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"
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: