HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CALLS ON UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO STAY EXECUTION OF MEXICAN NATIONAL

13 August 2002




United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson has appealed to the United States Government to stay tomorrow’s scheduled execution in Texas of Javier Suarez Medina, a Mexican national, so that his case might be reviewed.

In a letter to United States Secretary of State Colin Powell, Mrs. Robinson wrote that according to representations made to her, Mr. Suarez Medina’s right as a foreign national to seek legal assistance from his consulate was not respected, as established by the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Mr. Suarez Medina was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1989.

The High Commissioner added that there were serious concerns that the trial proceedings in the case of Mr. Suarez Medina had not complied with international human rights standards, in particular the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty.




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