Tenacatita one-day 'picnic' goes off without incident

TENACATITA, Jalisco, Mexico - A one-day picnic on the Tenacatita Beach Monday went off without any serious hitches, according to Rebalsito resident Dobie, writing on the La Manzanilla message board.

"It was a great day. Wonderful to watch boatloads of people go by, waving their Mexican flags," she wrote.

Here is a link to the full message: Tenacatita Beach picnic report

The picnic was put together to draw attention to the seizure of the Tenacatita Beach August 4 by armed forces under the direction of Jose Villalobos,  a Guadalajara developer who claims he owns about 42 hectares of land on Tenacatita Bay and on the oceanfront side, too.

Nearly 800 residents were evicted that day and lands owned by Mexicans and non-Mexicans were seized and have been under armed guard since. The beach restaurants were razed and homes destroyed.

A number of lawsuits have been filed against Villalobos in federal courts from people trying to regain their land. Much of the property is federally titled, though Villalobos claims the titles are invalid.

A number of beachfront homes and a small RV park owned by non-Mexicans have been destroyed also, according to reports.

Monday's 'picnic' was the first time that the guards let a large group of people through since August 4. Previous attempts at gaining access to the beach have been met with force by the guards.

For this organized picnic, participants came via boats from La Manzanilla and via the formerly public road, which now has a gate across it.

According to Dobie's report, people coming through via road had to leave their identifications with the guards at the gate. People who arrived via boat were not asked for anything, she said.

Though Monday's event went off without any problems, it remains unclear if public access to the Tenacatita beach has been restored, or if this was a one-time reaction by Villalobos and his security forces designed to avoid a public confrontation. Since seizing the beach in August, Villalobos has told public officials that the beach is open to the public and that the guards are there only to maintain order.

The photo below, from Informador.com.mx, shows what people who arrived by car had to face.

Beach access, but first...

Tenacatita Day of Camping Monday will be a boat-in event

TENACATITA, Jalisco, Mexico - The La Manzanilla message board reported today that the 'day of camping' picnic on Tenacatita Beach, Monday, Dec. 27, will begin with a panga ride across Tenacatita Bay from La Manzanilla to the disputed beach area of Tenacatita.

 A post, by Dobie of Rebalsito, (who has been helping organize the people evicted by Jose Villalobos August 4), says that people should gather by a 10 a.m. Monday at Restaurant Cato on the La Manzanilla beach. From there, boats will traverse the bay, with a landing on the beach at Tenacatita. About 150 people are expected to be taken there by water.

Here is a link to her full message: Beach landing for Tenacatita Event

Fence and gate blocking access to Tenacatita

The news that the 'picnic' is taking place comes after several days of individuals reportedly saying in La Manzanilla that Tenacatita Beach was open to the public - or about to be opened with full public access.

As of late Thursday, the gates - and guards - were still in place, barring the public from the formerly popular resort area.

The entire area was seized by armed forces under the direction of Guadalajara developer Jose Villalobos who claims ownership of the area - despite the federal titles issued for the land, held by many Mexican and non-Mexican citizens.

Jose Villalobos

In his August 4 takeover, nearly 800 people were evicted from their homes and businesses at gunpoint. Several persons were arrested and numerous persons injured in the assault.

Since then, numerous protests have taken place, Jalisco government officials have expressed outrage over the takeover, and lawsuits have been filed against Rodenas claiming - among other things - that his gunpoint takeover of the bay and oceanfront land was unconstitutional.

Villalobos reportedly has plans to build a luxury hotel in the area - and possibly a golf course.

Planning underway for Tenacatita 'day of camping' Monday, Dec. 27

REBALSITO, Jalisco, Mexico - The organizers of the 'day of camping' on the Tenacatita Beach are getting together this week to work on the details of how the event will unfold Monday, Dec. 27.

The preliminary plans are for people to gather in Rebalsito and make their way to the beach via a back entrance, which will require crossing some waterways.

Once on the easterly section of the beach - which is not in dispute - the plan is to have people walk west along the shore until they reach the area of Tenacatita Beach formerly occupied by restaurants, hotels, and various businesses.

Should the road suddenly be opened by Dec. 27, the group will march down the state highway to the beach.

Here is a link to Cyberpueblo, which has been following this issue: Cyberpueblo Invitation to Day of Camping

Guadalajara Developer Jose Villalobos

The event is in part to draw attention to the ongoing occupation - and destruction - of Tenacatita Beach by armed forces under the direction of Jose Villalobos.

Villalobos seized the bayside of Tenacatita Beach and much of the oceanfront area the morning August 4. Police and security forces brutally evicted the residents - Mexicans and non-Mexicans.  As many as 800 persons were forced out a gunpoint.

Villalobos claims he holds a valid court order giving him title to the land and is planning to build a luxury hotel and resort - complete with a golf course, according to published reports.

Police blocking the state highway in August

The evictees, however, are fighting the eviction in court and have staged numerous protests, including marches in Guadalajara. So far, the governor of the state of Jalisco has refused to intervene and is the subject of heavy criticism from members of the government. Guadalajara Reporter story on the governor.

Several times since August 4, groups of people have tried to gain access to the beach only to be rebuffed - sometimes violently. LINK: News media, crowd sprayed with chemicals

Persons walking along the ocean beach are stopped by armed guards too. The guards are using the second story of a home formerly occupied by a non-Mexican citizen, as a lookout tower.

It's official - Tenacatita protest (day of camping) set for December 27

TENACATITA, Jalisco, Mexico - The people of Rebalsito and their supporters have made it official that Monday, Dec. 27 will be a day of protest - at the seized Tenacatita Beach.

Juan Frost of Cyberpueblo.com (Cyberpuebo link) sent an email invitation to hundreds of persons who have been supporting the repatriation of Tenacatita Beach and the Tenacatita oceanfront lots seized by armed forces under the direction of Jose Villalobos Aug. 4.

Juan Frost wrote:
"I am writing to invite you to a peaceful picnic at Tenacatita (fully supported by Rebalsito's town leaders) this December 27 at 9 AM starting from the town of Rebalsito. We will be entering Tenacatita through a back way and will be ferrying the public across a narrow stretch of the lagoon in undisputed territory and then march up the beach for a final gathering up by the restaurants. If the beach is open by then we will march up the road. People wishing to arrive by sea can join us. Foreigners who are a little apprehensive can show support by being in the bay with their boats."

In that armed takeover, nearly 800 persons were forcibly evicted from their homes and businesses, given virtually no time to pick up their possessions.

When they were allowed to return several days later, the people reported that homes and businesses had been looted by the State Police and/or security forces and that there was little to reclaim.

Protest march earlier this year

The peaceful protest is slated to begin at 9 a.m. in Rebalsito and will involve using boats to cross an undisputed portion of the mangroves to an area of the beach that is also not in dispute.

From there, persons in the demonstration are expected to march onto the disputed area - but only on the beach close to the water that is guaranteed to be accessible to all Mexican citizens by the Mexican constitution.

In the past week, several persons who have walked down the ocean beach - right at the tide line - have been turned back by armed guards and told they were trespassing on private land.

Protest organizers hope to get some attention from Mexican, American and Canadian media. But with the exception of one story published in a number of Canadian newspapers (Vancouver Sun story), non-Mexican media have largely ignored the story.

A 'day of camping' proposed for the seized area of Tenacatita Beach

LA MANZANILLA, Jalisco, Mexico - The La Manzanilla message board today posted a message posted on Cyberpueblo, declaring that a 'day of camping' on the Tenacatita beach is being planned for after Christmas. Cyberpueblo

The date mentioned was December 27, but has not been confirmed. The post suggests that the people participating would take boats across and attempt to land on the beach. If successful, the poster suggests that there would be a fiesta held.

The event would appear to be a peaceful protest against the August 4 seizure of the Tenacatita Beach by police and armed security guards under the direction of Jose Villalobos, a Guadalajara developer, who claims he has legal title to 42 hectares of land along Tenacatita Bay and the ocean.

Villalobos

In May, his armed force evicted nearly 800 persons at gunpoint and seized property owned by Mexicans, Americans, Canadians and Germans.

Numerous court cases are ongoing.

In the past few weeks, it seemed that Villalobos' company - Rodenas - was going to open the beach to the public and possibly allow restaurants to open.

The Cyberpueblo posting indicates that is not the case.

Here is a link to the La Manzanilla message board posting: Cyberpueblo posting and translation

Tenacatita news too optimistic again - beach remains closed

TENACATITA, Jalisco, Mexico - Tenacatita Beach remains closed and will likely remain so unless developer Jose Villalobos signs a document allowing limited access.


The following was posted by Rebalsito resident Dobie, who has been active in assisting the people evicted August 4 by security forces.

=======

FROM THE LA MANZANILLA MESSAGE BOARD:

     Sorry to report that the gate is still there. Yes, the beach is open if they feel like letting you in, and you show your I.D. (so they can write your name down) and you don't take a camera or a cell phone, and they'll watch you the whole time, and there are no services, and, and, and....
      In yesterday's Jornada article it says that Villalobos "could" sign the agreement this week, (which would open the beach, but with many conditions) and then he would have 5 days to get his guys out of there, or at least only on his supposed 42.5 hectares. But the conditions include days use only, no camping, no one can build palapas or open restaurants, only vendedores ambulantes (with permits, of course). Doesn't sound much like free access to me. Most people here think it's unacceptable; others feel like it's a first step.
      It's clear that it's not just governor Emilio that's backing Villalobos, but higher-ups in the federal government too.
      I find it hard to believe that they'll take the gate down, especially if they want everyone out by 6 PM. How are they going to keep people from coming back?
      But I do believe in miracles, and at this point that's what I think it'll take. 

============

State Police evicting residents

 Area residents - and the persons evicted - had hoped that the beach would be reopened in time for the Christmas holidays.

Numerous lawsuits have been filed against the Guadalajara-based developer who is said to be living on the Tenacatita Beach.

State police - allegedly enforcing a court order - seized the area August 4, evicting as many as 800 persons and seizing beachfront lots owned by Mexican and non-Mexican residents.

 

La Manz message board post says Tenacatita beach fence is down

LA MANZANILLA, Jalisco, Mexico - The saga of whether Tenacatita Beach is open again to the public is like a ping-pong ball.

Yes, No, Yes, No, Maybe?

The La Manzanilla message board today contained a plea for more information, after several individuals reported that the fence is indeed down and the beach open.

Also included in the posting was information that a former restaurant owner had plans to move back to the beach, with the cooking facilities on one side of the road, beachside palapas on the other.

Here is a link to the posting: Another posting on Tenacatita Beach

Report says this fence is gone

Rumors were too optimistic, but Tenacatita Beach still may open

TENACATITA, Jalisco, Mexico - The reported rumors that Jose Villalobos was about to withdraw from the  lands he seized along Tenacatita Bay and the ocean might have been just that, rumors.

But in a story in today's La Jornada, it appears there might be a chance that Villalobos is willing to sign an agreement that will result in the highway being opened.

Here is a link to the google translation of the story: La Jornada writes about Tenacatita takeover

A force of armed men took over the area August 4, routing nearly 800 residents from their homes and businesses, claiming that Villalobos had won a court case giving him sole ownership of 42 hectares through his corporation.

Since that time, numerous lawsuits have been filed and demonstrations by local residents have been held at the gates blocking the state-financed highway into the beach area. Demonstrators and members of the press were repelled this fall by security guards and/or police - by being sprayed with chemicals.

Here is a video of that incident:

Rumors flying that Jose Villalobos ordered out of Tenacatita

LA MANZANILLA, Jalisco, Mexico - The ongoing occupation of the Tenacatita area was featured on the La Manzanilla message board today.

The Tenacatita area was seized August 4 by police under the direction of Guadalajara developer Jose Villalobos who claims that he has a valid court order ceding him ownership of the property.

Eviction of residents in August

Besides evicting nearly 800 Mexican citizens along the bay side of Tenacatita, he also seized oceanfront land owned by Americans, Canadians and Mexicans.

Since seizing the land, he had bulldozed most of the beachfront palapas and several buildings.

His occupying security forces have denied access to the public, and is several instances have repelled people by force to keep them from entering the area.

Numerous lawsuits have been filed against him, citing the unconstitutionality of the seizure, as well as criticizing incidents of brutality on the part of the police who evicted residents.

Here is the posting from the La Manz board:

Some residents of La Manzanilla just came into my office and told me the following story.
They went to Tenacatita today, got through the gate by giving the guard their ID, really easy.
On the way out of town they stopped at a restaurant. The man there told them
that Villalobos had to be out of Tenacatita in 3 day's. That he was going to be ordered
to pay restitution for the damage he caused but that he would probably claim bankruptcy.
They said that the Feds? had deemed his deed to the property to be invalid.
Seems the people are ecstatic about the news.
Can anyone verify any of this?

Palapa Joe's in La Manzanilla set to host 'open mic' night Saturday

LA MANZANILLA, Jalisco, Mexico - Palapa Joe's restaurant in La Manzanilla will be having an open mic night Saturday (Dec. 4) beginning at 7:30 p.m. - mas o menos.


According to La Manzanilla's Lois Lane, this is the fifth year that the restaurant/bar will be hosting musicians, jokesters, poetry readings - and just about anything else for anyone willing to stand up and perform.

The Saturday event will be taking place in the remodeled restaurant, which added outside seating - and lots of seating at the new bar.

Here is a link to a blog about one of the open mic nights last year: Captain's Blog - Grab your ukuleles

The series has been growing in popularity year to year, with Palapa Joe's owner, Willie Mason, frequently contributing his music along with the group, the La Manzanilla Lounge Lizards.

Above is La Manzanilla resident Bernardo, crooning a tune last year.

Below are some additional photos from last year's open mic night in January.

The Celtic trio got the crowd tapping its feet

Gabriela de la Vega
reads her poetry -
in Spanish and English