Language

Justice is Arbitrary

Submitted September 28, 2008 - 1:59 pm by Kristin Bricker

The work isn't over for activists here in Mexico and in the US.  Justice is arbitrary in Mexico, so it's hard to give an estimate of what the penalty could be.  It all depends on how much of a fight we put up.

There is no death penalty in Mexico. It hasn't been used in decades, and it was officially outlawed under former President Fox.

To give you an idea of the arbitrariness of justice here:

Ignacio del Valle, leader of the Popular Front in Defense of the Land in San Salvador Atenco, was arrested for kidnapping police officers (No one kidnapped cops.  If someone kidnapped the cops then where are the missing cops?  There are none and there never were.) and attacking the means of communication (it's like incomoding, except it's a big crime here because it's easy to pin on activsts).  He received 112 years in prison.  He's currently locked in a maximum security prison with...

Daniel “El Mocha Orejas” Arizmendi, who kidnapped at least 21 people and murdered at least 3 of them.  When he was captured he was found to be in posession of at least a dozen weapons (Mexico isn't the US.  Civilians can't carry guns here at all--his guns were former property of the Mexican Army and Air Force).  His nickname is "El Mocha Orejas" because he used to cut off the ears of his victims to encourage ransom payments.  He was sentenced to 50 years.

The organizations who denounced Sally's murder have vowed to keep up the fight to make sure justice is served.  US activists will have to do the same, to get the US consulate in Oaxaca to pressure the Oaxacan attorney general's office to carry out a full investigation.

I would encourage people to contact Friends of Brad Will if they want to help put pressure on the Oaxacan government.  Through their efforts to seek justice in Brad's case, they already have contacts in the US and Mexican government.  Unfortunately, they've had to play this game before.  They would be a good resource.  Their webpage is www.friendsofbradwill.org

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