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Mexican Set For US Execution in Defiance of Intl Court of Justice
WASHINGTON - A Mexican national convicted of murder is scheduled to be put to death in Texas on Tuesday in defiance of an International Court of Justice order to halt his execution.
Jose Ernesto Medellin, convicted of the 1993 rape and murder of two teenagers, is among 51 Mexicans on death row. But their government has complained they were not informed of their right to consular access and assistance during trial, a right under the Vienna Convention.
Medellin's request for a reprieve was unanimously turned down on Monday by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. His fate lies in the hands of Texas Governor Rick Perry, who is expected to make an announcement on the issue, his spokeswoman said.
Medellin's lawyers have also appealed to the US Supreme Court for a stay of execution.
The ICJ in 2004 ordered US officials to review the sentences for the Mexicans on death row.
On July 16 this year, the ICJ instructed the US authorities to do everything it could to stay the imminent execution of five Mexicans on death row, including Medellin, granting an urgent request by Mexico.
Since the 2004 ruling, some US states have agreed to review their death row cases at President George W. Bush's request.
But Texas has refused, arguing that its state courts, which decided the Medellin case, are not bound by the ICJ treaty. And their position was supported by a March US Supreme Court ruling.
That left the federal government in Washington with no legal tools to force Texas to put off the execution.
Medellin's lawyers are still hoping the US Supreme Court will issue a stay of execution that would give the US Congress time to pass a new law that can force individual states such as Texas to abide by ICJ decisions.
The US House of Representatives took up such a bill after the ICJ's July 16 ruling.
Alternately, Medellin's lawyers are seeking at least an eight-month reprieve so that the Texas legislature -- in recess until January -- can approve a law allowing state or federal court hearings for their client and other Mexicans on death row.
"Should Texas execute Mr Medellin before Congress has a reasonable opportunity to convert the (ICJ) judgment into a justifiable federal right, the State of Texas will forever deprive Mr Medellin of his constitutionally protected right not to be deprived of his life without a due process of law," his lawyers told the Supreme Court in their motion this week.
They asked the high court "to ensure that its judgment has its intended effect of guiding the political branches to a constitutionally permissible method of complying with the nation's treaty obligations."
Congress however is in recess until September. Any such measure would have to be approved by both the House and the Senate, then signed into law by the president.
Human Rights Watch, in a weekend statement, said that "executing Jose Medellin in violation of an order by the World Court would be a major step backward for the rule of law."
"If the United States ignores its legal obligations in this case, it will be tough to argue that other countries should respect the rights of US citizens," it added.
The Texas board on Monday also rejected a request by Medellin's lawyers' to commute his sentence to life in prison.
Medellin was sentenced to die for the rape and murder of two teenage girls -- aged 14 and 16 respectively -- in 1993 in Houston. The girls happened upon Medellin, who was 19 at the time, as he was engaged in a street gang initiation rite.
© 2008 Agence France Presse

32 Comments so far
Show AllFry this SOB.
There is a lot more at stake here. Once more the US appears to be wanting it both ways. We want to have the power to protects our citizens from other governments and punish them only if we see fit -----but not give any power or say to other governments. Why are we acting this way? Our court system is not known for its great job of defending the poor ---so his government is maybe justified in making sure their citizen received a fair hearing.
American's, indolent, oblivious, and happy in their second, third, or fourth homes down in Mexico, are in for a serious surprise this winter.
Hey Moshe Dayan: chinga tu madre puto.
When Aztlan becomes free of US domination, these atrocities against Mexicans will stop.
You people think this is punishment? this is a form of protection. This case went all the way to the U.S. supreme court and lost. the state has the right to follow its own laws because it entered the Union under a treaty[the treaty of annexation April 12,1844.]Also Texas has no right to follw any International laws. These two young teenaged girls were raped and murderd in cold blood and the men that did this have admitted to this crime for you people that want justice think about the families effected by these types of crimes everyday.
Even though this guy is a piece of trash, he still has rights in this country that should never, ever, be voilated. The crimes he committed do not merit any kind of parole, ever, but execution is unwarranted.
If he is sent to Mexico there is a chance he would be released there and he will no-doubt kill again. He should remian here in custody, but due process must be enforced at all costs.
Actually, this guy was quite rich, so your poor crap is just that, crap!!!
To forextrader: ...and the atrocities against Americans will continue- Is that what you are saying?
To TheLorax: Do you really want to feel sorry for people? Go to Saudi Arabia and tell them to release the american women who were simply sitting without veils in a public place, or the american men who have been imprisoned for saying "excuse me" to Arabic women.
The world court struck out there, too.
At least this guy had the liberal minded Courts in his favor and he still lost. It must have been really bad! Before you judge our country, read what is going on outside this country!
Your fascist supreme court at work - a Texas law interpretation allowing a convict to be executed in spite of a US treaty is upheld; a Florida law requiring a full election recount is swept aside.
You've got it backwards, (no)tolerancenow. You clean up your house first before condemning others. Bush claims he wants to set up an example of Democracy for the Middle East, but he has to start in Texas first.
My teenage daughter is eight feet from me right now.
This gentleman RAPED these two little girls? Pushed up inside them with his manhood, these little virgins, came in them like they were filthy condoms, then MURDERED them?
Texas should show him glossy color crime scene photos of his victims, then Drive 4" Nails through each of his testicles before he rides the needle.
Corazon de Alma, poquito ninas.
lisa3210peace - I guess the "peace" is somewhat conditional. Your red need for revenge is exactly the kind of passion that Bush stirred up in the USA to drive us to an unconstitutional and unlawful war. A law-abiding country is most tested when the necessity arises to extend its legal system to the most heinous of criminals, be they this piece of dirt or Saddam Hussein.
wcdevins; Hello and Good Evening. Negative. It is possible to be fanatically anti-war, to loathe and hate violence vehemently, and still believe in capital punishment.
Are their contradictions there? Sure. We all mirror a world full of contradictions, but I'm not an apologist for infanticide.
Was his mommy mean to him?
Is that why He Gets Life, When He gives Death To Babies?
WOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!
Execute this scumbag rapist/murderer! Its nice to see you are right about something lisa, while being wrong about almost everything else. You are right on the money about this guy, he should get his death nice and slow.
This case is another that shows Bush is a traitor, beyond any reasonable doubt.
To Lisa, do you want justice or do you want vengeance? I think it's the latter, and I am very disheartened by your post. You may consider dropping the "peace" from your name. Americans have such a lynch mob mentality. I agree, yes that individual did an atrocious thing, and I'm not suggesting he should be let out. His rights were violated under the Vienna Convention. I know you don't care, but consider this: if an American didn't get due process in another land (vis a vis the Vienna Convention) would you feel the same way? Getting back to this individual: I believe in the law of Karma. An American metaphysicist known as Edgar Cayce believed that we all will "meet ourselves" in this lifetime or another lifetime. That individual who committed those heinous crimes will pay the Karma debt.
Ariel Sharon. I include your name as well as Moshe Dayan's in my previous post, pendejo!
For tolerance now: Mexicans and Mexican-Americans can use a day without gringos, how about it?
I'm really likin' the tone of this! There seems to be other similaities between this man and the one called Bush. Comes from another country. kills children and gets his jollies. Sadam and his family were not enough blood for this pediphile king. Two countries in ruin could not satisfy his necronational lust for TexasStyle. He secretly yearned for Iran the first time, but CheezyChain switched the 'N' and 'Q' on the keyboard. He's still laughing over that one. He could not stop at a million babies, mothers, fathers. Attacking Wedding parties are one of his favorite depravities, as he has this fetish to take out whole families. Or two at time if you will.
I say hog rings through the testicles, hemp rope, a full tank of gas and a clean winshield.
You Mexicans haters are so unfuckingreal! And on a progressive site even!
Where's the justice for that poor young Mexican man who wasbrutally murdered by young gringo jock punks in Pensylvania just because they didn't like the fact that he was Mexican? Well!!!! What about his wife and his kid. That man was a loving father. All he was trying to do was make a living for his family. Is that a crime? Guess in Gringo land it is! Will there be justice for him? Will there be justice for Mexicans who have been victims for brutal hate crimes in this country? You gringos are fucking pathetic!
BOO HOO
Namaste: I have missed you on the threads. Truly, to be endorsed by 'Ariel' is a sure sign of being dead wrong. About anything.
I have a different code of ethics than many though. For me Justice is Vengeance. Like Pashtuns, I believe in revenge.
And to rip off Hemingway, I think if it was open season on people for three days, most of the world's problems would be solved.
A little messy, but no more Bush, bye Cheney (and family) Congress, all lobbyists, Abramof is tortured to death. Hung in the oval office with Feith, Perle and Rice.
Namaste, would Ghandi really not dig this?
How about Christ? Would Jesus not favor approve?
1% of the pop. control 22% of America's wealth, 10% of the pop. controls 48% of the wealth in America and all the political power and have declared war on the poor of the world.
Where are the guillotines?
I digress, I guess I am not exactly a pacifist, anti-war or not.
forextrader For tolerance now: Mexicans and Mexican-Americans can use a day without gringos, how about it? You sound a little dissapointed with your stay here in the USA, if you don't like the way we treat our criminals then stay home, in Mexico. Like the man says " If you come to Texas and kill somebody, we Texans will kill you back" Obey the laws or go home.
Mexican nationals have no sovereignty. It will never, ever happen. He got what any human being should get, and I can say that I am damn happy to have saved $.39 on a bullet by executing him. If you don't like it, don't come to AMERICA, the home where 7 generations of us native americans in my family have served this country. Yes, WE served this country in a way you are too cowardly to do, so you murder innocent people and call yourself tough. Hmph!
"And to rip off Hemingway, I think if it was open season on people for three days, most of the world's problems would be solved.
A little messy, but no more Bush, bye Cheney (and family) Congress, all lobbyists, Abramof is tortured to death. Hung in the oval office with Feith, Perle and Rice.
Namaste, would Ghandi really not dig this?
How about Christ? Would Jesus not favor approve?"
WOW!
No, Ghandi WOULD NOT DIG THIS! I am not Christian, and though many Christian hypocrites would DIG your proposal, Christ would not. To Quote Ghandi, "I do not like your Christians, they are so unlike your Christ". Remember it was Jesus who told Peter to put away his sword when the soldiers came for him. Jesus preached forgiveness and love, like Ghandi & Buddha. What happened to forgive you neighbor 70x7 times?
I say again WOW.
Oh, and as for the first part...the open season...I hate to break it to you, but what makes you think that this would be the result of open season day? I hazzard to guess that open-season day would result in much more liberal-hunting by neo-cons than the other way around. Be careful what you wish for...Perhaps they would be coming for you. Certainly nobody would be getting anywhere near Bush & Cheney.
On "Justice = Revenge".
Isn't that what justified so many wars? Doesn't that include Iraq (So many people wanted someone to PAY)?
I think you should do some deep thinking about what you really believe, you have some deep rooted contradictions that you need to address.
ToleranceNow: "At least this guy had the liberal minded Courts in his favor "
Liberal Minded courts? IN TEXAS? LOL!!!
Very Tolerant Indeed.
Rapists are the most vile of criminals, but if we are going to continue with our legal system, then it must be followed properly or we start down a slippery slope. It starts with this, but where does it end?
Wait until you face trial as a subversive and your rights are disregarded in similar fashion. I am sure the fascists will have mercy on you...they might even kill you quickly.
Forex, if you have a problem with gringos, get the fuck out of our country and get back to one of the third-world shitholes you seem to hail from.
Lisa, you continue to be right on the money, particularly about the scum in the bush administration. Why do you have such a problem with me that you don't want to admit we agree? You need to get over being arab and think more like an american. Here, politics makes strange bedfellows and you never know who you will be agreeing with.
Veracity, there is nothing "zionist" about wanting police who taser dead, or rapist scum like this guy getting his just desserts. Is lisa a zionist? Are ther Texas courts zionist? Of course not. If my zionism has any impact on my feelings here, its to reinforce the notion that nations have sovereignty over their own affairs, and the world court can fuck off.
A.S.: Out of curiosity, why do you say things like Rachel "belly-flopped" in front of that D9?
You make comments that appear designed to inflame anti-semitism, and I've wondered if you were not some Idaho Red-Neck trying to do exactly that.
You are like a German in 1943 trumpeting the wonders of, cheering for the ovens, at Dauchau and Treblinka.
You think your horrific rascism verbalized publicly is an ad for Judaism or Israel?
lisa, because she did, and in doing so took her life into her own hands. If the israeli army stopped bulldozing or moving stuff around because someone lays in front of a moving vehicle, the israeli army wouldn't be able to go anywhere. The result would be the destruction of israel and the deaths f israeli civilians. This is why the guy driving that bulldozer had to do what he did. He warned everyone that he wouldn't stop, and she went under it anyway. That's suicide.
I'm not here to be "an ad for judiasm or isarel". You know I only represent myself. Most jews don't talk anything like I do, and are more like most of you guys. I just think that's a fundamentally dishonest position. We are in a war of attrition against a group of people who have no higher goal in life then our murder. Was everything fairly done in 1948? Has israel always been perfect? Of course not. But when you are dealing with an enemy that seeks your destruction and gives no quarter, that enemies defeat must always come first on your priority list. If the arab would relax their intense hatred of israel, it would be possible for israel to relax its military readiness.
Now. What a lovely day. Namaste-I saw 6 is hopefullness, does this reflect your belief in Obama?
Just Kidding. 100%
Namaste, as we seek to transcend the world's fetters, distractions and obfuscations, Nirvana, Joy, though glimpsed along the way, are usually attained by degree, via meditation and seeking a path like the one you delineated.
Notice though that 1-22 all dealt with our own personal internal evolutions. -Monks don't seek enlightenment in cities-
I stumble when trying to integrate The Path in a world ripped to shreds by war and death, and God Help Me, I live in the womb of the beast (Not Israel, America.)
I cannot help but think of headshot Palestinian children (last week, two), The Congo, Torture, Cheney, 9-11.....Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran. Egypt, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuala, Somalia, DieBold, SAIC....and become furious.
So Furious about Death that when I hear about an animal SLAUGHTERING two children after RAPING them, little girls, I think as they did while they were dying Namaste, that is where I go.
And to their parent's souls. Dead forever now. Most parents of murdered children find closure if the killer dies, OR bitterness picturing him laughing with "the homey's in the yard" for the next 50 years.
Presence, I weep, but revere the path too.
PeaceOut, that is what my teenage daughter says....
So these useless animals rape and murder two girls and then expect politically correct sympathy from the courts?
Why should the international court get to tell an AMERICAN state how to conduct its justice system?
What a load of crap. This guy got what he deserved last night.
"lisa, because she did, and in doing so took her life into her own hands. If the israeli army stopped bulldozing or moving stuff around because someone lays in front of a moving vehicle, the israeli army wouldn't be able to go anywhere"
Well, I guess China is not so bad then!
Remember that classic photo of the protester blocking a line of Chinese tanks singlehandedly? A powerful image.
And yet as much as we demonize China, and for as bad as they really are on human rights abuses, even they would not just run down a man in cold blood. But then here we have Isreal...
If we use your logic of suicide because he had said he would not stop...then I guess loggers can just run down protesters next time they try to block them or cut down trees with protesters still chained to them. And the next time there is a strike at a plant, with picketers outside, just drive right through the blockade...if they don't jump out of the way then it's suicide and you can go on in clear conscience.
Jaguara
Namaste, I'd like to dip a needle into a gram vial and put 400 micrograms of pure crystal LSD under your tongue,
And my own, Touch God.
Be nice to Dose Cheney too, introduce him to everyone who died on 9-11.
The fathers of the dead girls expressed relief, Adolpho Pena said, "It's been a long time coming, fifteen years is a long time. I wish those little girls could have lived that long."
"The fathers expressed relief."
BOO HOO
Poor little rapist.
lisa3210peace August 5th, 2008 6:30 pm said:
>My teenage daughter is eight feet from me right now.
>
>This gentleman RAPED these two little girls? Pushed up inside them with his manhood, >these little virgins, came in them like they were filthy condoms, then MURDERED them?
>
>Texas should show him glossy color crime scene photos of his victims, then Drive 4″ >Nails through each of his testicles before he rides the needle.
>
>Corazon de Alma, poquito ninas.
Brilliant solution there lady. And who shall implement it? You? Your daughter? Too monstrous to consider? How do we deal with the executioner who commits this monstrosity which you advocate? How do we deal with the society which condones this monstrosity?