There were posters hung on the back of a bench.
Were they campaign volunteers for a candidate in some upcoming local or national election?
But, they looked unhappy, solemn, and distraught. They were parents, looking for anyone to hear their story.
I will tell you in my BEST way what I learned.
Their daughter, Belén Téllez along with her friend, Jesica Almada, had been jailed for at least 5 months when we met them.
You see, Belén and her companion came from Argentina to Spain to work as models. I guess at some point their work was done.
They left for the airport and it was there that the Spanish authorities confiscated about 15 kilos of cocaine that was in their possession.
Belén’s parents claim, that their daughter and Jesica were deceived by the couple’s manager. How? I am not certain.
And now, their daughter has been held in jail all this while without formal charges.
Sort of sounds a little like Guantanamo Bay doesn’t it?
Anyway, I don’t know if they’re innocent or not.
But this I CAN tell you.
These parents were grieved stricken, sad, exhausted and almost to the point of tears.
They felt alone in the quagmire of the legal system.
I post this because I said I would.
They were eager to share their story. It was such a sad picture to see Mr. Tellez try to find the article in the newspaper for me to shoot.
 | View the Téllez family and others in barcalunacy's People of Interest FLCKR photoset. |
That's a very sad story - I hope it will be resolved soon. It sounds like a clear violation of the girls' civil rights. This also reminds me of how it used to be in Mexico. At least in the 70's there were a lot of stories of American tourists being arrested for drug possession under dubious circumstances. Very likely the substances were planted by the police themselves.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed a very sad story, but it is admirable what these parents are doing for their doughter.
ReplyDeleteIt shows how huge the love from parents for their child is...
I also realy believe these girls are innocent. They come to Europe to realize a dream, to get a 'better' life, and instead of this, some-one takes misadvantage of them, to earn easy money...
Very, very sad.
Thank you both for your comments.
ReplyDeleteActually, I wrote the post to show how our actions, whether imposed by us or through others, can affect a multitude of people.
My heart did go out to the parents and their grieve.
That is what I wanted to show.
I have no opinion one way or the other of the girls' guilt or innocence.
I know nothing other than what I've read.
I guess that is why there are courts.
Hopefully, good news will come out of this mess.
I agree with your feeling about the grieve of these people.
ReplyDeleteI am a parent myself, and eventhough my children are still small, I know age doesn't matter when it considers one's child, everyone is going to defend them till the last bit...
Seeing these photos, you can almost feel their grieve from here.
I hope together with you that very soon a resolution comes for these people.
And showing them on your blog, is for these people very helpfull, that is what I think.
Telling their story to every-one.
And maybe you are right not to make an opinion about these girls innocence or not, but when I look at these photos I feel the grieve of these people, and I rather like to believe that they are innocent, than the opposite...
( I hope you understand what I mean, my English is not my motherlanguage, so expressing feelings in English is a little bit difficult. )
Anonymous
ReplyDeleteI don’t know who you are, but I am overwhelmed and deeply appreciative of the time you took to write your feelings on my post.
I wanted to give you my best response and that is the reason I have taken a few days to answer.
I am very glad that my words made you feel sympathetic toward the parents. That was my intention all along.
I also feel sorry for the young girls’ situation and the mistake they might have made.
If they are innocent, then there are no words that could ever express my sorrow for their present situation.
I wish them all well, as you do and I hope their parents and friends read this.
Your English is wonderful and you have expressed yourself well.
Thank you for visiting my blog and I hope you come again.
Thanks for article!
ReplyDeleteThanks for interesting article.
ReplyDeleteGlad to read articles like this. Thanks to author!
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ReplyDelete