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    • A woman scatters ashes in Machu Picchu, sparking outrage and legal action
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    A woman scatters ashes in Machu Picchu, sparking outrage and legal action

    Online Niel Posted on

    A recent incident at Machu Picchu has sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls to preserve the historic sanctuary. An unidentified woman has been filmed spreading what appears to be human ashes on one of the terraces of the famous Inca citadel. The video, originally shared by the TikTok account “IncaGo Expeditions” and later removed, went viral on social media, generating a wave of critical comments and concern over the preservation of Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

    In the footage, the woman, dressed in a black shirt, blue trousers and beige trainers, is seen carrying a clear plastic bag containing the ashes. She spreads the powder on one of the patios, making sure all debris is cleared by folding the plastic before she leaves. After emptying the bag, she leans over and hugs another person, all of which is caught on video. The act was accompanied by a melancholy song and the phrase: “Farewell full of love in Machu Picchu”, along with the hashtags #cenizas (ashes) and #esparcircenizas (scattered ashes).

    The Commission of Jurists of Cusco denounced the act as a possible attack on the Cultural Heritage of the Nation and requested that measures be taken regarding the incident. The commission warned that throwing ashes at the famous archaeological site is a violation of the rules that protect this world-class site. T’ika’s lawyer Luiza Obregón pointed out that archaeological sites “are not repositories of any kind of ashes, much less of a deceased person”, underscoring the disrespectful nature of the act.

    Obregón believed that the incident could be “a way to promote the scattering of the ashes of the deceased in Machu Picchu and archaeological areas”, which would aggravate the crime. She emphasized the need to establish whether the action was carried out by an individual or whether it was supported by an agency, as this would influence the severity of the penalties. Obregón also pointed out that Machu Picchu surveillance and security should have intervened, including the staff of the Culture Directorate of Cusco and security cameras. It is up to the Cusco Cultural Directorate to file the criminal complaint regarding the incident.

    Commenters on social media were extremely critical. “Let the full weight of the law fall on whoever did that act, there was no respect for Machu Picchu”, “What is the need to do it in a universal gem like Machu Picchu?” “They really registered it”, “It’s an archaeological site, it’s not a dirt yard”, “The sanctuary should be respected” and “It’s a sacred place, a historical sanctuary, it’s a place that should be respected as if your house.”

    Sources: La República, El Mercurio, Milenio, BioBioChile

    This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq



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