Date:         Fri, 6 Aug 2010 07:46:23 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: MEXICO - big problem !
In-Reply-To:  <AANLkTi=MgSAGTGWNKmCDoHTqyQkh3EGBSXYdn-wnJAhr@mail.gmail.com>
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  friday off topic..

  This type incident happens in Mexico.  Especially in upscale Gringo
enclaves.  It's difficult for foreigners to fathom how this could ever
occur, but sometimes it does.  It happens in other countries, too, but it is
better disguised as "law".

  Not knowing this particular beach community, it's impossible to unravel
the reasoning behind what may be happening there..even the people who are
being displaced are probably clueless, as that post from the Language Lady
indicates.
   The Mexican official System moves differently from we Non-Mexicans are
used to..They do not 'give notice' or 'go to court' before they act.
Small-time bureaucrats sometimes assume big- time powers (same-o in most
other countries, but again, better disguised)
 Their property laws are very convoluted in most of Mexico.  They've fairly
recently transitioned from rural collective ownership of property, leaving
quite a mess.  They have many laws regarding foreign ownership of property
that are very difficult to understand.  They have special laws pertaining to
property close to the coasts. I would guess the property confiscation and
palaypa-burnings around Tenacatita have to do with 'violations' of these
laws, as interpreted by the Officials around that area..Someone forgot to
pay them or someone else paid *more* to get thier own way, or perhaps the
'local Gringos' got too 'uppity' and pissed off the wrong crowd.
 Gringos are voraciously 'buying up' all the beach property all over
Mexico..The native Mexicans are selling it with glee...many times selling
land without even actually owning it, beyond dispute.  Then along comes a
brother or a Tia and 'claims' they actually own that land and they re-sell
the same land....  The local Authorities get involved, wanting to get "their
cut"...the Mordida..or "permits and fees" it would be called in developed
countries like California.. A tentative situation at best, buying property
in Mexico as a foreigner, and getting immigrant status there is very
difficult..
 The Mexican 'system' is not so well defined as Europe, Canada or the
US..Sometimes foreigners try to 'ignore' a rule or a custom they don't fully
understand...and they often lose everything, or end up paying and paying and
paying to keep what they have!
  This is sad for the people who are getting "their" stuff confiscated.
It's also a sad thing that normal Mexicans can't really afford their own
coast any longer.  A real mess.  It's such a beautiful country and full of
great people, but there are 'problems' there, for sure.
  Don Hanson



On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 5:12 AM, Peter T. Owsianowski <pnoceanwesty@gmail.com
> wrote:

> Frank:  Any idea what's going on? What is a "Palapas? Sounds like  the
> cops are working on government orders?  My Rotary club has some folks
> going down to Central Mexico on a water project in a few months, so
> I'm interested to hear what is developing there.
>
> On 8/6/10, Frank Condelli <RAlanen@aol.com> wrote:
> > Folks, excuse the intrusion if your not  interested BUT I find this very
> > important to pass around to ANYONE who has any  interest in Mexico.
>  Katrina
> > is a Westy owner friend of ours who we met in  Tenacatita a few years
> back.
> > She lives there now, built a house and is  teaching English to the
> Mexicans,
> > originally from around Calgary.  If you  do not know Tenacatita then you
> > need to !  Please pass this message on to  anyone who you think should
> know
> > about this situation.
> >
> >
> >
> > "To all my friends and their friends and their friends,
> > on Aug.4th in  very early hours the Tenacatita beach has been taken over
> by
> > state police.Some  restaurants palapas have been destroyed,noone is
> allowed
> > to enter,only to take  their personal possesions.
> > The german lady Irene has been evicted from her  house,her stuff taken
> away
> > by a moving company,rest of her stuff throwen out.I  put her up in my
> > school building for now.
> > People are camping near the  bridge,that is the last point the police
> > allows us to go.
> > The mood is very  dark.
> > So far no violence,but people are steaming,they lost their
> > restaurants,their jobs.
> > The media has not been allowed to report.The report  which has been made
> > was not allowed to be aired.
> > Only in a states the report  has been aired a few times.
> > At this point it is unclear,but it is said that  the president of this
> > country has given a go ahead for this.
> > I will inform  you all,if you are interested on the development.
> > Take care all,  Katerina"
> >
> >
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Frank  Condelli
> > Almonte, Ontario, Canada
> > '87 Westy & Lionel Trains (_Collection for sale_
> > (http://frankcondelli.com/trainsal.htm) )
> > _Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://frankcondelli.com/busindex.html)
>  -
> > Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
> > _Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust  Systems_
> > (http://frankcondelli.com/exhaust.htm)
> > _BusFusion_ (http://www.busfusion.com/)  a VW Camper camping event,
> > Almonte, ON, June 10 ~ 13,  2010
> >
>
> --
> Sent from my mobile device
>
> Pete
> '79 Westy "Aardvark"
> '87 Westy "JoesVan"
> WWW.Busesbythebeach.com
>