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Mexico's 'Migrant Mountain' | Mexico's 'Migrant Mountain' |
(4 days later) | |
By Duncan Kennedy BBC News, Mexico | By Duncan Kennedy BBC News, Mexico |
Millions of migrants have crossed illegally from Mexico into the United States. Their experience could hardly be more real. But now at a controversial theme park in Mexico, tourists can pretend to be an illegal migrant. | Millions of migrants have crossed illegally from Mexico into the United States. Their experience could hardly be more real. But now at a controversial theme park in Mexico, tourists can pretend to be an illegal migrant. |
Tourists pretend to be illegal migrants who are chased and shot | Tourists pretend to be illegal migrants who are chased and shot |
Torch, check.Heavy boots, check.Willingness to hide under bushes, check.Ability to see in the dark, an advantage. | Torch, check.Heavy boots, check.Willingness to hide under bushes, check.Ability to see in the dark, an advantage. |
Preparation for what, you might think? A hike across Dartmoor?Try a night out in a theme park. | Preparation for what, you might think? A hike across Dartmoor?Try a night out in a theme park. |
But when I say theme park, do not think Alton Towers or Disneyland.Think, instead, illegal migrants. Because now you can pretend to be an illegal migrant at a theme park in Mexico. | But when I say theme park, do not think Alton Towers or Disneyland.Think, instead, illegal migrants. Because now you can pretend to be an illegal migrant at a theme park in Mexico. |
Mexican migrants | Mexican migrants |
They come to the Eco Alberto Park to be shot at, chased and to wade through fast-flowing rivers. | They come to the Eco Alberto Park to be shot at, chased and to wade through fast-flowing rivers. |
I myself developed a certain connection with one such river, but more on that later. | I myself developed a certain connection with one such river, but more on that later. |
Eco Alberto Park is about 700 miles from the border near IxmiquilpanFor the equivalent of $19.50 (£10), you can spend a night living like the millions of Mexicans who actually risked their lives crossing into the United States. | Eco Alberto Park is about 700 miles from the border near IxmiquilpanFor the equivalent of $19.50 (£10), you can spend a night living like the millions of Mexicans who actually risked their lives crossing into the United States. |
Except that here, the park is nowhere near the border and most people who turn up are about as likely to cross illegally into the United States as President George W Bush is to tunnel his way into Mexico. | Except that here, the park is nowhere near the border and most people who turn up are about as likely to cross illegally into the United States as President George W Bush is to tunnel his way into Mexico. |
The evening begins with a blood-curdling shout by Poncho, our balaclava-wearing head guide. | The evening begins with a blood-curdling shout by Poncho, our balaclava-wearing head guide. |
"Vamos!Let's go!"With that we all sprint off into the night.And I do mean night.It is inky dark and icy cold.This is, after all, the desert. | "Vamos!Let's go!"With that we all sprint off into the night.And I do mean night.It is inky dark and icy cold.This is, after all, the desert. |
But do not conjure up images of Lawrence of Arabia strolling around pristine sand dunes.No, this is rugged, unforgiving terrain. | But do not conjure up images of Lawrence of Arabia strolling around pristine sand dunes.No, this is rugged, unforgiving terrain. |
A kind of game | A kind of game |
I came to give solidarity with real migrants. I feel it could be like this A tourist at Eco Alberto Park The plan is simple. We are the migrants and we are being chased by fake border patrols. | I came to give solidarity with real migrants. I feel it could be like this A tourist at Eco Alberto Park The plan is simple. We are the migrants and we are being chased by fake border patrols. |
Within 30 seconds, I was hurtling down a hill. | Within 30 seconds, I was hurtling down a hill. |
Within 40 seconds I was lying at the bottom of that hill, having tripped. | Within 40 seconds I was lying at the bottom of that hill, having tripped. |
And within 50 seconds, I was being knocked senseless by a woman who had also lost her footing, but who had skilfully directed her soft-landing onto me. | And within 50 seconds, I was being knocked senseless by a woman who had also lost her footing, but who had skilfully directed her soft-landing onto me. |
A bit further on, the real heavy stuff began.The shooting, I mean. | A bit further on, the real heavy stuff began.The shooting, I mean. |
They had assured us that the fake border guards were using blanks, but they certainly sounded real. | They had assured us that the fake border guards were using blanks, but they certainly sounded real. |
"Come out, we know you are there," the guards taunt us, as we crouch in our bushes. | "Come out, we know you are there," the guards taunt us, as we crouch in our bushes. |
More shots, more shouting. | More shots, more shouting. |
You know it is a kind of game, but all of a sudden it takes on a realism I had not expected. | You know it is a kind of game, but all of a sudden it takes on a realism I had not expected. |
Bang!And yet another shot and yet another shout. Sirens too. | Bang!And yet another shot and yet another shout. Sirens too. |
We are told by Poncho to stand up.It is to witness an arrest. | We are told by Poncho to stand up.It is to witness an arrest. |
The migrants that have been 'captured' are taken awayYes, already for two of our group, the evening is over. They have been "captured". | The migrants that have been 'captured' are taken awayYes, already for two of our group, the evening is over. They have been "captured". |
The luckless pair are then led off into the night, never, by us at least, to be seen again. | The luckless pair are then led off into the night, never, by us at least, to be seen again. |
Harbouring doubts | Harbouring doubts |
I use the moment to snatch a conversation with our group. | I use the moment to snatch a conversation with our group. |
"I came to give solidarity with real migrants," one man told me. "I feel it could be like this". | "I came to give solidarity with real migrants," one man told me. "I feel it could be like this". |
Soon, we are off again.During the next sprint, I glimpsed one woman on the ground nursing a blood-stained knee. | Soon, we are off again.During the next sprint, I glimpsed one woman on the ground nursing a blood-stained knee. |
Remember, this is for tourists. | Remember, this is for tourists. |
We cross fences, tackle rickety bridges and bend double to make our way through tunnels. | We cross fences, tackle rickety bridges and bend double to make our way through tunnels. |
Amnesty International has criticised the whole thing as trivialising the lives of real migrants. But Poncho does not see it like that. | Amnesty International has criticised the whole thing as trivialising the lives of real migrants. But Poncho does not see it like that. |
A staged death is intended to heighten the drama"It is serious," he says, "and it is our way of paying homage to those who seek a better life in America." | A staged death is intended to heighten the drama"It is serious," he says, "and it is our way of paying homage to those who seek a better life in America." |
Five hours had now passed. This was an evening of hunting, fishing and shooting, without the fishing. | Five hours had now passed. This was an evening of hunting, fishing and shooting, without the fishing. |
We came to a wood. And in the wood lay... that fast-flowing river. | We came to a wood. And in the wood lay... that fast-flowing river. |
For several minutes a man in front of me had sneakily been using his torch. It was my visual lifeline. | For several minutes a man in front of me had sneakily been using his torch. It was my visual lifeline. |
But then it happened.Suddenly, he switched off his light. | But then it happened.Suddenly, he switched off his light. |
He went left, I went right and straight into the fast-flowing river awaiting me. | He went left, I went right and straight into the fast-flowing river awaiting me. |
Losing my grip | Losing my grip |
For the first few moments, I thought it was a large puddle. But as the momentum drew me in, so the water level rose. And rose. | For the first few moments, I thought it was a large puddle. But as the momentum drew me in, so the water level rose. And rose. |
And with the depth came the speed. | And with the depth came the speed. |
In a Florida theme park, they might be tempted to re-name the whole thing 'Migrant Mountain' Before I knew it, I was swept off my feet.Luckily, there was a small bridge.I clung to it, but by now my feet were being dragged away. | In a Florida theme park, they might be tempted to re-name the whole thing 'Migrant Mountain' Before I knew it, I was swept off my feet.Luckily, there was a small bridge.I clung to it, but by now my feet were being dragged away. |
This was not so much a bridge over troubled waters, as legs stuck under troubled waters. My grip was loosening. | This was not so much a bridge over troubled waters, as legs stuck under troubled waters. My grip was loosening. |
The guides realised what had happened and came to me. | The guides realised what had happened and came to me. |
One grabbed my hand, another tried to grab my jacket. | One grabbed my hand, another tried to grab my jacket. |
They pulled, I pulled. But the river pulled harder. | They pulled, I pulled. But the river pulled harder. |
I simply could not swing my legs out, the force of the water was so great. | I simply could not swing my legs out, the force of the water was so great. |
And something approaching panic was beginning to set in. | And something approaching panic was beginning to set in. |
Another couple of guides appeared. Thankfully, it made the difference. | Another couple of guides appeared. Thankfully, it made the difference. |
Four men dragged me to safety. | Four men dragged me to safety. |
Dripping wet, I thought, what if I had been a small child? I would never have survived. | Dripping wet, I thought, what if I had been a small child? I would never have survived. |
For me, the evening had been real. I still harboured doubts about whether this was suitable adventure material for paying customers. | For me, the evening had been real. I still harboured doubts about whether this was suitable adventure material for paying customers. |
In a Florida theme park, they might be tempted to re-name the whole thing Migrant Mountain. | In a Florida theme park, they might be tempted to re-name the whole thing Migrant Mountain. |
But here in Mexico, it has an authenticity that one can forgive, unlike its fast-flowing rivers. | But here in Mexico, it has an authenticity that one can forgive, unlike its fast-flowing rivers. |
From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Saturday, 24 February, 2007 at 1130 GMT on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times. | From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Saturday, 24 February, 2007 at 1130 GMT on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times. |
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