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MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexico has fined six French cave explorers, one of whom was trapped in a cave for days, for violating their tourist visas.
Mexico's National Immigration Institute fined Arthur Meauxone, 21, and five other French tourists about 500 pesos (US$46, ¤30) each for conducting related research under tourist visas, federal and Puebla
state officials confirmed Wednesday.
«They were fined because they were engaged in activities they weren't authorized to perform here,» Cecila Romero Castillo, head of the immigration institute, told reporters Tuesday.
Rescue workers on Saturday pulled Meauxone from a cave in central Mexico, where he had been trapped for four days. He apparently suffered only minor injuries and was in good spirits. The five other members of the expedition, including Meauxone's father, managed to leave the cave shortly after the accident.
Romero said the spelunkers didn't object to the fine and thanked Mexican officials for their tireless work in rescuing Meauxone. The six were scheduled to return to Europe on a flight Wednesday, she said.
In 2004, Mexican officials detained 13 British citizens, some of whom were trapped for more than a week in an underground cavern in Puebla state, for allegedly violating tourist visa regulations.
After the 2004 incident, Mexico determined that cave explorers can enter the country as tourists if they plan to only see the caves, but must seek a more specific visa if want to do research.
Mexico's vast networks of caves draw explorers from around the globe, and many of the caverns were mapped by foreign cave explorers working with their Mexican colleagues.
fuzzy-hair-man wrote:Just got this via ozcavers:
http://www.pr-inside.com/mexico-fines-trapped-french-cave-explorer-r413504.htmMEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexico has fined six French cave explorers, one of whom was trapped in a cave for days, for violating their tourist visas.
Mexico's National Immigration Institute fined Arthur Meauxone, 21, and five other French tourists about 500 pesos (US$46, ¤30) each for conducting related research under tourist visas, federal and Puebla
state officials confirmed Wednesday.
«They were fined because they were engaged in activities they weren't authorized to perform here,» Cecila Romero Castillo, head of the immigration institute, told reporters Tuesday.
Rescue workers on Saturday pulled Meauxone from a cave in central Mexico, where he had been trapped for four days. He apparently suffered only minor injuries and was in good spirits. The five other members of the expedition, including Meauxone's father, managed to leave the cave shortly after the accident.
Romero said the spelunkers didn't object to the fine and thanked Mexican officials for their tireless work in rescuing Meauxone. The six were scheduled to return to Europe on a flight Wednesday, she said.
In 2004, Mexican officials detained 13 British citizens, some of whom were trapped for more than a week in an underground cavern in Puebla state, for allegedly violating tourist visa regulations.
After the 2004 incident, Mexico determined that cave explorers can enter the country as tourists if they plan to only see the caves, but must seek a more specific visa if want to do research.
Mexico's vast networks of caves draw explorers from around the globe, and many of the caverns were mapped by foreign cave explorers working with their Mexican colleagues.
I'm not sure what the authorities consider research.... the previous reports said they were doing exploration...
Actually, I believe this is correct. Not because they want to keep it for the locals. I think most expeditions welcome and probably encourage competent local cavers to join them. But I think it's a government boondoggle. It was set in place following the British fiasco.paul wrote:It could be that they consider the tearm "research" to also cover original exploration? Hence exploration (i.e. "research") is not allowed for Tourist Visa holders? Maybe they are trying to keep some original exploration for local cavers? Who knows?
Squirrel Girl wrote:Actually, I believe this is correct. Not because they want to keep it for the locals. I think most expeditions welcome and probably encourage competent local cavers to join them. But I think it's a government boondoggle. It was set in place following the British fiasco.paul wrote:It could be that they consider the tearm "research" to also cover original exploration? Hence exploration (i.e. "research") is not allowed for Tourist Visa holders? Maybe they are trying to keep some original exploration for local cavers? Who knows?
paul wrote:Presumably you mean the fiasco caused by Mexican authorities and media involving a British caving expedition as opposed to a fiasco caused by a British caving expedition?
NZcaver wrote:paul wrote:Presumably you mean the fiasco caused by Mexican authorities and media involving a British caving expedition as opposed to a fiasco caused by a British caving expedition?
NZcaver wrote:
Is it just me, or do the Mexican authorities seem to make a bigger issue out of visiting British, French etc cavers than they do with most Americans?
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