Visa Row Erupts Over Trapped Cavers (Brits Entered Mexico Illegally)

Ananova ^ | 3-24-2004

[blam]

Visa row erupts over trapped cavers

The plight of five British military cavers and their guide trapped in a partly flooded Mexican cavern has erupted into a diplomatic controversy after the Britons apparently entered Mexico without permits or proper visas.

President Vicente Fox ordered a letter of protest sent to the British government and demanded an explanation, as the Britons fumbled to explain the ill-fated expedition that left half their team trapped in the Alpazat caverns in central Puebla state.

"I have instructed the Minister of Foreign Relations to take immediate action and file a note of protest, and demand a clarification from the English government about why these individuals are in Mexico," President Fox told reporters in Honduras, where he is on an official visit.

"We are asking the British government to tell us whether these people are military personnel, and if they are, what they are doing there," Fox said of the vast, 8.5-mile cavern system.

The planned three-day underground expedition by Britain's Combined Services -- which includes members of the Army, Navy and Air Force -- stretched into a second week of entrapment as flood waters fed by incessant rains continued to block the cave's entrance.

"We are worried about the Englishmen's safety," Fox said. "We are offering help to rescue them."

However, the Britons have so far rejected Mexico's offer of help, and said they were waiting for the arrival of two specially trained British civilian cave divers from the British Cave Rescue Organisation.

Those divers were believed to be driving overland today to reach Cuetzalan, a mountain town in central Puebla state about 110 miles northeast of Mexico City.

Fox said the crux of the issue was that the Britons had entered on tourist visas.

A spokesman for Mexico's National Migration Institute said that scientific or exploration teams do require special visas in Mexico, and that laws here would apparently prohibit training exercises by foreign military forces on Mexican soil.

[ECM]

Wow, that's rich: Mexico complaining about illegal 'immigration.'

[jtminton]

Pot, meet Kettle.

[So Cal Rocket]

I think the Mexican Government should give them free health care, education, child care and Mexican Driver's Licenses. After all, fair is fair, right?

[Tijeras_Slim]

30 days in the hole
30 days in the hole
30 days in the hole
That's what they give you
30 days in the hole
I know

[Prime Choice]

Mexico lets its citizens, military, federales, drug lords and coyotes violate our borders with impunity and they have the audacity to pitch a fit about it happening to them??

Give me a break!

[per loin]

Paste a large Hmmmm? on this one.

[Fiddlstix]

Wow, that's rich: Mexico complaining about illegal 'immigration.'

LOL
Ain't it the truth!

[Gringo1]

Vincente Fox complaining about illegal immigration?.......ROFL!

(gets windex and paper towels out for monitor cleaning)

[T Minus Four]

BTTT!!!!!!

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

WHHHAAAAAA TF does the creepy Fox Hombre have to call havoc over?

[dead]

Sneaking into Mexico is like slipping quietly into the bed of a gruesome girl after you've sobered up.

[rogueleader]

They have the wrong visa? Then they shouldn't be allowed to stay. Isn't that right, El Presidente?

[ArrogantBustard]

Mexico in particular and Central America in general is a popular destination for cavers and cave divers.

[agrace]

President Vicente Fox ordered a letter of protest sent to the British government and demanded an explanation

Snort.

[deport]

I think the Mexican Government should give them free health care, education, child care and Mexican Driver's Licenses.

---

They may well receive some extended Mexican Gov't care..

[TexasRepublic]

I think turnabout is fair play - we should raise hell with Mr. Fox over EVERY illegal that we catch.

[Dante3]

WIll someone finally start treating the Mexican illegal aliens the same way Mexico treats these guys who weren't even trying to get the welfare perks and multimillion dollar lawsuit awards?

[Vigilanteman]

Maybe it would've been better if they had no visa at all.

A news snippet I'd like to read:

"I have instructed the Minister of Foreign Relations to take immediate action and file a note of protest, and demand a clarification from the English Mexican government about why these individuals are in Mexicothe United States," President Fox Bush told reporters in Honduras Israel, where he is on an official visit.

[Spiff]

They're just getting trapped in the caves that Mexicans don't want to.