U.S. sued in Hague over Mexicans' death sentences
Posted on 01/11/2003 6:39:57 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
U.S. sued in Hague over Mexicans' death sentences
01/11/2003
MEXICO CITY - Last summer, President Vicente Fox canceled a trip to Texas to protest the execution of a Mexican citizen. Now, Mexico has taken its case against the U.S. death penalty to the World Court.
The Foreign Ministry asked the international tribunal to order U.S. authorities to review the death sentences of 54 Mexican citizens in the United States, including 16 in Texas.
In a suit presented Thursday in The Hague, Netherlands, Mexico accused U.S. authorities of violating the 1963 Vienna Convention of Consular Relations by not informing the 54 defendants of their right to speak with Mexican consular officials.
That assistance could have resulted in better legal representation and avoided some of those death sentences, Mexico has argued.
The Foreign Ministry said it decided to present the suit after years of opposing the U.S. death penalty. Mexico does not have the death penalty except in military courts.
U.S. officials said they were studying the suit. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said federal authorities have worked with state officials to make sure they fulfill their obligations under the Vienna Convention.
Mr. Fox canceled a trip to Texas last August to protest the execution of Javier Suárez Medina, who admitted killing a Dallas police officer during a drug bust.
In that case, Mexico accused Texas authorities of not informing Mr. Suárez of his right to speak with Mexican consular officials. U.S. officials said it was not clear at the time that he was a Mexican citizen.
Mexican officials downplayed the possibility that the suit would damage U.S. relations.
The case "is an action to reaffirm Mexico's confidence and commitment to the principle of the peaceful solution of controversies," the Foreign Ministry said.
E-mail bcase@dallasnews.com
Yes. Some of those spill over the border too. This might turn out to be one of those?...
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