are in a queue at the Corporation awaiting approval and Ms. Cus cannot be allowed to jump the queue." Well Cus admits she has not paid for the land but she takes issue with several other comments in the RECONDEV's release.

Nicolasa Cus, Resident
"I have not paid anything towards the land as yet, but I am willing to pay for the land. At least he could give me an opportunity to pay for the land. I am willing to pay. That is not hard to solve the problem. When I went to RECONDEV, he is always in a meeting."

Reporter
"So you are saying they never met with you or set up a meeting with you to talk about this situation?"

Nicolasa Cus, Resident
"No ma'am. why does whosoever is in charge of RECONDEV, the same way he sent his messenger to me, the same way he should have sent the paper to me and tell me this is the amount for the land, then I could have decided what to do next. It's my fault but he didn't do anything at all. Only 2 papers I received from them."

Reporter
"Those are the eviction notices?"

Nicolasa Cus, Resident
"Yes ma'am."

Reporter
"So you don't think that they gave you enough time to move?"

Nicolasa Cus, Resident
"I think that I deserve to live on that land and like what I said I worked hard for that. That place was very swampy when I reach there. There were high bushes. I was the first one that reach back there and when I see lots of infrastructure going up around me I felt good I said that we got neighbours. All of them are squatters just like me, so I don't see why he is targeting me."

Reporter
"I can understand that, but some might say that its unfair if you stay on that land, because there are many other people out there who are going through the process and are waiting right now. Some of them waiting for years and years to get a piece of land and they can't, but then you just come and squat there. Some might say that this is unfair. What do you have to say in response to that?"

Nicolasa Cus, Resident
"If that is what he wanted, let him give who he wants. At least get my one or give it to all of us who are asking for the land, if that's what he wants. If he has 500 applications, why not give me a piece? I am a Maya here and I think the way I see he wants more money. So my money doesn't value to his one then?"

Now it seems like this land issue is getting out of hand. Cus says suspicious visitors have been spotted lurking near the premises.

And although Cus doesn't say it outright, our information is that last night's shooting may be linked to this land fiasco.

Nicolasa Cus, Resident
"Several vehicles are going there. I wasn't at home yesterday. I had a job. I go work, so I left my mom and dad and my sister and my aunt in charge there and then when I came home they told me that several vehicles came and I won't risk my life like that. Just for a piece of land I won't risk my life. I have 2 kids to feed."

Reporter
"You feel threatened right now?"

Nicolasa Cus, Resident
"Yes ma'am."

Reporter
"So there are several people circling around the area in tinted vehicles you said?"

Nicolasa Cus, Resident
"Yes ma'am."

Reporter
"As you said you know this guy Mr. Mangar right? He helped you set up your place there in the first place."

Nicolasa Cus, Resident
"Yes, I know Mr. Mangar. He voluntarily gives his help to me, because all of us are human beings. He has feelings and he have a heart for me what I am going through. This is not an easy road, its very rough and it's a pain."

Reporter
"At this point you can't say if shooting is related to your case?"

Nicolasa Cus, Resident
"I don't have any idea about that."

So for now Cus is staying away from the land and is renting a place for her and her daughters. She says she just wants to settle this issue so she can have a stable home for her family.

Nicolasa Cus, Resident
"This is not hard to solve. I am a woman; he is the man. Come to me or call me in your office. I went literally to his office. The receptionist asked me leave your name and your phone number. He has my phone number. He should call me and tell me that the value for your land is this and that. I could get the money or I could mortgage it somewhere somehow, I could pay for his land, because I really need it to live with my 2 kids."

Cus says RECONDEV sent a bulldozer to the yard again on Friday, this time to demolish the cement structure but the worker didn't go through with it. That's after things got heated and Police had to fire rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. eventually, even the police had to retreat.