In response to continuing fallout from the recent electronic music blowout held at Ajijic’s Tecoluta soccer field, Chapala Mayor Joaquin Huerta has issued a formal apology and a firm promise that he will henceforth prohibit all events of that type in the municipality.
Huerta presented the written pledge to a group of some 30 demonstrators gathered at the steps of city hall on Monday, July 8. A half-dozen expatriate residents mixed in with the crowd of outraged village natives who united to express their objection to the noise and damage caused by an estimated throng of 3,000 young outsiders who attended the 22-hour rave.
The protestors arrived with hand-lettered signs emblazoned with slogans such as “Ajijic deserves respect. Ajijic demands respect,” “Ajijic is cultural. This event was not” and “Is this any way to curb delinquency?”
According to local scuttlebutt, demonstration organizers originally planned to blast city hall with the same sort of electronic music that deprived most of the town of its sleep on the night of June 29 and well into the following day. Instead they opted for steady thumping on large native drum and burning copal incense, a traditional indigenous method of spiritual cleansing.
Initially, Chapala’s secretary general Nicolas Padilla, press chief Roberto Arroyo and Ajijic alderman Carlos Soto appeared to address the group’s grievances and invite a couple of spokesmen inside for a private audience with the town’s chief executive. The protestors insisted that the mayor come outside to meet them face-to-face.
Huerta appeared moments later, solemnly listening as Ajijic town administrator Hector España read a short missive highlighting the massive number of complaints generated by the rave and a request for an official explanation of the local government’s role in the event.
Huerta answered with the recitation of his own written statement reading as follows:
“I want to manifest my commitment that we will not permit, under any circumstances, events such as the one that took place last weekend in Ajijic. I assume responsibility for the authorization of this event, proposed to us as an “Artistic/Cultural Marathon,” which was not as such, given that, as it became known to the populace of Ajijic, the event had other characteristics, for which I reiterate my commitment that we will not permit more events of this nature in the municipality of Chapala.”
Referring to several clandestine rave parties that have taken place recently without city hall’s consent, the mayor asked for public support to help the government detect and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
He went on to explain that the commercial outfit behind the Tribe Festival rave paid a permit fee of 10,000 pesos deposited to the municipal treasury, plus a 3,000-peso contribution to the municipal police force for enhanced vigilance in the vicinity of the event. An additional 1,000-peso donation was turned over to Tecoluta soccer field caretaker Luis Ramos for rehabilitating the grounds.
Speaking to the Reporter as the demonstration broke up, Ramos confirmed that Chapala Sports Commission Director Jesus Hernandez has provided ample manpower and materials to repair damages inflicted on the neighborhood soccer pitch. A visit to the site later that day revealed that supplies of fresh earth, water and fertilizer have been working magic to restore large bare spots left at center field. Ramos is confident that the grounds will be in adequate conditions to resume regular practice and game schedules this weekend.
Meanwhile, España says he is satisfied with both the mayor’s apology and his assurances to avoid similar decisional errors in the future.