France threats to boycott Mexican cultural events

As if the Mexican government wouldn’t have enough problems at home, a diplomatic crisis with the French government is adding pressure to President Felipe Calderon’s administration.

As of today,  some France’s authorities have threatened to boycott, or even cancel, all Mexican cultural events scheduled this year in that country because of what they call “a denial of justice” in the case of Florence Cassez, a French citizen, who was arrested in 2005 because her alleged participation in a series of kidnappings.

Cassez was sentenced to a 60-year prison term in a judicial process in which the prosecutors argued that she was part of Los Zodiaco, a criminal organization dedicated to kidnappings. The charges against her were mainly based on testimonies of the victims and documents seized during her capture at a ranch in Mexico, where three hostages were released. She was arrested in companion of Israel Vallarta, the ringleader of Los Zodiaco, with who she had a relationship.  Since her arrest, she has always pleaded her innocence.

French authorities have sustained that multiple irregularities were committed during Cassez’s arrest and prosecution. Among other things, they argue that there was not a truly investigation in the case, that her consular rights were not protected and that the trial was affected by the fact that she was paraded in front of the media as guilty.

Cassez’s lawyers appealed the 60-year prison sentence, but last Friday a Mexican appeals court upheld it.

The case has ignited passion not just from Mexican citizens –who are divided between those who believe in Cassez’s innocence and those who consider that there were enough evidences to convict her– but also from French citizens, who want to see their compatriot released.

According to press reports, next Monday, French President Nicolas Zarkozy will meet with Cassez’s family to discuss the case.

Besides the appeals court’s ruling, the last word on Cassez’s case has not been said. The defense lawyers said they would take the case to the Inter American Commission of Human Rights, which means that there will be more controversy.

In the end, this seems to be one of the cases in which politics will play a huge role in the outcome.

If the Mexican government has a strong and firm case against Cassez they will have to demonstrate it with irrefutable evidences and strong judicial arguments. But the same criteria would apply for the French government, which will have to convince –with irrefutable and judicial arguments too– the international courts of the innocence of its citizen.

In the meantime, the diplomatic exchange will continue and most likely the talks will be aimed to find a diplomatic solution to this political crisis. However, it is not likely to think of a win-win situation for any of the countries involved,  because when politics and economics come into place, the issue of justice could pass to a second place.

 

 

Comments

[Ed Aguirre]

My guess would be that Mexico can get by without cultural exchanges with France.Zarkozy should focus on solving the myriad of problems that are engulfing his nation.

[Honest Abe]

Boycott this country where it is very dangerous

and where there is no law and no order and no

Justice.

A country where it is easy for the Police to frame

Innocent People who did nothing but yet are held

Against their Will and thrown in Prison.