Donations to help Jason Pettit after his house was illegally razed

[Sandra Ward]

As you may already know, the home of the musician Jason Pettit, which he had legally constructed on land in Carbonera, was destroyed on October 11 by neighbors claiming to own his land. During the demolition of his small house, all his possessions there were stolen. Although Jason is taking legal action to resolve this situation, he may not recover his instruments and household possessions.

If you would like to make a donation to help Jason replace some of his stolen property, you can do so in either of two ways: (1) by using your debit or credit card and the GTOLIST PayPal Member Donation link; and (2) by making a cash donation at the Gene Byron Museum in Marfil.

Your donation will be acknowledged, and Jason will be informed of your generosity--unless, of course, you prefer that your donation be made anonymously.

Thanks,
Sandra Ward

[doncoulter]

On October 12, the newspaper a.m. reported on the destruction of the houses and other dwellings in La Carbonera.

In summary, the article states that after a three-year legal process, a judge concluded that the 82 hectares on which the dwellings had been constructed belonged to an ejido, and ordered that the land must be returned to the 54 families of the ejido as its rightful owners. The razing of the dwellings was pursuant to the judge's order, who was on the scene to make sure the legal order was carried out. Apparently the person who subdivided and sold the land did not have legal title to it. Over the years there were several physical confrontations between the ejidatorios and what the article refers to as the invaders.

If there's a moral to the story, it's that anyone buying property here must take care that the title is clear and that the seller is the true owner.

Here is the full text of the article:

Destruyen casas en La Carbonera
NORBERTO SALDA?A
Publicado el: 12 octubre 2012

Apoyados por varios elementos de las Fuerzas del Estado y polic?as ministeriales, bajo la orden de un juez penal, se destruyeron m?s de 20 casas de cart?n y cinco m?s de material, as? como 30 cercas que estaban distribuidas en 82 hect?reas en el ejido de La Carbonera.

Y es que ayer, el juez orden? la restituci?n de las 82 hect?reas a 54 familias del ejido, despu?s de 3 a?os de disputa legal.

Las hect?reas hab?an sido invadidas por un hombre identificado como Jos? Manuel Salgado Arriaga, quien presuntamente sin t?tulos de propiedad ni escrituras se apoder? de los terrenos que vendi? y regal? a varias personas.

Anteriormente, los ejidatarios e invasores hab?an sostenido varios enfrentamientos y amenazas de ri?as con piedras y palos por la disputa de los terrenos.

En algunas partes de los terrenos ya hab?a construidas varias casas de l?minas que fueron derribadas al mediod?a de ayer con dos m?quinas.

?Se est? llevando a cabo la restituci?n de 82 hect?reas, de 1008 que conforman el ejido de Calderones, es un asunto que se sirvi? en los tribunales, hay una denuncia y una sentencia, tambi?n hay una orden de aprehensi?n contra el invasor.

?La persona que hab?a invadido las hect?reas de nombre Jos? Manuel Salgado Arriaga, es quien vendi?, lote? y regal? varias extensiones de tierra?, explic? Eduardo Lachica Astogra, representante del Frente C?vico Euquerio Guerrero.

El juez penal acompa?ado de varios elementos y el supuesto due?o recorrieron parte de las hect?reas para que se acatara la resoluci?n.

?Adem?s del despojo, el supuesto responsable hab?a incurrido en agravio al desarrollo urbano, porque luego del despojo vendi? y regal? varios terrenos que formaban parte de las hect?reas?, sostuvo.

Agreg? que existen m?s involucrados que se adjudican la propiedad de otras hect?reas del ejido, incluso dijo que hay funcionarios y ex funcionarios municipales implicados en la disputa de las tierras.

[Sandra Ward]

After reading Don Coulter's comments about Jason Pettit's situation, I sent him the following message:

"I was told that after illegally constructed shanties were destroyed and the judge left the scene at Carbonera, your neighbors persuaded the back-hoe driver to destroy your legally constructed house as well."

Here is Jason's reply:

"You are exactly right. The article is about a different situation. Different seller, different land, different people, totally different.

Don assumed it was the same. He is wrong and I have emailed him."