Mexico Quietly Moves to Eliminate Death Penalty Ahead of Court Ruling on U.S. Cases

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexico quietly moved to eliminate the death penalty from its military justice codes ahead of an International Court of Justice ruling regarding Mexicans condemned to die in the United States. It was the latest in a series of gestures as Mexico comes under increasing pressure to clean up its own justice system, even as it challenges the United States at the world court in The Hague, Netherlands in a case that could result in the overturning of dozens of U.S. convictions.

Little-known and not implemented for decades, the existence of the death penalty as a punishment for Mexican military personnel represented a potential embarrassment for Mexico in its legal challenge against the United States.

While President Vicente Fox launched a broad criminal justice reform package Monday with fanfare and news conferences, Tuesday's proposal to substitute the military death penalty with 30- to 60-year prison sentences was not even announced by the president's office, or any other branch of government.

The proposal was listed in a one-sentence entry in the "received bills" section of the Mexican Senate's daily gazette.

An unofficial version of the bill sent to The Associated Press by the presidential press office noted the purpose was to eliminate the last vestige of the death penalty in Mexico. The Senate agreed to turn the measure over to its defense committee for study and debate.

The death penalty has not been applied in Mexico's army since 1961 and is theoretically reserved for the worst offenses: treason or serious dereliction of duty by military personnel.

The proposal came hours before the world court is expected to announce its ruling on the Mexican complaint.

While that case centers on consular assistance - Mexico wants its citizens' convictions overturned because U.S. police did not notify them of their right to help from the Mexican consulate - it is squarely aimed at the U.S. death penalty.

All of the 52 Mexicans cited by Mexico in the case are on death row in U.S. prisons.

Even those who support Mexico's challenge acknowledge that the World Court case increases the pressure on Mexico to clean up its own torture- and corruption-plagued justice system.

"How can President Fox insist on justice for Mexican citizens in U.S. prisons, when he is ignoring a case in Mexico that he could easily fix?" said Laurie Freeman, Mexico representative for the Washington Office on Latin America, a U.S. thinktank.

Freeman was referring to Alfonso Martin del Campo, an Illinois native who holds dual U.S. and Mexican citizenship and who was sentenced in Mexico to fifty years in prison for the murder of his sister and brother-in-law, though no physical evidence was presented against him.

"His case is a textbook example of the flaws in Mexico's justice system," said Freeman. Del Campo said he signed a confession to the murders after being stripped, beaten, and suffocated by police.

Such tales are not uncommon in Mexico, where 646 Americans sit in jail on federal charges. Fox acknowledged Monday that the Mexican system suffers from "profound structural faults," and proposed substituting oral, public trials for written judgments, clearly establishing the presumption of innocence in the constitution, and reorganizing national police forces.

For some Americans who have seen the Mexican justice system at work, it isn't enough.

"The bedrock is so corrupt, that no system will work ... if they continue to accept tortured confessions," said Carol Kiecker, of Bloomington, Minn., whose daughter Cynthia has spent almost a year in a Mexican jail facing homicide charges.

Cynthia Kiecker says she was tortured into confessing to the crimes, and witnesses have testified police tortured them into implicating her.

Keep it up, Vicente. Just keep it up.

You forget yourself, El Presidente. Rulers don't rule in the U.S. of A. The people ALLOW those in authority to do their duties . . . so long as it's in our best interest. We're a mite slow at times, but those who act against our wishes or interests are eventually shown the door.

Mexico has gotten a pass on the illegal immigration issue so far. But your time is coming.

So keep it up, Vicente. Just keep it up. One day you'll reach to stab us in the back . . . and we'll yank your arm off and giftwrap it for ya'.

3 posted on 03/31/2004 7:14:45 AM PST by geedee (One penalty for refusing to go into politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.)

...the existence of the death penalty as a punishment for Mexican military personnel represented a potential embarrassment for Mexico...

Mexico is a bad joke.

Jorge's amigo is a pig.

even as it challenges the United States at the world court in The Hague, Netherlands in a case that could result in the overturning of dozens of U.S. convictions.

Sorry AP, but the ICJ can NOT overturn a conviction in the United States! Nice try at dis-information for the Sheeple though . . .

Thanks for the ping. I knew that the outcome would be in favor of Mexico.

This is what I don't understand. Maybe you or someone else can help clarify.

One of Clinton's last acts of president was to sign the US into the world court. Then one of Bush's first act was to "unsign" it. Then Bush went to all the countries where our troops were stationed and had them sign an agreement that they would not subject our troops to the world court. It was my understanding that had they (the countries) not signed with the US, then the US would pull the troops from that country.

To me, we have legitimized the court by going over there and arguing this case. So the question still remains. What did Clinton sign and what did Bush unsign?

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