Reparations for Neglect of Indigenous Land Rights at the Intersection of Domestic and International Law-The Maya Cases in the Supreme Court of Belize

This chapter presents an example of how a claim for reparations is to be submitted before a court. It is based on two separate claims, which were actually filed by representatives and members of the indigenous Maya villages of Conejo and Santa Cruz to the Supreme Court of Belize on 3 April 2007. It presents the skeleton argument prepared for the claimants, who alleged that the government of Belize violated their constitutionally recognized customary land rights. It is a 'living' example of how historical evidence, cultural arguments, international law, and domestic law may be combined in order to build a solid argument which may prove strong enough to convince a court that the communities concerned are to be granted actual redress for the torts suffered.