Anonymous - 9-11-2004 at 06:53 AM
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/tijuana/20040903-9...
By Anna Cearley
September 3, 2004
TIJUANA ? Baja California tourism officials say they aren't worried that a rash of killings this week will scare off visitors during the Labor Day
weekend.
"We feel these are very isolated incidents that aren't perpetrated against visitors," said Ives Lelevier, assistant director of tourism for the state
of Baja California.
Drug traffickers and other organized crime groups are being blamed for the deaths this week of at least seven people, including two state police
agents. Some were gunned down on the street with automatic weapons. Others were tortured, and then asphyxiated or shot in the head.
"They are people who I'm sure are involved in activities that have this as a consequence, but this doesn't affect visitors," Lelevier said.
The killings weren't near Tijuana's tourist spots, such as the popular Avenida Revoluci?n. They were also far from other draws such as Rosarito Beach
and Ensenada.
Victor Clark, a human rights activist who follows organized crime trends, said the threat against tourists doesn't come from drug traffickers, who
typically gather or clash in places away from heavily patrolled tourist spots.
Tourists, he said, are more likely to become crime victims when they are extorted by corrupt police. Other times, he said, gang members from the
United States get into fights with other gang members along Avenida Revoluci?n.
Lelevier said his agency encourages tourists to report troubles they may have to authorities by dialing 078 from any pay phone in Baja California. He
said police will be looking out for tourists this holiday weekend, and about 14 booths will be set up throughout the state to address tourist
questions and concerns.
U.S. tourists can also report any crime committed in Baja California to the San Diego Police Department, which will pass on the information and
evidence to the proper Mexican agencies for investigation.
The tourism agency expects about 174,000 people to visit Baja California this weekend, based on hotel reservations, and to spend approximately $18
million.
Clark said Tijuana has already generated a reputation for its drug-related violence that may be hard to shake, but "I don't remember hearing of a
tourist being involved in that sort of thing."
Labor day was last weekend
jrbaja - 9-11-2004 at 07:10 AM
Why are you posting this now ?