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March 13, 2001 "We want them out." -- Mexico's President Vicente Fox to Amnesty International's Secretary General Pierre Sané, referring to his support for releasing environmental defenders Rodolfo Montiel and Teodoro Cabrera from prison, March 13, 2001. In a stunning and Kafkaesque ruling on July 17, the convictions of Rodolfo Montiel and Teodoro Cabrera were upheld in spite of evidence that they were tortured into confessing to crimes they didn't commit and in spite of consistent public support from President Fox and members of his administration for their release. This is the clearest indication yet that in Mexico it simply isn't safe to be an environmentalist and that the old guard in Mexico is still in power. "This stunning ruling against Rodolfo and Teodoro will have an extreme chilling effect on other environmentalists in Mexico," said Alejandro Queral, of the Sierra Club's Human Rights and the Environment Program. "Such a ruling establishes the shocking and Kafkaesque precedent that confessions obtained under duress of torture are admissible and sufficient for convicting Mexican citizens of crimes they didn't commit. President Vicente Fox's administration, which has been trying to position itself as a leader on human rights, has lost much credibility, not only among the human rights and environmental communities, but also among the international community." The new administration of President Vicente Fox came to power last December promising environmental and human rights reforms. In this case, both President Fox and members of his administration, particularly Minister of the Environment Victor Lichtinger, have expressed strong public support for the environmentalists. However, this ruling, and the actions of the old guard in the Mexican government, represented by Attorney General Rafael Macedo de la Concha, who filed an opinion of guilt with the court, make clear that Mexico has made little if any progress in implementing these essential reforms. The Sierra Club is deeply concerned about the implications it will have on the ability of environmentalists to protect the earth. Photo: Rodolfo Montiel Flores Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use |
