Posted on 02/28/2006 5:04:19 PM PST by SwinneySwitch
A mere 24 hours after two Canadian tourists were savagely murdered in their hotel room, the Mexican state prosecutor emphatically asserted that he had identified the two culprits. A day later, Bello Melchor Rodriguez y Carrillo added that the deaths of Domenico and Annunziata Ianiero were the result of a professional hit, and that the killers had scuttled home to Canada. The next day, Mr. Rodriguez claimed that there were now three probable suspects, and that robbery was also a possible motive, although he did not know whether anything was missing. As Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day declared with remarkable restraint, "This thing is taking on some bizarre proportions."
There are now enough eyewitness reports from the scene of the crime to suspect that Mexican authorities have seriously bungled the investigation. Worse, there are plausible reasons to believe they have produced convenient suspects to preserve their own vital tourism industry. It is time the Canadian government forcefully presented these concerns to the Mexican state and federal governments. And Canada should ensure that no suspects are extradited to Mexico to face charges without solid evidence against them. (So far, the purported felons appear to be two "soccer moms" from Thunder Bay.)
There are serious grounds for worry. In Mexico for their daughter's wedding, the Ianieros were staying in a luxurious Playa del Carmen resort in the state of Quintana Roo, south of Cancun. On Feb. 20, they were found with their throats slit. Although Mr. Rodriguez issued virtually instant bulletins on his miraculous progress, there is a huge gap between his blithe claims and reports from the scene. Tourists in the hotel say they were allowed to fly home without questioning. Two of the suspects were among those who boarded their charter flight unimpeded. Maids were mopping up blood in the hall within hours of the grisly discovery. Even the scene of the crime was dubiously secured. Tourists wandered freely along the corridor outside the room; one reportedly saw a corpse on the floor.
As if that were not bad enough, the bodies were apparently removed with haste from the hotel. Although the corpses are expected to be examined in Canada after autopsies in Mexico, they have reportedly been embalmed. The RCMP, although it offered to co-operate early last week, received an official request for assistance only on the weekend. This adds up to a very disturbing picture.
Mexico is our number-one foreign tourist destination. Nearly 500,000 Canadians visited in the first quarter of 2005 alone. After Hurricane Wilma tore through Quintana Roo last fall, Mexican President Vicente Fox toured the region, earmarking millions for reconstruction and tax credits, bidding farewell to stranded tourists with the optimistic wish, "See you again soon." The industry, in fact, is a lifeline. In a report last month, the Mexican Tourism Secretariat declared that it is now a state priority as a source of wealth, jobs and stability, worth fully 8 per cent of GDP in 2004. And Canada is the second-largest source of those tourists.
Quintana Roo's reputation, if not the nation's reputation, is now on the line. Only two months ago, two Europeans were murdered in nearby Tulum. As Mr. Day tersely noted, "They don't want to have any sense there's any dangers in their own country, but clearly at times there are." The Mexican government should take action. It is not just the killings that are marring its name. It is the botched investigation -- and the hauntingly apparent cover-up.
Playa Ping!
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That's sort of like living in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and traveling to South Central L.A. for vacation just because southern California is warmer than Wyoming.
"Mexico is our number-one foreign tourist destination. Nearly 500,000 Canadians visited in the first quarter of 2005 alone."
Anybody going to Mexico must realize the country follows a totally different legal system.
It is usually presumed that tourists visiting are the cause of crimes, because if they stayed away---no crime!! Eg. the crime took place because you came there.
You don't budge much from this opening premise, until you start bribing people.
All the while an outsider muddles through this 3rd world crap, the crime scene cools down, suspects disappear, etc.
Aruba, anyone?
Almost as bad as the ones that thin Cuba is the best place on earth to visit.. my wife's loud mouth aunt thinks it's great there... [/rolling eyes
The Mexican sewer has been robbing and murdering Americans for decades. Wake up!
I wouldn't visit Mexico if you paid me. I have zero interest in their loony toon culture or cuisine. If I was going to visit a poor 3rd world nation it would be an Asian one
The beaches along the Maya Riviera (Playa del Carmen) are among the world's most beautiful. The town itself is fun, although tourist oriented. Great food. Too bad this happened, but it won't keep me from going back there. You can choose from all inclusive hotels or condo's...much more reasonable than many of the caribbean islands.
I totally agree..Mexico has got some amazing beautiful and ecologically diverse places to visit and better value than some island getaways..Got sick twice in Mex but it would never stop me from going there again..same goes for other destinations..
a weird travel fact: i get so many health warnings when travelling to "developing countries" and none when travelling in Noram or EUrope but it was in Scandinavia where I had the worst experiences and not India nor Indonesia...amazing and non cliche! i ate normally in these countries...no bad result...maybe it is all psychological:)
Want poverty?
you got it!
Just remember that every one of those tourist destinations means big bucks for an elite that hates us and more squalor for the lady who does up your room.
ping
Canada Ping!
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"I wouldn't visit Mexico if you paid me. I have zero interest in their loony toon culture or cuisine. If I was going to visit a poor 3rd world nation it would be an Asian one"
I have lived in So. Cal. for 28 years, and have never been to Mexico : )
Women, especially soccer moms, are seldom involved in killings where the modus operandi involves slitting throats.
They might want to check and see if there were any tourists from the Mid East who seemed affronted by the casual bathing attire worn by Westerners.
"There are now enough eyewitness reports from the scene of the crime to suspect that Mexican authorities have seriously bungled the investigation."
The local policia and the federales bungled the investigation?
ANYTIME you have the Mexican local policia and the federales involved you're going to have a bungled investigation.
They bungle it just to cover up the bribes they have taken from the criminals.
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