Guillermo Paxton's Blog - Posts Tagged "juarez"
I hate self promotion
I am not one of the "cup half full" people. It is true. I am afraid that my negativity is the same part of my nature that enables me to mingle with drug dealers, pimps and other types that are at the fringe of society, and quite frankly, I am there with them as it is. To self-promote for me is right along with going to the dentist for teeth extraction.
Yet this is what must be done in order for books to be put into the hands of potential readers. No one is going to have pity on me and begin promoting THE PLAZA. Cormac McCarthy isn't going to "put in a good word" for me with agents or traditional publishing companies (No Frills Buffalo is a small publisher and is considered an Indie publisher). I will have to promote myself to others in any form that I can and will have to swallow the bitter pill of rejection that inevitably comes with that. Books and other forms of art are subjective to the opinion and personal tastes of the person that is "appreciating" them. THE PLAZA, while it has an important message, is not for everyone. It is gruesome, horrific, and portrays the reality of a failed drug war and government in Juarez, Mexico. It is not a "feel good" book nor was it intended to be so. It does not offer a message of hope or provide a solution. It is my portrayal of a gritty and harsh life in Juarez during some of the most difficult years of Calderon's supposed drug war. The scenes of killings are all from factual events, most of which I investigated thoroughly despite the risks involved.
During my investigations I met awful people that were as amoral as some of my characters. I also met heroes. Selfless people who love their country and their people and were willing to die for their beliefs. They inspired me to write THE PLAZA and try to bring to light the reality of the consequences of continuing the harsh, rigid stance that we have with drug policies instead of really looking at ways to be effective and battle the root of the problem instead of the effects.
If you read THE PLAZA and genuinely enjoy it, or find it to be of some value, please do let your friends know about it. I cannot hope to repay anyone for doing that, except a sincere thank you.
Yet this is what must be done in order for books to be put into the hands of potential readers. No one is going to have pity on me and begin promoting THE PLAZA. Cormac McCarthy isn't going to "put in a good word" for me with agents or traditional publishing companies (No Frills Buffalo is a small publisher and is considered an Indie publisher). I will have to promote myself to others in any form that I can and will have to swallow the bitter pill of rejection that inevitably comes with that. Books and other forms of art are subjective to the opinion and personal tastes of the person that is "appreciating" them. THE PLAZA, while it has an important message, is not for everyone. It is gruesome, horrific, and portrays the reality of a failed drug war and government in Juarez, Mexico. It is not a "feel good" book nor was it intended to be so. It does not offer a message of hope or provide a solution. It is my portrayal of a gritty and harsh life in Juarez during some of the most difficult years of Calderon's supposed drug war. The scenes of killings are all from factual events, most of which I investigated thoroughly despite the risks involved.
During my investigations I met awful people that were as amoral as some of my characters. I also met heroes. Selfless people who love their country and their people and were willing to die for their beliefs. They inspired me to write THE PLAZA and try to bring to light the reality of the consequences of continuing the harsh, rigid stance that we have with drug policies instead of really looking at ways to be effective and battle the root of the problem instead of the effects.
If you read THE PLAZA and genuinely enjoy it, or find it to be of some value, please do let your friends know about it. I cannot hope to repay anyone for doing that, except a sincere thank you.
Armando "El Choco" Rodriguez
All of the scenes in THE PLAZA are based on actual events. The majority of the characters are based on real people I met or researched, and some are a conglomerate of several. Saul Saavedra is based on Armando (El Choco) Rodriguez, a man I admire very much.
He reported on the widespread corruption within the government in Chihuahua and had information in his possession that linked many high-ranking officials with the mafia when he was assassinated.
One can only imagine being threatened, and worse, one's family, constantly by dirty cops, assassins and government officials. Armando's last days must have been horrifying, and I did my best to portray that in THE PLAZA.
Sadly, Armando's crime goes unresolved, as well as dozen's of other reporters that have gone missing or been killed.
Regards,
GP
http://newspapertree.com/features/312...
He reported on the widespread corruption within the government in Chihuahua and had information in his possession that linked many high-ranking officials with the mafia when he was assassinated.
One can only imagine being threatened, and worse, one's family, constantly by dirty cops, assassins and government officials. Armando's last days must have been horrifying, and I did my best to portray that in THE PLAZA.
Sadly, Armando's crime goes unresolved, as well as dozen's of other reporters that have gone missing or been killed.
Regards,
GP
http://newspapertree.com/features/312...
Making victims criminals
In Juarez, a group of wealthy businessmen have pushed for a new law that will penalize those people that pay extortion money. The Chihuahua state congress is currently evaluating the proposition, however ridiculous it may be.
Very wealthy businessmen probably don't pay extortioners because they have armed security for themselves and their family, and their businesses may not even be those targeted, like import/export businesses, hospitals, etc. The people that are the primary targets of extortion have smaller businesses, like Mom and Pop shops, food stands, bars, and other "walk-in" types.
The reason these people choose to pay is because they fear for their lives and law enforcement in Mexico is not only corrupt and ineffective, but often times they are the very ones that are involved in the extortion. There have been many cases where a person has gone to the police for help and is found dead shortly thereafter.
This law, if approved, will only compound the problem by adding economic sanctions to those who are found guilty of paying extortion money.
Gerardo D. is a friend of mine that had a small store that sold school supplies and stationary (papeleria) on the corner of the street where I lived in Juarez. On one single day he had to pay two different groups AND the Federal police that were assigned to "protect" us in Juarez from the drug war violence. His son was kidnapped. He was kidnapped. His business is now closed.
What these rich businessmen should really do is propose ways to end the corruption within the police force. With a working police force, full of well-trained officers that believe in their country and their people, Juarez' citizens could feel confident in reporting extortioners and other crimes.
Very wealthy businessmen probably don't pay extortioners because they have armed security for themselves and their family, and their businesses may not even be those targeted, like import/export businesses, hospitals, etc. The people that are the primary targets of extortion have smaller businesses, like Mom and Pop shops, food stands, bars, and other "walk-in" types.
The reason these people choose to pay is because they fear for their lives and law enforcement in Mexico is not only corrupt and ineffective, but often times they are the very ones that are involved in the extortion. There have been many cases where a person has gone to the police for help and is found dead shortly thereafter.
This law, if approved, will only compound the problem by adding economic sanctions to those who are found guilty of paying extortion money.
Gerardo D. is a friend of mine that had a small store that sold school supplies and stationary (papeleria) on the corner of the street where I lived in Juarez. On one single day he had to pay two different groups AND the Federal police that were assigned to "protect" us in Juarez from the drug war violence. His son was kidnapped. He was kidnapped. His business is now closed.
What these rich businessmen should really do is propose ways to end the corruption within the police force. With a working police force, full of well-trained officers that believe in their country and their people, Juarez' citizens could feel confident in reporting extortioners and other crimes.
Serial rapist (and murderer?) found in Juarez-finally
A huge break for the police, and a stroke of luck for a seventeen year old Juarez girl.
Police answered a complaint call of a fight in a bar called Los Lobos. While breaking up the fight and sending the crowd home,the police found a girl upstairs, clothes ripped, strapped to a chair with chains. She accused the owner of having raped her. And it gets worse.
The owner's son was the one who tied her so that his father could rape her. And two other employees of the bar knew what was happening and never said a word.
With as many teenage girls that have gone missing in Juarez, this would be an excellent place to start looking for connections to other missing girls.
I spoke this morning with one of the investigating officers. He stated that the son has admitted that this was not the first time. I will update the blog as more information is available.
Video of bar and the arrested: http://www.diario.com.mx/diariotv/vid...
Police answered a complaint call of a fight in a bar called Los Lobos. While breaking up the fight and sending the crowd home,the police found a girl upstairs, clothes ripped, strapped to a chair with chains. She accused the owner of having raped her. And it gets worse.
The owner's son was the one who tied her so that his father could rape her. And two other employees of the bar knew what was happening and never said a word.
With as many teenage girls that have gone missing in Juarez, this would be an excellent place to start looking for connections to other missing girls.
I spoke this morning with one of the investigating officers. He stated that the son has admitted that this was not the first time. I will update the blog as more information is available.
Video of bar and the arrested: http://www.diario.com.mx/diariotv/vid...
Justice has failed-again
The seventeen year old victim found chained to a chair in the upstairs of a bar in Juarez has now changed her story. She originally accused the owner's son of having chained her to the chair so that the sixty year old bar owner could rape her. Now she says that she allowed herself to be chained and in fact was in a sexual relation with said man.
My sources in Juarez say that the young woman's family was threatened by the mafia and that the bar owner is actually involved with a cartel. The court has thrown out the case for lack of evidence and because the police had in fact done a sloppy job of forming the charges against the bar owner. Apparently finding a naked seventeen year old girl chained to a chair with signs of violence, with an initial statement of the old man raped me and his son tied me down so that he could do it is just flimsy evidence at best in Juarez.
What could have been a starting point for a serious investigation of a pair of probable serial rapists and possibly murderers has now turned into yet another travesty of justice.
My sources in Juarez say that the young woman's family was threatened by the mafia and that the bar owner is actually involved with a cartel. The court has thrown out the case for lack of evidence and because the police had in fact done a sloppy job of forming the charges against the bar owner. Apparently finding a naked seventeen year old girl chained to a chair with signs of violence, with an initial statement of the old man raped me and his son tied me down so that he could do it is just flimsy evidence at best in Juarez.
What could have been a starting point for a serious investigation of a pair of probable serial rapists and possibly murderers has now turned into yet another travesty of justice.
Two years after the exodus…
We are coming upon the second year anniversary since we left Juarez, Mexico. The situation has changed a lot since then; murders are down about eighty percent. I look at the news everyday and wonder about my old neighborhood and the wonderful people that lived close to me.
We now live in a small town just west of Fort Worth. We can leave things on the porch all night and they are still there in the morning. Our house doesn’t have bars on the windows. Haven’t heard about or seen any carjackings (in Juarez, three of my neighbors had been carjacked). No explosions, no executions, and my wife and I have been able to go dancing more than we had in ages.
Still, I miss Juarez. I miss my neighbors, even the guy that would always show up when I was making carne asada in the grill on the porch. My thoughts and prayers go out to Juarez, Mexico, where a piece of my soul still resides.
We now live in a small town just west of Fort Worth. We can leave things on the porch all night and they are still there in the morning. Our house doesn’t have bars on the windows. Haven’t heard about or seen any carjackings (in Juarez, three of my neighbors had been carjacked). No explosions, no executions, and my wife and I have been able to go dancing more than we had in ages.
Still, I miss Juarez. I miss my neighbors, even the guy that would always show up when I was making carne asada in the grill on the porch. My thoughts and prayers go out to Juarez, Mexico, where a piece of my soul still resides.
