Peruvian Family Claim Machu Picchu

Peruvian Family Claim Machu Picchu
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22/03/2005Reuters

Peru's poor Zavaleta family has only one thing to say to the thousands of tourists who trek along the Inca trail to the renowned citadel Machu Picchu every year: "Hey you, get off our land!"

The family says it is the lawful owner of a large part of the Machu Picchu sanctuary, Peru's most famous national treasure, and will start proceedings next week to sue the state for recognition of its ownership rights.

"The Zavaletas bought the land in 1944 and have title deeds that date from 1898," their lawyer Fausto Salinas told Reuters on Monday. "But I have checked and the site has been private property since 1657," he said, adding he had proof in the form of parchment documents wrapped in goatskin.

..snip..

The Zavaletas plan to sell the land if their title is recognised. "There is a lot of foreign interest," Julio Zavaleta said. ..>

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The land should probably be nationalized before it is sold to foreigners.

tracks. We got stuck twice going up there a few years ago.

Perhaps it is those who trespass upon their land who should pay for the damage done by their vehicles! How would you feel if you were forced to maintain a road on YOUR property simply because people decided they had the right to drive across it?