Hushhh... Money

Translated from the Mexico City daily Reforma, May 16, 2000

copyright 2000 Consorcio Interamericano de Comunicación SA de CV

"He recieves his salary in jail"

"TV Azteca executive reveals that they still pay Mario Bezares"

"Martín Luna shows up for subpoena"

"They ask him 400 questions"

se buscan transcripciones: narconews@hotmail.com

By ROLANDO HERRERA/Reforma/México

MEXICO CITY: The comedian Mario Rodríguez Bezares, who confronts criminal charges for his alleged participation in the homicide of Paco Stanley, continues receiving, since June 7, 1999 -- they day they assassinated the entertaining TV Host -- a monthly payment from TV Azteca.

City prosecutor sources inform that Martín Luna Ortigoza, director of production and channels of TV Azteca, who yesterday submitted to questioning, said that the TV station pays 50 thousand pesos a month to Bezares as an exclusive artist.

Narco News commentary: 50,000 pesos is about $4,500 US dollars per month. And the rent is free. Not bad work if you can get it.

The executive, under an order of apprehension for not answering a subpoena, presented himself to authorities at 11 a.m. He answered questions until 10:15 p.m. after some 400 questions that the prosecution formulated.

Because he presented himself nervously, he was asked to take a lie detector test, which he declined.

Narco News commentary: Not very long ago in Mexico City there were a different set of tests for potential witnesses. In many provinces -- even in New York City -- there still exists the spectre of torture.

Ask Rudolfo Montiel of Guerrero. Electric shocks, suffocation, painful low-budget tortures that would make most gringos ill just to think about.

TV Azteca, one of two stations that dominate the national market, is complaining that their rights to decline a lie detector test, are, well, um... okay, they would change the subject at this point in the inquiry.

And now that, in the past two years, the fear of physical torture has evaporated in the world's largest city a democratic conscience has spread sooner there than in other cities. But all New Yorkers ever hear is how it's Mexico City that's unsafe. Back to the Reforma article:

In addition to Luna Ortigoza, other TV Azteca executives remain with orders of apprehension and will have to appear in the coming days: president and owner Ricardo Salinas, press secretary Jorge Mendoza and vice president of news Tristán Canales.

In a press release, TV Azteca said that the amount of time that Luna Ortigoza had to answer questions indicates that the city prosecutor doesn't seek information about the Stanley case, but rather to harrass and intimidate the business executives.

Also of Interest:

Reforma takes two cyber-polls

The first disappeared from the Reforma web site:

Do you agree or disagree that the PGR (Attorney General's office) should pay for the security of TV Azteca host Lilly Téllez?


Yes, I agree................................... 23%
No, I disagree............................. 72%
I don't care...................................... 6%

It only received 209 votes before it disappeared. We assume that the disappearance was due to technical difficulties and Reforma will have those results right back on line.

This next poll, last we checked, was still on the Reforma site

It had a whopping 1963 votes and asked:

The city government and TV Azteca are fighting in public.

Who is right?

TV Azteca...................... 32%
City Government ............ 42%
Both.................................... 2%
Neither........................... 21%
I don't know................... 3%

These polls are not scientifically accurate, but we find them interesting.

Otra vez:

se buscan transcripciones: narconews@hotmail.com