Mexico says Texas execution of Mexican man would violate international accord

[Vikrant]

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico on Sunday strongly objected to the scheduled execution in Texas on Wednesday of a Mexican convicted of killing a U.S. police officer, arguing that by executing him, the United States would be in "clear violation" of international treaties.

Edgar Tamayo was convicted of shooting dead a Houston police officer in 1994 when he was in the United States illegally. But Tamayo was not informed of his right, enshrined in an international treaty known as the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, to diplomatic assistance.

In 2004, the United Nations' International Court of Justice ordered the United States to reconsider the convictions of 51 Mexicans, including Tamayo, who had been sent to death row without being informed of their consular rights.

So far, two of that group have been executed; Tamayo would be the third.

In a statement on Sunday objecting to the scheduled execution, Mexico's foreign ministry said, "If Edgar Tamayo's execution were to go ahead without his trial being reviewed and his sentence reconsidered ... it would be a clear violation of the United States' international obligations."

Last month, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry wrote a letter to Texas Governor Rick Perry urging him to reconsider Tamayo's execution because it could make it more difficult for the United States to help Americans in legal trouble abroad.

But so far there has been little sign that Texas is willing to budge, with the Lone Star State arguing that it is not bound by the International Court of Justice ruling.

Mexico's foreign ministry said it had taken various measures - legal, diplomatic and political - to try to stay the execution.

That included attempts through Texas courts and petitions from high-ranking Mexicans like Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Meade and Eduardo Medina Mora, Mexico's ambassador to Washington, the statement said.

"The Mexican government opposes the death penalty and is determined to use all available recourses to protect those nationals in danger of receiving such a sentence," it said.

Mexico says Texas execution of Mexican man would violate international accord | GlobalPost

 

[Tank]

Fuck Mexico

 

[Vikrant]

^ I thought you did not like people of color.

 

[Jughead]

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico on Sunday strongly objected to the scheduled execution in Texas on Wednesday of a Mexican convicted of killing a U.S. police officer, arguing that by executing him, the United States would be in "clear violation" of international treaties.

But so far there has been little sign that Texas is willing to budge, with the Lone Star State arguing that it is not bound by the International Court of Justice ruling.

This man killed a police officer. I agree with Texas officials, he deserves no leniency. The punishment fits the crime. I'll bet the slain officer's family members tend to agree.

 

[Vikrant]

^ The issue is man's consular rights. He was not given an opportunity to talk to Mexican consulate, which is against international law.

 

[freedombecki]

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico on Sunday strongly objected to the scheduled execution in Texas on Wednesday of a Mexican convicted of killing a U.S. police officer, arguing that by executing him, the United States would be in "clear violation" of international treaties.

Edgar Tamayo was convicted of shooting dead a Houston police officer in 1994 when he was in the United States illegally. But Tamayo was not informed of his right, enshrined in an international treaty known as the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, to diplomatic assistance.

In 2004, the United Nations' International Court of Justice ordered the United States to reconsider the convictions of 51 Mexicans, including Tamayo, who had been sent to death row without being informed of their consular rights.

So far, two of that group have been executed; Tamayo would be the third.

In a statement on Sunday objecting to the scheduled execution, Mexico's foreign ministry said, "If Edgar Tamayo's execution were to go ahead without his trial being reviewed and his sentence reconsidered ... it would be a clear violation of the United States' international obligations."

Last month, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry wrote a letter to Texas Governor Rick Perry urging him to reconsider Tamayo's execution because it could make it more difficult for the United States to help Americans in legal trouble abroad.

But so far there has been little sign that Texas is willing to budge, with the Lone Star State arguing that it is not bound by the International Court of Justice ruling.

Mexico's foreign ministry said it had taken various measures - legal, diplomatic and political - to try to stay the execution.

That included attempts through Texas courts and petitions from high-ranking Mexicans like Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Meade and Eduardo Medina Mora, Mexico's ambassador to Washington, the statement said.

"The Mexican government opposes the death penalty and is determined to use all available recourses to protect those nationals in danger of receiving such a sentence," it said.

Mexico says Texas execution of Mexican man would violate international accord | GlobalPost

That's very interesting, Vikrant. I looked up a story I remembered about Mexican brutality to immigrants on their southern border and binged one of the published articles:

However, Calderon and his government appear to be unwilling to acknowledge their own hypocrisy in dealing with illegal immigrants who enter Mexico from Central American countries. Considered felons by the Mexican government, these immigrants fear detention, rape and robbery. Police and soldiers hunt them down at railroads, bus stations and fleabag hotels. Sometimes they are deported; more often officers beat them and simply take their money and possessions.

Anyone who doesn't believe the above treatment of illegal aliens by Mexican authorities should peruse reports by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Besides the news media's overall silence on illegal immigrants being terrorized, robbed and killed by Mexican authorities, the Obama Administration and US lawmakers are equally silent.


"They allow Calderon and his flunkies to denigrate and scold Americans who call for tougher border security and a sane immigration policy while the blood of Central Americans who've entered or attempted to enter Mexico across its southern border stains their own hands," says former military intelligence officer, and NYPD detective, Sid Franes
The Examiner

Killing a cop is an automatic death penalty case in many states. I'm sorry the man came over here and went after a cop and killed him while here.

 

[S.J.]

I agree with Tank. Fuck Mexico. They're ruining our economy with their wetback criminals and their drug dealers. They only respect the rule of law when it works FOR them, the rest of the time it's "Fuck you, America".

 

[gallantwarrior]

I have often observed that we should apply the same sanctions against illegal invaders that Mexico does. That would be fair.

 

[S.J.]

I have often observed that we should apply the same sanctions against illegal invaders that Mexico does. That would be fair.

Amen, Mexico doesn't give a shit about international treaties when they arrest Americans.

 

[gallantwarrior]

We could just give this animal special amnesty and toast his cop-murdering ass.

 

[Vikrant]

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico on Sunday strongly objected to the scheduled execution in Texas on Wednesday of a Mexican convicted of killing a U.S. police officer, arguing that by executing him, the United States would be in "clear violation" of international treaties.

Edgar Tamayo was convicted of shooting dead a Houston police officer in 1994 when he was in the United States illegally. But Tamayo was not informed of his right, enshrined in an international treaty known as the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, to diplomatic assistance.

In 2004, the United Nations' International Court of Justice ordered the United States to reconsider the convictions of 51 Mexicans, including Tamayo, who had been sent to death row without being informed of their consular rights.

So far, two of that group have been executed; Tamayo would be the third.

In a statement on Sunday objecting to the scheduled execution, Mexico's foreign ministry said, "If Edgar Tamayo's execution were to go ahead without his trial being reviewed and his sentence reconsidered ... it would be a clear violation of the United States' international obligations."

Last month, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry wrote a letter to Texas Governor Rick Perry urging him to reconsider Tamayo's execution because it could make it more difficult for the United States to help Americans in legal trouble abroad.

But so far there has been little sign that Texas is willing to budge, with the Lone Star State arguing that it is not bound by the International Court of Justice ruling.

Mexico's foreign ministry said it had taken various measures - legal, diplomatic and political - to try to stay the execution.

That included attempts through Texas courts and petitions from high-ranking Mexicans like Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Meade and Eduardo Medina Mora, Mexico's ambassador to Washington, the statement said.

"The Mexican government opposes the death penalty and is determined to use all available recourses to protect those nationals in danger of receiving such a sentence," it said.

Mexico says Texas execution of Mexican man would violate international accord | GlobalPost

That's very interesting, Vikrant. I looked up a story I remembered about Mexican brutality to immigrants on their southern border and binged one of the published articles:

However, Calderon and his government appear to be unwilling to acknowledge their own hypocrisy in dealing with illegal immigrants who enter Mexico from Central American countries. Considered felons by the Mexican government, these immigrants fear detention, rape and robbery. Police and soldiers hunt them down at railroads, bus stations and fleabag hotels. Sometimes they are deported; more often officers beat them and simply take their money and possessions.

Anyone who doesn't believe the above treatment of illegal aliens by Mexican authorities should peruse reports by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Besides the news media's overall silence on illegal immigrants being terrorized, robbed and killed by Mexican authorities, the Obama Administration and US lawmakers are equally silent.


"They allow Calderon and his flunkies to denigrate and scold Americans who call for tougher border security and a sane immigration policy while the blood of Central Americans who've entered or attempted to enter Mexico across its southern border stains their own hands," says former military intelligence officer, and NYPD detective, Sid Franes
The Examiner

Killing a cop is an automatic death penalty case in many states. I'm sorry the man came over here and went after a cop and killed him while here.

It is an interesting situation. I think the fear the State Department has that Mexico may deny consular rights to US citizens arrested on similar charges in Mexico.

 

[Kondor3]

If (a) each of these Illegals have a right under International Law to speak with a member of their national consular staff, and (b) they have not been advised-of nor accorded such a right, then why not extend that right to them?

What harm will it do, other than to delay execution of sentence, or, at worst, in a few cases, to force a re-trial, in the event that it can be proven that access to consular services would have had a material bearing upon either the trial or the sentencing?

Did we (Americans, as represented by the State of Texas) make a mistake in this regard?

If so, why not put all of those sentences on-hold for as long as an accelerated review might take, so that full justice may be seen to be done?

It's in our own best interests (reciprocal rights for Americans incarcerated outside the US) to see that all is done properly.

De facto, if not de jure, Texas is acting on behalf of all 50 States, in this matter.

Fail to (continue to) extend consular rights to the accused and foreign nations will not remember that this was the act of Texans, but the act of Americans in general.

We all seem to have a stake in this, even though it is Texas pulling the strings.

 

[freedombecki]

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico on Sunday strongly objected to the scheduled execution in Texas on Wednesday of a Mexican convicted of killing a U.S. police officer, arguing that by executing him, the United States would be in "clear violation" of international treaties.

Edgar Tamayo was convicted of shooting dead a Houston police officer in 1994 when he was in the United States illegally. But Tamayo was not informed of his right, enshrined in an international treaty known as the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, to diplomatic assistance.

In 2004, the United Nations' International Court of Justice ordered the United States to reconsider the convictions of 51 Mexicans, including Tamayo, who had been sent to death row without being informed of their consular rights and go back to being the good neighbors they were for almost a century of peace.

So far, two of that group have been executed; Tamayo would be the third.

In a statement on Sunday objecting to the scheduled execution, Mexico's foreign ministry said, "If Edgar Tamayo's execution were to go ahead without his trial being reviewed and his sentence reconsidered ... it would be a clear violation of the United States' international obligations."

Last month, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry wrote a letter to Texas Governor Rick Perry urging him to reconsider Tamayo's execution because it could make it more difficult for the United States to help Americans in legal trouble abroad.

But so far there has been little sign that Texas is willing to budge, with the Lone Star State arguing that it is not bound by the International Court of Justice ruling.

Mexico's foreign ministry said it had taken various measures - legal, diplomatic and political - to try to stay the execution.

That included attempts through Texas courts and petitions from high-ranking Mexicans like Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Meade and Eduardo Medina Mora, Mexico's ambassador to Washington, the statement said.

"The Mexican government opposes the death penalty and is determined to use all available recourses to protect those nationals in danger of receiving such a sentence," it said.

Mexico says Texas execution of Mexican man would violate international accord | GlobalPost

That's very interesting, Vikrant. I looked up a story I remembered about Mexican brutality to immigrants on their southern border and binged one of the published articles:

However, Calderon and his government appear to be unwilling to acknowledge their own hypocrisy in dealing with illegal immigrants who enter Mexico from Central American countries. Considered felons by the Mexican government, these immigrants fear detention, rape and robbery. Police and soldiers hunt them down at railroads, bus stations and fleabag hotels. Sometimes they are deported; more often officers beat them and simply take their money and possessions.

Anyone who doesn't believe the above treatment of illegal aliens by Mexican authorities should peruse reports by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Besides the news media's overall silence on illegal immigrants being terrorized, robbed and killed by Mexican authorities, the Obama Administration and US lawmakers are equally silent.


"They allow Calderon and his flunkies to denigrate and scold Americans who call for tougher border security and a sane immigration policy while the blood of Central Americans who've entered or attempted to enter Mexico across its southern border stains their own hands," says former military intelligence officer, and NYPD detective, Sid Franes
The Examiner

Killing a cop is an automatic death penalty case in many states. I'm sorry the man came over here and went after a cop and killed him while here.

It is an interesting situation. I think the fear the State Department has that Mexico may deny consular rights to US citizens arrested on similar charges in Mexico.

That would cause changes in our policies that would take away tens of billions of American dollars pouring into their economies from highly-paid immigrants sending money home to their families. In the end of their blindman's bluff game, I think Mexico would back off.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

^ The issue is man's consular rights. He was not given an opportunity to talk to Mexican consulate, which is against international law.

IMO - they give up their right to consulate when they leave Mexico illegally, come into our country illegally. And commit crimes. They should receive no benefit of Mexican law at this point.

 

[Kondor3]

By the way...

I am confused...

What good does it do, for a foreign national to talk to his Consular staff, when charged with a criminal offense?

Would the foreign government in-question supply a better defense attorney?

Would the foreign government be able get the charges reduced, in a capital case?

Would the foreign government be able to get the charges dropped and transport the accused back home?

What good does it do?

I'm all in-favor of extending the Right of Consular Access to such foreign nationals, if that's what International Law and various conventions and agreements call for.

I'm just not sure what good it would do, anyway.

 

[martybegan]

By the way...

I am confused...

What good does it do, for a foreign national to talk to his Consular staff, when charged with a criminal offense?

Would the foreign government in-question supply a better defense attorney?

Would the foreign government be able get the charges reduced, in a capital case?

Would the foreign government be able to get the charges dropped and transport the accused back home?

What good does it do?

I'm all in-favor of extending the Right of Consular Access to such foreign nationals, if that's what International Law and various conventions and agreements call for.

I'm just not sure what good it would do, anyway.

This is just more pro-forma protest against the death penalty. If he was merely sentenced to life in prison the Mexican government wouldn't give two shits about this skell.

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

The real travesty is that it's taken 20 years to execute him

 

[Vikrant]

By the way...

I am confused...

What good does it do, for a foreign national to talk to his Consular staff, when charged with a criminal offense?

Would the foreign government in-question supply a better defense attorney?

Would the foreign government be able get the charges reduced, in a capital case?

Would the foreign government be able to get the charges dropped and transport the accused back home?

What good does it do?

I'm all in-favor of extending the Right of Consular Access to such foreign nationals, if that's what International Law and various conventions and agreements call for.

I'm just not sure what good it would do, anyway.

Consular will take a look at all the evidence presented to him/her then if the accused is indeed guilty in the assessment of the Consular, the accused will be afforded a good lawyer. You are always better off with a good lawyer as opposed to bad lawyer. If however, the Consular feels that the charges were frivolous which happens all the time as there are quite a few countries who suffer from all sorts of social problems ranging from bigotry to plain lack of law and order, he/she may decide to escalate the issue as necessary.

 

[Vikrant]

Texas went ahead and executed Edgar Tamayo despite Mexico's objections.

---

HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- A Mexican national was executed Wednesday night in Texas for killing a Houston police officer, despite pleas and diplomatic pressure from the Mexican government and the U.S. State Department to halt the punishment.

Edgar Tamayo, 46, received a lethal injection for the January 1994 fatal shooting of Officer Guy Gaddis, 24.

Asked by a warden if he had a final statement, he mumbled "no" and shook his head. As the lethal dose of pentobarbital began taking effect, he took a few breaths and then made one slightly audible snore before all movement stopped. He was pronounced dead 17 minutes after the drug was administered, at 9:32 p.m. CST.

Tamayo never looked toward Gaddis' mother, two brothers and two other relatives who watched through a window. He selected no witnesses of his own.

There were several dozen police officers and supporters of the slain patrolman were revving their motorcycles outside of the prison before witnesses were let inside the death chamber.

The execution, the first this year in the nation's most active death penalty state, came after the U.S. Supreme Court and lower federal courts rejected last-day appeals and Texas officials spurned arguments that Tamayo's case was tainted because he wasn't informed, under an international agreement, that he could get legal help from the Mexican consulate after his arrest for the officer's slaying.

Attorneys had also argued unsuccessfully that Tamayo was mentally impaired, making him ineligible for execution, and that the state's clemency procedures were unfair. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles on Tuesday had rejected Tamayo's request for clemency.

"It doesn't matter where you're from," Perry spokeswoman Lucy Nashed said. "If you commit a despicable crime like this in Texas, you are subject to our state laws, including a fair trial by jury and the ultimate penalty."

Gaddis, who had been on the force for two years, was driving Tamayo and another man from a robbery scene when evidence showed the officer was shot three times in the head and neck with a pistol Tamayo had concealed in his pants. The car crashed, and Tamayo fled on foot but was captured a few blocks away, still in handcuffs, carrying the robbery victim's watch and wearing the victim's necklace.

Mexican officials and Tamayo's attorneys contend he was protected under a provision of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Legal assistance guaranteed under that treaty could have uncovered evidence to contest the capital murder charge or provide evidence to keep Tamayo off death row, they said.

Records show the consulate became involved or aware of the case just as his trial was to begin.

Secretary of State John Kerry previously asked Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott to delay Tamayo's punishment, saying it "could impact the way American citizens are treated in other countries." The State Department repeated that stance Wednesday.

But Abbott's office and the Harris County district attorney opposed any delays.

At least two other inmates in circumstances similar to Tamayo's were executed in Texas in recent years.

The Mexican government said in a statement this week it "strongly opposed" the execution and said failure to review Tamayo's case and reconsider his sentence would be "a clear violation by the United States of its international obligations."

Tamayo was in the U.S. illegally and had a criminal record in California, where he had served time for robbery and was paroled, according to prison records.

Tamayo was among more than four dozen Mexican nationals awaiting execution in the U.S. when the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, ruled in 2004 they hadn't been advised properly of their consular rights. The Supreme Court subsequently said hearings urged by the international court in those inmates' cases could be mandated only if Congress implemented legislation to do so.

"Unfortunately, this legislation has not been adopted," the Mexican foreign ministry acknowledged.

Over Mexico's objections, Texas cop-killer Edgar Tamayo executed; death comes 17 minutes after lethal injection | NOLA.com

 

[freedombecki]

By the way...

I am confused...

What good does it do, for a foreign national to talk to his Consular staff, when charged with a criminal offense?

Would the foreign government in-question supply a better defense attorney?

Would the foreign government be able get the charges reduced, in a capital case?

Would the foreign government be able to get the charges dropped and transport the accused back home?

What good does it do?

I'm all in-favor of extending the Right of Consular Access to such foreign nationals, if that's what International Law and various conventions and agreements call for.

I'm just not sure what good it would do, anyway.

Texas does not welcome people to come over the border and kill the police.

I'm sorry this one did just that, and I hope it does not happen again.