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The second day of the landmark constitutional case between the Mayas of two Toledo villages and the Government of Belize was recessed this afternoon at 4:00 pm. After hearing from residents of Conejo and Santa Cruz and Mayan leaders yesterday, today anthropologist Dr. Richard Wilk gave expert testimony. And for the Mayan case, he dispelled what the Mayans of Toledo say is a long standing myth: that their people just migrated to Belize from the Guatemalan highlands in the 1800's. Director of the Julian Cho Society, Cristina Coc said that it's a breakthrough.

Cristina Coc, Julian Cho Society
"He made a special point to say that the Mayas that live in Toledo today have a direct historical connection to the Mayas that lived in Toledo during the colonial days. Dr. Wilk managed to clear up the argument that the Mayas of Toledo today are recent migrants from Guatemala. He explained that in his article, that the government has presented in court, counter our consistent presence in Toledo, he said that in the 1600s the Spanish claimed that they had rounded up all the Indians an d taken them to the highlands of Guatemala and all of them died in the Spanish camps.

Well Dr. Wilk cleared up today that in fact not all the Mayas were rounded up, that there were three different situations involved. One where Mayas, some Mayas, remained to reside in the Toledo District during the Spanish colonial days whereas some were forced out and those that were forced out came back so rather than being an immigration, it was a return to Toledo."

Jules Vasquez,
You said in colonial times but I am talking before 1492.

Cristina Coc,
"Absolutely. Absolutely a direct historical connection to the ancient Mayas."

Jules Vasquez,
You're saying your existence supercedes and pre-dates the constitution or any western rule.

Cristina Coc,
"We're definitely fighting a giant, no questions asked. However we have proven, time and time again that as Belizean Mayas we have also adopted an respected the presence of the Belizean government. As a matter of fact the basis of our case is based on the constitution of Belize, that has provided rights to all Belizeans including indigenous Maya Belizeans."

Jules Vasquez,
But are you trying to have it both ways, because the constitution provides the organizing principles for the state. You're relying upon the guarantees of this constitution while at the same time trying to say that your existence, your claim to these lands, pre-dates the creation of that state as any sort of political entity.

Cristina Coc,
"Absolutely, what we are saying is we are never going to deny our identity as indigenous to these lands. However we do realize that the reality today is very different from the reality of our ancestors and we have accepted to be a part of the nation of Belize."

The Mayans present their last expert witness tomorrow and after that the government side will present its case.