Hi Friends,
I want to let you know that at the present time we are still planning on embarking on our 2010 Mission to Mexico Trip April 10th – 14th. I have attached the latest information out of Tijuana. Make sure to read the articles and check the links. We will continue to monitor the situation and if we find that it is too dangerous to go, we will cancel the trip to Mexico and look for some other servant opportunities. I also want to pass on the word from the van rental company as told to Paul Baldwin: “In the last 5 weeks, they have sent 15 vans per week to Mexico and none of the groups had any incidents.” Please continue to pray for peace throughout the world, especially Mexico.
Peace, Tom Hoegel

Dear Esperanza Groups,

Although the media attention regarding security along the border region continues to remain grim, Esperanza groups continue to enjoy enriching, life changing, safe experiences in Tijuana. The link below provides video testimonies from our most recent volunteer group from Western Washington University. We understand the great difficulty the travel warning presents to group leaders, volunteers and parents alike, however, we still do not find reason to believe that U.S. volunteer groups have any reason to feel at risk in working with Esperanza. Below is a list of reasons why we believe this that you may also want to share with volunteers and family of all participants.

There have not been any acts of violence against U.S. volunteer groups in Mexico. In over 20 years of working in Tijuana, never have Esperanza volunteers experienced a dangerous situation that has put them in harms way.
Our staff knows the neighborhoods and city of which we work. They know the areas of concern, take security matters seriously and are familiar with our organization’s security procedures. Should our staff believe that it is unsafe for volunteer groups to be in Tijuana, group leaders will be the first to be contacted.
Our facility and communities in which we work are located outside of Tijuana proper and at no time is it necessary to travel in or through downtown Tijuana or to areas outside of the communities that we work.

Our executive director Josefina Pataky and Esperanza board member Gilda Vilaplano, met with the US consul general Stephan Kashkett in Tijuana this past week to get his take on the security situation. He expressed his frustration that Tijuana has been lumped into the statistics of the border region when it is clear that the violence to which the media refers is “primarily taking place in Juarez and Reynosa while the perception is that the warning is for the whole border region”. His sentiment echoes our own and that of the people in Tijuana who are being affected by this negative press. The current warning is in affect until April 12th and we are hopeful that there will be a reassessment at that time.

We continue to stay vigilant regarding all matters of security and will remain open and transparent with groups.

Thank you for the dedication you all have to our programs. We know the incredible effort it takes to create Esperanza groups, especially during this time. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if there is information that would be helpful or supportive.

Sincerely,
Aimee Khuu

Testimony from recent volunteer groups- 4/2/2010
Western Washington University

Security letter to volunteer groups- 3/19/2010

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs089/1102586872221/archive/1103211473076.html

Interview with Hugo Salinas, Chief of Staff for the Office of the Attorney General of Tijuana

http://esperanzaint.org/aboutus_tjsafety.html

Other online resources:

http://www.bajainsider.com/baja-california-travel/mexico-travel-warning.htm

http://www.bajainsider.com/baja-california-travel/images/torresletter.JPG

http://www.petethomasoutdoors.com/2010/01/rosarito-beach.html

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ahead-spring-break-state-dept-issues-travel-alert/story?id=9956535

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/20/travel-alert-hitting-city-in-wallet-mayor-says/

–
Aimee Khuu
Esperanza Registrar
206-228-2082
es----@------.com
www.esperanzaint.org

This entry was posted by Tom on Saturday, April 3rd, 2010 at 2:49 pm and is filed under Main, Mission to Mexico.