The Hindu : Fox cancels U.S. in protest

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 16, 2002

International

International

Fox cancels U.S. in protest

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington AUG. 15. The President of Mexico, Vincente Fox, has cancelled a visit to Texas and a meeting with the President, George W. Bush, at his ranch to protest the State's execution of a Mexican national who had been convicted of killing a law enforcement officer.

Javier Suarez Medina, a Mexican national, was put to death by lethal injection on Wednesday night after clemency petitions were rejected. The Government of Mexico, aside from protesting capital punishment, had been trying to make the point that Suarez was not given consular access at the time of arrest as required by the Vienna Convention. Under the Vienna Convention of Consular Relations, foreign nationals detained must be informed of their right to contact their consulates and missions.

The State Department, which was peppered with questions on the kind of role it was playing, argued that it did not have a legal determination on whether or not Suarez was given consular access. Foggy Bottom maintained that its role was on passing along letters and documents from the Government of Mexico relating to consular access to authorities in Texas.

"This decision is an unequivocal rejection of the execution. It would be inappropriate, in these lamentable circumstances, to go ahead with the visit to Texas'', a spokesman for the Mexican leader remarked.

The White House has tried to downplay the cancellation of Mr. Fox's trip to Texas. "President Bush respects President Fox and the two have an excellent professional relationship... President Bush looks forward to his next meeting with President Fox'', a White House spokesman said. No dates have been set for the next meeting and administration officials are saying that Mr. Fox's decision will not "dent'' the bilateral relationship.

Suarez admitted he shot and killed an anti-drug enforcement officer during a raid in Dallas in 1988, but said that he did not know the victim was a police officer. Mexico has been maintaining that Suarez is a national of its country; but officials in Texas have been saying that it was not clear on which side of the border Suarez was born.

Mr. Fox has been in a difficult political position for the impression has been that the Mexican leader has not had any impact or influence on its northern neighbour. Also, the Mexican leader had been told by his party to stay with the travel plans and deliver a strong but respectful message to the Governor of Texas. According to the Government of Mexico, 54 Mexicans are facing the death penalty in the United States, 17 of them in Texas.

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