Updated May 19, 2012
Over 500 Lakeside residents participated in peace march May 13
Authorities face public on lakeside security issues May 16
Many of you have read/seen/heard news reports of the recent violent events in the Lake Chapala region. News of this has gone global.
See these articles about in recent events in the English-language newspaper Guadalajara Reporter:
Lakeside kidnap victims among dead in May 9 massacre
Authorities face public on Lakeside security issues
Body parts found in Riberas del Pilar as cops arrest six over kidnappings linked to Chapala massacre
[Also see the Crime and Fear/CSI Citizen Safety Initiative links in the sidebar on the right under Categories about Lake Chapala's citizen group - CSI Citizen Safety Initiative trying to create a system of safety and effective police intervention, as posted here in December 2011.]
See this recent interview on DemocracyNow with Mexican poet Javier Sicilia who lost his son to narco violence last year and started the peace movement known (in English) as Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity. He is currently touring the U.S. to inform and engage people with an awareness of the role of the U.S. in the narco wars of the U.S./Mexico.
Part 2: http://youtu.be/qHMfw60BT5c (better)
Part 1: http://youtu.be/b_Bw3x12LUU
I share his views. To resolve the horrible terrorism of narco violence, it doesn’t make sense to keep up a so-called “war on drugs” (workin’ for us, is it?) which attempts to address only the end-game. We have to address the origins of drug use/abuse, why so many people, especially in the “comfortable” U.S. have the need to take drugs (only a painful, empty society generates the need to anesthetize our experience of it). We have to acknowledge that someone stands to gain financially from keeping this “war” going – who might that be? We have to face the fact non-emotionally that legalizing and controlling all drugs,not just alcohol and cigarettes, eliminates the financial incentive for narco violence since it eliminates the market. Drug-taking and addiction are public health issues, not moral issues, and obviously, not (just) a crime and security issue. We have to acknowledge that such a system of legalized-but-controlled recreational and addictive drugs won’t be perfect, that criminals will find other ways of making money and exploiting and destroying innocent people and communities. And we have to come to the realization that our world is filled with terrorism, not just from al-Qaeda, but in all its forms including narco cartels, human trafficking and slavery, organized global pedophilia, the marketing of human organs, an gawd knows what else is out there.
And finally, about me personally, I know some of you are worried:
I am fine, and I don’t even feel afraid. Many expats here are terrified and planning to move back NOB. Not me. I will move when I reach some sort of tipping point. I moved from Texas to Maine when I experienced 3 episodes of personal violence (none of them serious, but they could have been) in the last year I lived in Texas. Whether this would be my tipping point here – actually experiencing violence – I have no idea. I choose not to live in fear. I also choose not to take unnecessary risks, not to go out at night alone, to support my favorite restaurants and bars who are changing to earlier evening hours for now so that staff and customers can go home while it’s still light (before 8:30 pm now).
I’m not afraid, but I am sad and grieving for the people of Mexico. They are survivors, and I like to think that the ex-pats here are too. Mexico has survived its history of violent conquest and thrives anyway, and I have faith that it will continue to so so.
May 13, 2012
Dear Community Members,
To our knowledge, this is truly the most devastating and difficult time our beautiful Village has ever experienced. We are all in shock and frankly, terrified at the prospects of what my lie ahead. Everyday more bad news, more terroristic acts.
This email is to let you know, your CSI Chapala Team has not stopped working in your behalf; for the Nationals and Foreigners alike.
Here is what we have been doing in addition to keeping the Anonymous Hotline active. As a sidebar to that, now would be the perfect time to use this number 01-800- Remember, when this number is dialed, it goes straight to operators in Canada and they have no way of identifying who is calling. You receive a number only, NO names. The number you are given is so you can call and check on your progress of your lead.
Your report is typed up in English and Spanish and immediately sent directly to the cell phone of our Police Captain. You can help your Mexican neighbor or gardener or maid or pool man make that call. You can dial the number and you can help them deliver the information if they are fearful. Someone must know something that will assist our police department. Please ask and encourage your Mexican friends to participate in the invaluable program.
Next week, CSI in conjunction with our police department, will be implementing a new ‘emergency cell phone system’. This system in in addition to the 800 Anonymous Hotline number listed above. This additional safety measure will work this way: A ‘receive calls only’ cell phone number will be imprinted on refrigerator magnets and stickers for the back of your home or cell phone. Each household will be receiving, delivered by the police department personnel, several circular badges (as described above), along with the neighborhood watch window stickers.
CSI Chapala will be purchasing for our police department, nine ‘receive only cell phones’ which will be taken out on by the officers on duty who will be patrolling the Ajijic and Chapala areas. Each patrol will have their own ‘receive calls only cell phone’. It is that sticker, with that particular phone number that you will be receiving. In other words, Ajijic Central will have a different cell phone number on their sticker than someone in Rivera Alta who will have a different cell phone number than someone in Central Chapala area or Vista del Lago, etc., so that should you have an emergency, the police officers on duty in your area can get to your home immediately.
Remember, it is your responsibility to write next to your phone and maybe even attach it to the magnet, what to say, in Spanish.
Ayuda me, Ayuda me. Mi nombre es ______________, mi direction es __________ en Ajijic or Villa Nova or whatever; mi telephono es ______________. Pro favor ayuda me arrita mismo. (Help me, help me. My name is _________. My address is ________en (this area). My phone number is ___________. Please help me right now.)
Also we are now working hand-in-hand with our police department with the Guardian Angels to add more ‘boots on the ground’ in our neighborhood. We are looking for volunteers. The course is 16 of training. You can join at any time by emailing CSI Chapala.
Additionally, we have met with our Mayor, Jesus Cabrera, our Police Captain, Renold Contreras, the State of Jalisco Police of Chief, , the head of Jalisco Tourism, Miguel Cervantes, and (Aurora and Veronica, please help me with the Spanish above and the names and titles of who we have met with.
We have asked for Army presence immediately, as well as the State and Federal Police to assist our local police. We have also asked for a curfew. These, as many of you may recall, were part of our six solutions back in Dec 2011. We have never stopped asking for them, but now we are seeing them being put into action. Please follow the new rules being implemented. After dark, please stay home.
We are also asking all restaurants to participate in ‘early bird specials’ until this very troubled time is over, so that they may stay in business and you may still have a social life. If restaurants were to starting their ‘early bird dinner menus at 3pm with their music (if they have music) playing from 4-8pm and then the restaurant closes, so you and their staff can safely be home before 9pm.
Just minutes ago CSI Chapala received a call from Capitan Contreras who is trying to organize a PEACE MARCH TODAY (Sunday, May 13th). He asks that we all meet in front of the Pemex station at the entrance of Chapala (by the Monday Open Air Market). We will walk in white, with candles, in silence to the fountain by the church. PLEASE try to be there.
We are all in this together and as your volunteer team, your CSI Chapala is doing all we can. As you know, we are not the police, not a reporting or recording entity; we are simply a liaison between you and the police to assist with safety issues by offering ideas and programs.
Thank you and please try to be at the PEACE MARCH this evening at 8pm starting in Chapala.
Your CSI Chapala Team
May 16, 2012
Dear Community Members,
Today at the La Floresta Auditorium our local police chief, Capitan Contreras, and Jalisco State Police Chief, Commander Marquez, set the record straight. The information was so calming; we asked if they would speak to the community. They were so please to have the opportunity.
Therefore CSI Chapala has scheduled a “TOWN HALL MEETING” to be held at the Ajijic Plaza, Wednesday, May 16th at 6pm. PLEASE make every effort to attend this very important, information-packed meeting.
What many members of the community and CSI learned today was calming and it will be well worth your time to attend this important meeting. The Commander and Capitan will speak, using microphones and loud speakers. Additionally, they will entertain questions not answered in their speeches for about one half hour.
By the time you leave this very important meeting you will have learned:
- how many deaths have there been in our community;
- about the new bodies discovered in Riberas;
- about the flyers/banners you may have heard about calling for more random innocents’ deaths;
- about the “safety houses” raided;
- about those arrested and how the police (both State and Local) and the Army are handling the security of our community.
CSI will also have available for you refrigerator magnets and phone stickers with the cell phone police numbers of the officers working your neighborhoods, should you need immediate help. We will also have Neighborhood Watch window stickers to show neighborhood solidarity.
PLEASE get this information out to your email lists – as well as your Mexican neighbors and friends. This information is in Spanish on our Facebook Pages: CSI Chapala AND ISC Chapala.
We need your attendance. These are the most important and tragic events our Chapala community has had to deal with in its recent history. Please support CSI’s efforts to bring you the latest information and stop the rumors.
Thank you,
CSI Chapala
United States Consulate General Guadalajara
PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO
AS MANY AMERICAN CITIZENS AS POSSIBLE
Message for U.S. Citizens:
Safety Practices & Situational Awareness
Date: May 18, 2012
BEGIN TEXT.
The following basic security tips are being repeated as a reminder:Situational Awareness: Always be on the look-out for any suspicious or violent activity occurring near your home, your vehicle, and your family. If any suspicious or violent activity is observed, please move away from the threat and report specific information immediately to local police.
Take cover and/or evasive action- if you hear or see weapons, grenades, explosions, etc., at anytime, immediately get down on the ground behind solid cover or drive away quickly if you are in your vehicle. Do not/not attempt moving closer to the action to see what is happening. Once you can safely move away from the incident, proceed as quickly as possible with evasive action to remove yourself from the scene.
Drive Defensively- In addition to the threat from organized criminals, road rage can also lead to a deadly incident. Remember to drive defensively and avoid provoking other drivers regardless of any erratic driving near your vehicle. Keep your distance and be a courteous driver to avoid any potential for conflict.
Driving- Use the cuotas and avoid intercity driving after dark. Road signage is often inadequate. Uncontrolled intersections abound and motorists fail to yield even where traffic controls are in place. Thus, drivers should drive defensively (look for and expect cross traffic). Around town, always drive with the windows rolled up and doors locked, and when stopped in traffic, leave room to maneuver.
When Parking- Avoid leaving your vehicle on the street. Park inside a residential compound, in a parking lot with an attendant, or within continuous view of the location of your visit. If this is not possible, leave your car at home and take a taxi. When parking within a shopping facility lot, park as close as possible to the store entrance, and away from dumpsters, bushes or large vehicles. Lock the doors, close the windows and conceal boxes, shopping bags and personal items in the trunk or out of sight.
Be Unpredictable- vary your times and routes of travel to and from work, daily/weekly errands (i.e. grocery shopping), and regularly scheduled social/personal events.
Keep a Low Profile- Do not wear valuable jewelry, watches (i.e. Rolex), gold, silver, diamonds, etc. in public. Do not carry expensive electronic items in public such as I-pods, laptop computers, etc. When transport of a laptop computer is deemed absolutely necessary, lock the laptop computer in the trunk of your vehicle between points of travel and do not leave the laptop computer (or any other valuable items) unattended in any vehicle at anytime.
IF YOU ARE A VICTIM: Don’t resist an armed criminal demanding your valuables. Remain calm and avoid any fast, furtive movements. Statistics show that most attempts to resist an armed robber result in serious bodily injury and/or death of the victim. Be a good witness. Record a suspect’s description, license plate number, vehicle info, etc.
Please continue to monitor the regularly updated State Department travel warnings and information for Mexico using the following link: http://travel.state.gov
The U.S. Consulate General in Guadalajara is located at 175 Progreso Street, Col. Americana, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. The U.S. Consulate General in Guadalajara’s telephone number is 011 52 33 3268 2100; the fax number is 011 52 33 3825 1951. For after-hours emergencies, please call 011 52 33 3268 2145. The U.S. Consular Agency in Puerto Vallarta is located at Paseo de los Cocoteros #85; Sur Paradise Plaza, Interior Local L-7, Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, C.P. 63732. The U.S. Consular Agency in Puerto Vallarta’s telephone numbers are 011 52 322 222 0069 & 011 52 322 223 3301; the fax number is 011 52 322 223 0074. For after-hours emergencies, please call 011 52 33 3268 2145.
END OF TEXT. U.S. Consulate General Guadalajara
http://guadalajara.usconsulate.gov/
The Consulate office hours are Monday through Friday from 08:00 a.m. to 04:30 p.m. (except for Mexican and U.S. holidays).
May 19, 2012
Sorry for the delay in getting out this summary of our Town Hall Safety Meeting
at the Ajijic Plaza. According to the ‘head counters’ there were approximately 1000
in attendance, with about 75% being Mexican. The meeting was opened by Linda Fossi,
member of CSI, with translation provided by Vivianne Michel, also of CSI. Captain Contreras, Chief of Police for the Chapala Municipality, was present and handled the bulk of the meeting explaining he was there to validate information, dispel rumors, and answer questions from the crowd.
Captain Contreras confirmed the information about 18 bodies being found near Ixtlahuacan, none of which were connected to drug trafficking. Further,
he confirmed another 5 bodies/heads/body parts, many frozen, were found at a home in Riberas del Pilar. The only possible nexus to drugs was that the
aunt or uncle of one of the bodies found had rented out the home in Riberas where these latest bodies were found.
He also confirmed that a foreigner had been abducted while walking his dogs; one dog was killed and the man and another woman being held, were Released after being held overnight. This man and his family have since gone into hiding and will be leaving the area.
The third incident he addressed consisted of a foreign couple abducted from Chapala Haciendas along with three Mexicans; when brought to a
hostage-holding house, the person in charge released the couple stating “we don’t want anything to do with foreigners.”
He confirmed that two safe houses were raided in San Nicolas (on the way to Vista del Lago) where they have custody 3 people and secured a cache of large arms, hand guns, explosives, fake police garb and various other items used by police forces. These people are being held and questioned regarding the latest incidents.
There was also a raid in a gated community of Rancho del Oro, (several days ago now, and the Captain confirmed that, while there were no suspects
present, another cache of weapons, bullet-proof vests and grenades, etc., were seized there.
The Captain also said on the Monday meeting (attended by CSI and some others), that there were NO signs, or flyers or banners that stated the Narcos will going to kidnap and kill Mexican citizens. Thosewere rumors.
Numerous questions were asked by the audience, many by the Mexicans present. However, their questions were more police bashing than actual
questions and from time to time the crowd yelled “we want answers!” And “bring in the military!, you’re over your head!”, etc. To the Captain’s credit,
he maintained his composure and reaffirmed the reason for being at the meeting: to provide answers and to seek the everyone’s support in finding and convicting the criminals.
I’m summarizing below what the Captain requested of the crowd:
Call the Anonymous Tip Hotline (01-800-839-1416), (since the meeting, SIX TIPS HAVE BEEN CALLED IN, so the message worked). The police department in Chapala (765-4444 of 066), or the cell numbers written on magnets distributed at the end of the meeting. These cell phones have been issued to the police department by CSI CHAPALA as part of their Mission Statement and Vision to offer programs for the safety our community. Each of these cell phones will be issued to the officer-on-duty, on each shift, for each of 10 districts that make up the Ribera in “Chapala Municipality”: 3 cell phones covering Ajijic.
Ajijic (from La Floresta to Las Salvia, upper and lower): 331-149-3980:
West Ajijic (from Villa Nova to the start of Jocotepec Municipality): 333-722-5566:
Riberas, (from San Antonio (this would include along the Libramiento to the bounders of the Chapala Municipality): 333-722-3720:
There are also 3 cell phones covering Chapala:
Chapala Centro (all of Main Street to the Lake to La Cristina Park): 333-722-6099:
Chapala Guadalupe District (along and up the Mt Side up to the Bus Station): 333-722-3486:
Chapala San Miguel District (along and up the Mt Side from the Bus Station to the start of Chapala Haciendas/Brisas): 333-722-3461.
The other four districts are: Chapala Haciendas/Brisas de Chapala: 331-767-4210.
San Nicholas/Santa Cruz: 331-789-5033.
Vista del Lago, 331-438-6231. And
Atotonilquillo: 331-465-0768.
These phones are “receive only” cell phones and are manned 24/7 by the police officer assigned to each district. By contacting the number for
your district either when you observe something suspicious RIGHT THAT MINUTE, or find yourself in danger, CALL YOUR OFFICE-ON-DUTIES CELL PHONE.
The turnaround time will be much faster, since the officer is located within your district and can promptly respond. Remember, speak in Spanish:
Ayudame, Ayudame. Mi nombre es ______________, mi dirección es __________
en Ajijic or Villa Nova or wherever; mi teléfono es ______________.
Por favor ayuda me ahorita mismo. (Help me, help me. My name is _________.
My address is ________en (this area). My phone number is ___________. Please help me right now.)
For SECRET TIPS, not your local emergencies, call the CSI Chapala ANONYMOUS HOTLINE NUMBER: 01-800-839-1416.
The Captain, answering other questions on the Monday gathering at the La Floresta Auditorium, and later after the formal meeting confirmed: 1) There were NO banners, flyers, or any other communications about the Narcos kidnapping others. That was a rumor. 2) The Government did NOT start any curfew. That was a rumor.
He asked us to please go about our business as usual but avoid desolate areas, e.g., the mountain trails are not safe right now. To stay home achieves what these criminals want: to have us live in fear.
Report any incident having to do with your car being stopped by a police patrol for the purposes of questioning you and searching your car.
While some of these may be legitimate, there may also be some who are criminals posing as police officers (one person in the crowd described such
an incident). The Captain asked that people call in to his office in Chapala and report the incident and the number on the police truck which is prominently displayed on the side. He has the schedule of which truck is supposed to be out on patrol and which officers are in that car.
This will help him establish if there are people out there posing as officers and also determine that, if it was a legitimate police Check point, that the search was conducted legally and according to approved police procedure.
Do not allow rumors to become your reality. If your neighbor, friend, housekeeper, gardener, etc. tells you they saw or heard something suspicious, urge them to call the ANONYMOUS HOTLINE with the information, it is 100% anonymous with calls going directly to Canada with bi-lingual operators who take the report. It is illegal in Canada to see the phone number that has dialed the call, so there’s no way they can trace the caller. The Captain indicated that, if they don’t get the information, their hands are tied. Also, for current information, you can check information on the police website www.chapala.gov.mx; this website is updated regularly and should help put to rest the rumors that seem to be flying around.
The Captain realizes the Mexican community, and perhaps many within the foreign community don’t trust the police but he’s committed to follow up
on every single lead or report. Something to remember, the police department has no jurisdiction over the Transito, ticket writing officers. They are run by the State Government, not the local government.
When asked about seeking additional support from the military, he indicated that there have been a couple of military patrols deployed to Lakeside but it’s best to keep their presence to a minimum because an all-out war could ensue between the Narcos and the military as it has in other states.
This is the information we were able to get out of the meeting. This is information gathered by many.
It’s been a while! My blog got hacked, I lost some posts and lost heart to replace them or to keep this blog going, then realized I needed a break. But here I am again, hopefully re-inspired. Thanks for hanging in there!
When ex-pats purchase a home here, they naturally fill it up with 
wonderful ethnic furnishings, artwork, housewares, whole truckloads of stuff. When they choose to sell – or are forced to sell – they hold massive “bazaars” (garage sales) and there are plenty of new buyers and renters to buy it. Many bazaars here are permanent weekend fixtures. It’s essentially a grand recycling of households and possessions. Everyone here advises to rent for 6 months to a year before purchasing a house. But there are still newbies who are swept up in their mad love affair with Mexico to which we are all susceptible. They buy their house immediately, sometimes sight unseen (online), before they even get here. It’s sticker-shock in reverse: things are so cheap here compared to el Norte it’s almost impossible to resist.
and just simply items of beauty to admire.
I’ve heard all of these observations about crime in Mexico since I moved here in June 2011. I also hear the general buzz about crime being on the increase, about how there’s crime everywhere in the world, that the US crime rate is much higher than Mexico’s. [examples]. Hearsay? Truth? Where’s the data?
3. Nevertheless, just to get an idea, I read through the crime website’s reports from January 2010 to the present; it seems that the crimes reported are in clusters, mostly in the fracciomientos (fraccs or gated communities). No surprise – that’s where the money is. Most of the crimes are robberies – few assaults not related to a robbery, no rapes reported. Almost all reports were from non-Mexicans. Almost none of the crimes in Lake Chapala are narco cartel-related, but are crimes by poor and/or “lazy” people needing money to live. “Lazy” is the word used by my Mexican friends: they are disgusted by (especially young) people who refuse to work even though they can, when there’s more opportunity here because of the expat population than in other communities.
local media. Already some positive news has happened ( see the links below for more detail).
Mariachi music is an acquired taste and I have acquired it! Guadalajara has an all-woman Mariachi band, which have become my favorite group. Their singing is emotional, humorous, flirty, heartfelt, and serious bluesy. They are a talented group of individuals and performed at the Feria this year.
)
There is such good food in Lake Chapala: regional Mexican, of course, (even Tex-Mex), seafood (fresh daily from the Pacific), ranchero-style and other steak, Texas bar-b-que, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Italian, pasta and pizza, rotisserie chicken, nouveau cuisine (whatever that is, these days), the weekly organic market that is out of this world, along with the weekly traditional Tianguis (outdoor markets) in each village, and there are new cafe’s/restaurants opening (and closing) all the time.
I will always need my alone-time for meditation/centering, creative work, gardening, reading, watching movies, perusing the net, playing with electronics, and oh yeah, playing with Krypto. I also hope to develop close friendships here, and keep up with those of my prior life. I hope to save enough dough to be able to travel, both within Mexico and wherever else I can afford. Put all of this together, it’s a pretty full slate. And this doesn’t even scratch the surface.
A mother and daughter from the states live in my neighborhood, daughter helps mom who has health problems. Both were mental health field professionals prior to moving here, are politically liberal and active in the Democratic party. They are kind enough to rescue and/or feed the stray cats and dogs in the neighborhood. They were also kind enough to take me to Costco by a different route that avoids driving through GDL. (There are a zillion Costco’s in the GDL area.) Yes, I actually bought stuff there, including 36 rolls of t.p.! It seems that having a survivalist-type of stocked pantry affords a degree of comfort; for me, it means shopping less frequently, so I’ll probably go again.
