Tenacatita lawsuits over illegal land seizures likely over for most plaintiffs

TENACATITA, Jalisco, Mexico - The stalag-like gates, barbed wire, surly unshaven guards with machine guns and the barking attack dogs will likely remain in place now, keeping the public (and legitimate landowners) from going back to the beautiful beaches here, once enjoyed by thousands.

Many of the people who sued the Rodenas Corporation (and its politically well-connected owner Jose Villalobos of Guadalajara) for its illegal - and violent - takeover of land August 4, 2010 learned this week their lawsuits have been heard and legal arguments turned down by the courts.

Three legal cases (of many filed) might be able to move forward.

In the surprise attack and armed takeover, nearly 800 Mexican citizens - and few gringos - were rousted from homes by 200 police and forced to leave at gunpoint.

Their possessions were seized, stores looted. A few household items were returned later.

A number of unarmed people were hurt in the assault, though none of the armed men who assaulted the property owners were arrested or convicted.

The bad news for the plaintiffs - whose property was taken - came after nearly two years of litigation. They learned that their amparo cases have been thrown out and attorneys say there really doesn't seem to be any further avenues for appeal. Many non-Mexicans had purchased properties along the ocean. A few had built houses and in one case a small RV park. One of those houses is being used as a headquarters for the guards.

In Mexico, guns, money and political influence seems to have overruled good public policy and potentially good relations with future investors.

Villalobos has indicated he wants to build a golf course and resort along the scenic beach, but investors apparently are shy about contributing to his dream. Perhaps it's having their cars searched on the way in to look at the property, lunging guard dogs or the guards themselves.

Below is a photo of the armed gunmen evicting some of residents of Tenacatita in 2010. Many of the evictees hold titles on their land, signed by the President of Mexico.

Courts make rulings, but the gates at Tenacatita stay up

TENACATITA, Jalisco, Mexico - Although Mexican courts have been ruling against Jose Villalobos and his forced takeover of Tenacatita, the gates, the guards, the fences and the attack dogs remain.

In that takeover August 4, 2010, nearly 800 Mexican citizens were roused from homes by 200 police and forced to leave at gunpoint. Their possessions were seized, stores looted. A few household items were returned later.

A number of unarmed people were hurt in the assault.

Most recently, people are the area were heartened by Villalobos' loss of the federal concession to the beach. There was a great deal of speculation that he would have to open the beach by Semana Santa, then the speculation said maybe April 30.

But since then, everything remains status quo. Anyone trying to get to the beach still has to pass through an ugly chain link checkpoint, where unpleasant guards carrying automatic weapons demand to search cars, require that identification be left at the guard shack and generally act as though anyone headed to the beach is a suspect.

Here is a brief report posted on the People's Guide to Mexico:
People's Guide to Mexico

In the meantime, some individual lawsuits, brought by American and Canadian landowners (whose oceanfront properties were seized by hundreds of armed guards in the employ of Villalobos) have had hearings in Guadalajara courts.

Rulings on their requests for amparos (injunctions) are pending.

Here is a photo of what Tenacatita Bay Beach looked like before Villalobos seized it and bulldozed the many restaurants and concessionaire facilities there.

Happier days, before the illegal seizure by Jose Villalobos

Court cases moving ahead, after a long delay

TENACATITA, Jalisco, Mexico - The lawsuits filed against Guadalajara developer Jose Villalobos and his corporation (Rodenas) are finally being heard in Guadalajara courts.

Several of the American plaintiffs who are seeking amparos against Villalobos report that their witnesses - who are testifying about ownership of the properties in question - are being allowed to give their testimony to the courts.

The witnesses have been on standby for more than a year in some cases, as each case hearing has been repeatedly postponed. In many cases, the postponements were tied to a lack of documents required by the court.

The sudden flood of testimony comes in the wake of a judgment against Villalobos, telling him to return the land to its rightful owners and restore the properties. He has appealed and continues to hold the land he took by force along Tenacatita Bay and the nearby ocean beach.

He evicted hundreds of Mexican citizens and non-Mexicans from their homes early one morning at gunpoint.

The persons forced off their land said that the people who chased them off then looted their properties and stole most of their possessions.

Since that August 2010 incident, Villalobos destroyed buildings, erected fences and has the land patrolled around the clock. Anyone attempting to drive to the beach is required to go through a checkpoint where very unfriendly armed guards search cars, demand identification and tell people that they can go to the beach, but not take any photos of the land.

Persons who attempt to walk down the ocean beach are rebuffed by guards pointing automatic weapons at them - despite Mexican law which says beachfronts are public property.

Below is a photo of the formerly public Tenacatita Bay Beach, taken from the deck of sailboat in a race last month.



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Road-widening project near Costalegre airport site

ARROYO SECO, Jalisco, Mexico - Admiral Fox and I rolled out of Arroyo Seco Monday, headed to Puerto Vallarta for a short stay - and to participate in the Banderas Bay Regatta next week.

But before we left Sunday, we quizzed some of the Arroyo Seco folks who seem the most knowledgeable about the road, lagoon and marina projects people are talking about.

On the Arroyo Seco beach, where it abuts the El Tecuan property, there are orange survey stakes in place, possibly indicating the site of a road.

But it was the news about when this supposed project(s) would take place that was the most interesting.

According to one Arroyo Seco village leader, the government is going great guns to get the airport north of Chamela operational. That is supposed to be phase one, he said. Second, the work on the lagoon, possibly linking it to the waterways leading all the way to Tenacatita. Third, the marina project will be done.

That was all spinning through my mind when we came past the airstrip on our way north.

Out in the middle of the wilderness (but within a few kilometers of the new airstrip), earth moving equipment is turning Highway 200 into a four-lane highway.

No, I am not kidding.

The construction zone is several kilometers long and they are working fast. I didn't see any signs of a new mall going in, so I suppose it is to serve the new airport.

My question is, what would they name an airport out there? Costalegre International?


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Arroyo Seco project linked to Tenacatita?

TENACATITA, Jalisco, Mexico - The guards are still in the guardhouse and as unfriendly as ever.

But a new project just announced for the El Tecuan/Arroyo Seco area might be somehow linked to the illegal seizure of land on the Tenacatita Bay and Beach.

This was posted in the Captain's Blog:

http://stardatejune07.blogspot.com/


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Big project in Arroyo Seco may be linked to Tenacatita

http://stardatejune07.blogspot.com/2012/03/ahoy-welcome-to-marina-arroyo-seco.html

Sorry for the lame link, but my iPad had some limitations for blog posting.... Check out the Captain's Blog...

In a few days, we will be in Vallarta where I can post from a computer...

Gracias...