MEXICO CITY — The embassies of France, Italy, Portugal and the Netherlands in Mexico have expressed to Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs “grave concern” about the evictions of 16 hotels in Tulum, Quintana Roo on June 17. The embassies asked the foreign ministry to conduct a “deep and serious investigation” into the case.
Through a letter bearing the seals of the four embassies, a copy of which was obtained by Expansion and Mexicans Against Corruption and Impunity, representatives of European countries denounced that on that date several hotels, some merchants and foreign investors apparently were evicted without notice.
“The above mentioned embassies can not judge the status of each evicted hotel but want to appeal to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the competent authorities to make a thorough and serious investigation to determine all righteousness and according to the Law the rights of operators and investors of hotels in that area of Tulum,” reads the diplomatic letter dated July 5, 2016.
On Wednesday July 6, Expansion and Mexicans Against Corruption and Impunity published a report called “The Pirates of Borge” which alleged looting of property is institutionalized in Quintana Roo. The report alleged institutional machinery composed of public officials sponsored by Governor Roberto Borge have snatched the property of exposed companies, individuals and ejidatarios through labor lawsuits and other mechanisms without giving a hearing to the accused.
Letter from European embassies to Mexican government demanding investigation of expropriated properties in Tulum.
This network is responsible for fraud and waste of houses, luxury apartments, buildings and land to individuals to appropriate them or sell them at half their value. The scheme also dispossesses by freezing and withdrawal of money from bank accounts.
Report: The Pirates of Borge in Quintana Roo
Tulum has not been exempt from these spoils. Through labor, civil and commercial judgments from 2011 to date, the authorities have forcibly evicted 28 farms, 26 hotels and 13 private cabins of the coastal strip of ejido Jose Maria Pino Suarez.
The largest and most recent case, referred to by the diplomatic embassies of the four countries, took place on June 17, when owners and tenants of 16 hotels and three farms were evicted as a result of an oral civil trial that the defendants were never part of or notified of dispossession.
Expelled from the Caribbean paradise of Tulum … to hell
Landowners and investors are asking federal authorities to intervene. The Mexican government said it had no position regarding this situation. The Foreign Ministry said that it is evaluating the issue and declined to give its position.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in these four countries now calling on the Mexican government to thoroughly investigate the situation in which were affected properties and investments of its citizens, amounted to $2.067 billion USD in 2015.
According to the Ministry of Economy, in that year, the Netherlands and France invested $836.8 million USD each in FDI, while Italy invested $393.3 million USD and Portugal $0.2 million USD.
In 2015, Mexico received a total FDI $28,382.3 million, of which, Quintana Roo received $284.9 million USD, which represented 1% of the total.
We’re not leaving MEXICO
Simonne Portaluppi is an Italian citizen who arrived in Mexico in 2003. On Friday June 17 a clerk — whose name he does not know — reached his hotel Villa Las Estrellas to take his property.
“I invested a million and a half dollars to build my hotel in a few years, first with six rooms and then three others; Today I can not say that I have nothing. We’ve been talking with our Consulate for what happened to see how they can help. ”
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Source: expansion.mx
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