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Fighting Corruption in Tijuana
http://publicbroadcasting.net/kpbs/news.newsmain?action=arti...
Eric Niiler
KPBS, SAN DIEGO
(2003-09-08)
Tijuana officials are set to announce this week the suspension of eight police officers who were accused of extorting money from American tourists.
The unprecedented move is part of a new anti-corruption drive led by officials at Tijuana city hall and the US consulate. But as KPBS border reporter
Eric Niiler found out, fighting corruption in Mexico isn't so easy.
Computer programmer Nick Davies really likes Tijuana. He lives in Imperial Beach but crosses the border several times a week to have dinner with
friends, shop at his favorite fruit stand or pick up some inexpensive medications. But one morning last November, he was pulled over by two Tijuana
policemen for speeding. They searched his Chevy Blazer. When they found containers of prescription medicine, they accused him of carrying illegal
drugs. Davies says he felt intimidated.
"The guy that's grilling me, has his hand on the butt on his pistol and finger on the trigger. He looks like a guy in a Clint Eastwood movie -- the
Good the Bad and the Ugly. He's ready to go."
The police asked him how much he would pay to stay out of jail -- eventually demanding $400.
"We pull around the corner and they wind up extorting the 400 bucks from me."
Officials at the US consulate in Tijuana have heard stories like this before. American visitors tell of Mexican police demanding money from them to
escape traffic tickets. Sometimes police plant illegal substances in their car or clothing, then forced to withdraw money from an ATM. Al Anzaldua is
citizens services chief at the US consulate in Tijuana.
"This is a major problem that's been going on victimizing both Mexicans and Americans, finally there are Americans with the courage to do something
like this."
Now some Americans like Davies are fighting back. They've filed complaints - and with the help of consular officials - have had their cases
investigated by the city prosecutors. Martin Dominguez Chiu is Tijuana's city attorney and has led the anti-corruption drive. He tells me that some
Americans come to buy contraband or drink heavily after leaving Tijuana's notorious nightclubs. To some Mexican police, these Americans are easy prey.
"Instead of saying please don't do that, the police say give me some money. Yes, or just take the money when they are sleeping on the streets and take
their wallet."
To help Americans in trouble, the city attorney and consulate have published an English-language legal guide that explains visitors' rights in Mexico.
The guide is being distributed at downtown hotels and other places along the border. The city attorney's office, or sindicatura, has set up a website
where Americans can file complaints without returning to Tijuana.
"The way you can put it on the Internet is a very easy way, its windows style, and it's in English. Its in English."
The sindicatura is investigating 50 complaints from Americans and so far has recommended that 16 officers be fired. US officials say that the
anti-corruption drive is showing some progress.
"I'd say the cooperation and leadership shown in doing something about corruption is unprecedented here. However there's a long way to go. The
sanctioning of the police is just a first step."
Even that first step is tentative. Instead of firing the police officers, a city tribunal is expected to recommend a lesser penalty of suspension
without pay for the first eight officers whose cases have been heard. Nick Davies reaction echoes the feelings of other Americans who say they were
ripped off in Tijuana.
"Love to see the guy get fired, love to see him return the money. But I guess you have to take these things, what's the phrase, one step at a time."
Despite the fact that he didn't get his money back, Davies is philosophical. He and several other extortion victims interviewed say they won't stop
going back to Mexico.
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Anonymous
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Sindacatura complaint site:
http://www.sindicatura.gob.mx/complaints/Complaints.asp
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Packoderm
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I see the opportunity for a hidden camera reality show. Bad-boys indeed.
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JESSE
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It will never happen, corruption goes all the way up to the governor.
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reefrocket
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Ant Idea where one could get a copy of the "The guide is being distributed at downtown hotels and other places along the border" ? Like on the
net or ???
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Stephanie Jackter
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Funny how tourist complaints can have the effect that locals there have probably hoped for for years but had no confidence that they could speak up
without getting killed. I wish them all luck. - Stephanie
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