Posted on 08/05/2008 12:41:04 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (AFP) - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued a last-minute appeal to the United States Tuesday to halt the scheduled execution of a Mexican national sentenced to death for murder in defiance of an International Court of Justice (ICJ) order.
Jose Ernesto Medellin, 33, was due to be executed by lethal injection at 2300 GMT in the state of Texas. He was convicted of the 1993 rape and murder of two teenagers and is one 51 Mexican nationals on death row in the United States.
Less than 12 hours before Medellin's planned execution, Ban called on the US government to abide by an ICJ ruling calling for the executions of all Mexican nationals to be suspended.
"All decisions and orders of the International Court of Justice must be respected by states," Ban warned on local television in Mexico City where he was attending a world AIDS conference.
"The United States should take every step to make sure the execution does not take place," he added, saying he had taken all the necessary steps to delay Medellin's execution, detailed in a letter to the United States and that he was "confident" his demands would be accepted.
Mexico has complained that its nationals on death row were not informed of their right to consular access and assistance during trial, a right under the Vienna Convention.
Medellin's family anxiously waited at the prison near Houston where the 33-year-old is due to be executed at 2300 GMT by lethal injection.
Medellin's request for a reprieve was unanimously turned down on Monday by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and his fate lies in the hands of Texas Governor Rick Perry.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Yeah, unless the Court decides to do a last minute stay (I think that’s unlikely), I’m guessing there’s going to be a strong dissent from one of the libs and that’s what the hold up is.
Yup and he has more right than you or I. The Constitution writers are spinning in their graves.
I believe Bush pushed it purposely in order to get a definitive ruling and he did. IMO.
Would be interesting to know if Bush is making some backrooom deal with Mexico. What is it with Bush and Mexico.
Bush tries to intervene for Medellin, and won’t lift a finger to help Ramos and Compean. There’s a pattern here..
That’s my concern too.
Just bumping because I’m following this story for reasons of my own.
You could pass them off as the patrons from the bar scene in Star Wars.
You’ve piqued my curiosity....
Okay.
(I'm so bummed... I had a drink at 6 in celebration of living in the most powerful state on the planet... and now this crap.)
But he also has a long record of putting Mexico’s interests over those of American citizens.
Your link says ‘page cannot be found’
Suffice it to say I want this man dead.
L
In all fairness Bush is pro death penalty even while governor of Texas. I just don’t like backroom dealing when it come to this.
That will suffice...
Stand back and put the koolaid down.
patience grasshopper.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.