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| Africa: West |
| Mauritania Forces Stop Paris-Dakar Racers |
| 2004-01-09 |
| Racers from the famed Paris-Dakar Rally suffered a major setback of a different sort when armed security force members stopped competitors at Mauritania’s border, demanding $65 from each vehicle to pass. Pikers. You held up a bunch of Frenchmen and took only $65 a car? Cheez, it’s like Spiro Agnew taking $150 a week when he was vice-president. Border guards in Mauritania and some other countries in West Africa often try to demand illicit payments from travelers to cross frontiers. Officials believed they had taken care of the problem, but word evidently hadn’t reached security forces at the border, race officials said. Lack of modern communications does seem to be a problem in Africa. ``I cut the motor, and Hmmm, French TV crews always seem to know where the action’s going to be. If they show up in my neighborhood I’m heading for the gun cabinet. ``The soldiers were armed. They were saying to each car to pay 50 euros ($65),’’ Masuoka said. ``We discussed this.’’ "Your money or your life!" "Can we discuss this?" "No!" ``This was the first time this ever happened to me, so I agreed,’’ Masuoka said. It was not clear how much time was lost in the transactions. Wonder if they get docked for the time it took to make change? Kalmanovitz, the race spokesman, said the decision to impose the passage fee upon the Paris-Dakar had come from local customs officials in the far north. Who seem to be well-practiced at the fine art of extortion. They’re customs agents fergawdsakes! Reached by telephone, a northern government official criticized the actions by the security forces, saying the national authorities in the capital, Nouackchott, also made clear they didn’t appreciate it. "Nope, nope, don’t like it none, nope." Now in its 26th year, the Paris-Dakar in 2003 crosses 6,920.4-miles, seven countries and the Sahara Desert, ending Jan. 18 outside the Senegalese capital, Dakar. Wonder if they’ll have to pay an exit fee on the other side of Mauritania? |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #3 Yar! We be |
| Posted by: .com 2004-1-9 6:09:35 PM |
| #2 Next year you will see some camoflaged Hummers participating in the rally. Also the term "riding shotgun" will become more literal. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-1-9 11:19:42 AM |
| #1 These guys are a bunch of speed racers. They've got cash to burn. No really, they've got cash to burn. Thats good with me, it's all good as they say. But hey sport, it's snakes and all! So pay the man and buy your buddy a drink! |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2004-1-9 12:55:56 AM |