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Chendo Urbina charged for election day confrontation

GeneralChendo Urbina charged for election day confrontation
Political tensions between the two opposing camps in Orange Walk Town during Sunday’s Village Council elections in Trial Farm, Orange Walk, have resulted in court charges being levied against a high profile businessman and politician, Rosendo “Chendo” Urbina, Orange Walk Central standard-bearer for the Opposition United Democratic Party.
 
Represented by attorney Michael Peyrefitte, Urbina appeared in the Orange Walk Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday morning, March 28, before Magistrate Emerson Banner and was arraigned on one count of common assault, after Centaur T.V. and Fiesta FM journalist, Jorge Aldana, accused Urbina of slapping him on the left side of his face. Urbina is due to reappear in court on April 30.
 
Urbina says that Aldana’s allegations are false. He said that in all his 59 years, he has never been arrested, detained or charged for any crime, but instead of hurting his political career, what has unfolded has really boosted it. Urbina said that even if he had slapped Aldana, his supporters would have forgiven him for it.
 
He added that Gaspar Vega, the UDP’s Deputy Leader and ground commander in the north for the elections, and UDP Opposition Leader, Hon. Dean Barrow, were both with him when everything happened and they are his witnesses.
 
There is an interesting bit of political history to the dispute. The media organs for which Aldana works are owned by Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Johnny Briceño. Urbina told Amandala that not only did he campaign for Briceño in the last elections (2003), but he also financed his campaign and voted for him. In an ironic twist of fate, Urbina and Briceño are now set to go head-to-head in the next general elections for the Orange Walk Central seat. Political tensions are sharp between the two opposing camps.
 
Urbina complained to us that for several days Aldana has been saying personal things about his family on-air. He said that when he went to Trial Farm on Sunday, one of his colleagues pointed out Aldana to him, and he went over to shake his hand. When we asked him why, he said because that’s what politicians do—they greet people, whether red or blue. He contends that he never touched Aldana, and only wanted to convey to him that he is not afraid of him and that he should not be hiding behind the radio – but should say what he has to say to his face.
 
The confrontation took place near the entrance of Trial Farm School, the venue of the election. Urbina said that when he raised his hands, it was to tell Aldana’s cameraman to take the camera off him, because he didn’t want to be videotaped.
 
In his account to our newspaper, Aldana claims that, “…   a UDP supporter, the assistant administrator and driver of Orange Walk Mayor, said to me ‘Say something now; say it. Since you have lot to say on the mawning show, say it.’”
 
He said that at that point, Urbina started to point towards him and proceeded to where he was standing.
 
“He went up to me and slapped me on the left side of my face,” Aldana alleged.
 
Aldana added that a swarm of UDP supporters and PUP supporters clashed, and another UDP official also tried to attack him, leading to a larger confrontation that the police had to break up.
 
He says his TV crew caught it all on tape.
 
Urbina recounted that when he approached Aldana, Aldana instantly turned red.
 
“I told him I haven’t even touched you, and you’ve turned red,” Urbina continued.
 
When we asked Aldana about what was being said on-air about Urbina, his response was: “We have been talking about all politicians on our show, just like any other morning show. He [Urbina] is a politician in O.W. and certainly several times his name is called on the show, but he is not the only one. And even when his name is called, we are responsible with the comments we make.”
 
On Wednesday political tensions resurfaced in front of the court as a throng of supporters from both camps gathered in front of the court. This time the atmosphere was supercharged, and police officers that had been dispatched to the scene had to intervene to keep things under control, as Centaur TV personnel again found themselves in the thick of things.
 
Urbina himself rode the tide of glory when he saw many of his supporters, including party officials, dressed in red and publicly declaring their support.
 
We asked Urbina what caused him to break away from Briceño’s camp. He said it is because he wants to disassociate himself from corruption. He commented that the PUP has moved away from its roots of social justice and serves “the super rich.”
 

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