Movements

It’s again two weeks later and...we're back at Roberto’s office for the third time this season. Roberto has been waiting to see us, wanting to set up another meeting with Sr. Yee. Schedules are finally meshed and we find ourselves seated in Roberto’s back room. At least Roberto, Marcia, and Tony are sitting. That damn sciatic nerve. Shots of cortisone had had little long term effect.

Tony is assuring us that indeed the forestry agent will eventually visit Saul's ficticious parcel. There’s talk between him and Roberto of the possibility of making an example of this clown. Roberto seemed sort of hungry for this.

Tony is preparing the documentation that goes along with official eco-disaster complaint. He’s got the “after destruction” pictures but he’d really like some before shots. Something we assured him we had, but right then not with us. He did a thorough explanation of how with all he needed he’d make three copies. One of these copies then would be sent to LaPaz, the capital, for their approval. The system works “top...down.” The local guy doesn’t dare make a move until he’s got the O.K. from above.

The Lapaz office will always make decision as to whether action will or will not be taken. The politics, from those on high, will be scrutinized meticulously before launching any type attack, of course.

If Saul has family involvement at that level, which is entirely possible, if he is politically connected in any way with those near this course of power...well, lets just say that there’s great chance that any complaint might get shelved. We understand that risk.

On the subject of the well, Toni is not yet satisfied with lack of evidence that permit does not exist. He has a friend who is going to check the records in LaPaz, just in case Trojillo, some how, talked his way into some kind of documentation there. Highly unlikely, he opinioned. But he just wanted to make sure.

If nothing is found, and if we jump the family and political hurtles cleanly there in the capital, he’s certain strong action will follow. Not only would the Big Man be fined, but his well would be dismantled, capped. I like the thought of that very much, as you might imagine.

The meeting’s over. The waiting game, we’re already resigned to it. We don’t leave unhappy by what we perceive as, poco a poco, forward motion. To avoid a long ride to Cd. Constitucion we call Ernesto’s dental office to check if a trip there is essential, can be avoided. Setting in the truck, ug, just the thought of it was a great pain in the leg.

We get lucky and do get Ernesto. He tells us that right then we’re not needed. But, the following Monday, an engineer from LaPaz will be showing up to verify our rancho’s positions.

“What?” I respond incredulously. “Why another ingenerio?” I’ve lost count of how many times El Carrizalito’s been surveyed.

“Yes,” he fills me in, “the Tribunal Agraria judges are asking for a third and impartial opinion.” The ejido had had an Ingeniro fix the possession of the rancho, and because it was their man who they paid, they’d gotten results they wanted. We’d paid for another and gotten the results we’d expected. Now there had to be this third and impartial one, one name picked from hat with three, who’d be paid by both the ejido and us: $10,000 pesos. Ernesto'd already paid our $5,000 pesos.

“You must be there David. The ejido will have people there, too. You must show this Ingeniro all the historic points, the ruins, the cemetery, everything.”

O.K. O.K. I’d be there. I’d do my absolute best at selling our position.

Damn...another Ingeniro?

Email: david@dondavidonbaja.com