An investors dream turns into a nightmare. For the last ten years Boris Gerson has tried to regain control of his market in Mexico City. But corrupt lawmen have taken over and are charging his rent money; he alleges that the Fox administration has done nothing to help him.
Tlanepantla, Mexico (PRWEB) September 23, 2004 -- Its no mans land.
Here, in this eclectic flea market, amidst boom box vendors and merchants who offer the latest name brand jeans from makeshift booths, mobsters rule. The law does not live here, critics say, only the word of former lawmen turned union leaders who decide what gives- and what doesnt.
In fact, corruption is such says a group of vendors, that for the last ten years the owners of the Bazar Perinorte -a big flea market set up swat-meet style- have not been able to step inside their own property, let alone make the law or menial regulations prevail. They have won two court cases that show without a doubt that the Bazar is theirs, but have had to back down by threats by strong-arm thugs and organized gangs who have threatened to kill them if they dare to walk into the place.
Its amazing what goes down in there," said Boris Gerson, spokesman forValle de los Pinos (IVP), the owners of the Bazaar. In his last state of the Union address President Vicente Fox tried to paint this image that corruption is a thing of the past. But corruption is what rules here."
Gersons family owns IVP. Boris cousin lives in Los Angeles and says that he is worried about the safety of his family in Mexico City. Its a 10 year old nightmare, of which would never happen in America, yet it is so close, yet so distant from anything of reality. Anyone investing in Mexico, even when its on official court documents will discover if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."
Hes not the only one that fears for his life. Or the life of others, says Virginia Puente, a Perinorte vendor who alleges that thugs kidnapped one of her sons and have stolen property from her, including two of her cars.
They have threatened to kill me and my family. I fear for my life," Puente said. My family and I dont know when they will strike."
Puente says that lax safety rules have endangered not only the market, but surrounding residents as well. Faulty power lines, unchecked natural gas cylinders and all kinds of safety code violations have turned the once colorful flea market into a danger zone.
Its a time bomb," Puente said. And it will explode in any minute."
Just some months ago, two explosions rocked the Bazar during a night fire. No one was hurt and the local authorities were not able to find the causes of the accident and did not rule out foul play.
No one knows what happened but what everyone agrees upon is this:IVP and a group of about 700 vendors led by a former local District Attorney have been locked in a battle for the control of Bazar Perinorte.
IVP alleges that they have not been able to collect rent money from the vendors for the last ten years, despite the fact that they are the legal owners of the Bazar. The vendors say that what IVP wants to do is to evict them and to raise tariffs.
Boris Gerson said that their fight is not against the vendors, but against the leaders of a group called Locatarios Asosiados de Bazar Perinorte, a group that allegedly represents the owners and is led by well connected ex law enforcement officials. Gerson said that the former lawmen are corrupt and have led some of the vendors to believe that the Bazar is theirs, hence they do not need to pay rent.
Athough IVP and a group of vendors are trying to make a new popular market with the same features of a "La Pulga" market but complying with all regulations that will make it a safe place, locatarios Asociados and their allies within the executive and judicial powers in the State of Mexico, want to maintain the current situation as it is ideal for black market business Boris believes.
It is a black market that not only infringes on the laws of private property, but represents a threat for the security and social health of the community that surrrounds this market," he said. And it is within the government itself that the resources to keep the status quo
of such a place are created."
Gerson alleges that Axel Garcíá , a former District Attorney for Tlanepantla, is the leader of the vendors. Barragán allegedly charges them rent money and coaxed the vendors into believing that they dont have to pay rent.
Garcia, Gerson alleges, is a close friend of the state governor Arturo Montiel and has high connections with judges and politicians. He allegedly also employs corrupt state Judiciales (police officers) to provide security for the Bazar and strong-arm those vendors who do not agree with his tactics.
We are the legal owners of the Bazar and we have not been able to charge rent for ten years," Gerson said. We are not even allowed to step inside our own property."
Barragán and the Locatarios refused request for interviews. Local authorities also declined to comment on the Bazar matter.
Puente said that many merchants have aligned themselves with Barragán and his group because they feel that a lawless Bazar permits them to sell black market items, drugs and all sorts of illicit contraband.
Many local merchants want to keep the status quo, which only favors chaos and black market businesses, include mainly piracy of brand names, prostitution and drug dealing," Gerson said. Law enforcement agencies do not want to enforce the law."
Inmobiliaria has owned this land for more than decade.
IVP has owned this land since 1966 and rented it to the two private investors 11 years ago. It all began in the early 1990s, whenIVP acquired the piece of land where the Bazar now sits, said Gerson. They bought the land from two private investors, Salvador Espinoza Vargas and Rodolfo Robles Sanchez with a goal: to create a Bazar.
Bazars, as these open-air flea markets are called in Mexico, date back to pre-columbine times, said Gerson, who is an anthropologist. The market was the first social place created by the community," noted Gerson. Religious practices started in the market before creating temples. Therefore it was a place for human sacrifices for religious purposes, that as such contains a social tendency to violence."
The markets are made up of small stores, booths and live entertainment, which are very popular with Mexicans of all ages and economic classes.
The market reminds residents of the traditional Mexican market and in getting good quality products at lower prices," he said. .
For the first three years, everything was smooth sailing. Then it went sour.
According to hundreds of court documents, depositions and police reports, Vargas and Sanchez stopped making payments. Inmobiliaria took them to court to collect back rent pay and to evict them and to try to recover their property.
Three years ago, one of the investors pretended to give back the land after a court settlement. Instead, they formed the Locatarios group with the help of Barragán; they are now charging the vendors rent money.
Its a clear case of fraud," explained Gerson.
Joining the Locatarios group is Axel Garcia, Governor Montiels pistol-waving strongman, Gerson said. Together, they make sure that the local state police do not interfere.
This is corruption at the highest level," Gerson said. We feel that what is needed is federal intervention."
It and unholy alliance, Gerson said. Apparently the state governor (as we have no proofs) lends Axel García to Locatarios Asociados, while Axel García lends his teamsters -style like mobs to create political unrest for the Governors foes.
Gerson spent seven years in court battles. Again and again, judges ruled in favor of Inmobiliaria as the true owner of the Bazar and issued eviction orders for Barragán and his Locatarios group, whom by this time had gained control of the market- to no avail.
According to Gerson, the State Police does not take action on the Bazar issue because it takes bribes from Barragán. His alleged henchman are state policemen who work in a police station nearby.
The courts have issued orders of eviction, which have not been enforced by the government because it would be against their own interest to evict themselves from our property," explained Gerson.
After reading and hearing President Vicente Foxs state of the union address and commitment to Mexico, I hope he walks his talk," said Gerson.. We are fighting to regain our property and close down a popular bazaar market called Bazar Perinorte" (www.bazarperinorte.com.mx) in Mexico City. Bazar Perinorte is in shambles and the current bazar and its infrastructure (water, power and structural safety) do not comply with any of the regulations and codes."
Even his brother and partner, who did not want to be identified, but who lives in Los Angeles believed the deplorable conditions should and can come to an end if Fox truly believed in NAFTA. He receives great headlines about Mexicos agreements with 32 different countries, including China and Japan, but how can he boast about how government and business is turning the corner when he allows these conditions to prevail? The best solution is to create a cooperative market where 400 vendors co-own one lot of land in a condominium structure. We have the resources and we hope his spirit of patriotism and conscious will come through for us."
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