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Why don't Americans massively protest against the illegal execution of Humberto Leal Garcia?
The American public is enraged about the Casey Anthony case. Because their judicial system operated correctly, but had an outcome that went against their biased and non-relevant expectations.
In the meantime, the state of Texas has illegally executed, -- that is: murdered --, a person. 38 year old Humberto Leal Garcia was killed by people who bound him to a bed and put a potent poison in his blood until a heart attack was provoked..
At the onset of his case, and as a foreigner, Humberto Leal Garcia had the right to seek advice from his consular service before engaging in a dialogue with those who questioned him. However, he was denied this right. This is in violation of the Vienna Convention - one of the most modern instruments of justice, crafter by none other than the U.S. itself in 1963.
To many non-Americans' amazement, most U.S. citizens don't care about this case.
However, the illegal act and the precedent it sets puts Americans everywhere in the world in danger.
So why don't they protest? Why is the Casey Anthony case seen as important (while it is not), whereas the Leal Garcia case isn't even mentioned in the mainstream American media (while it is very important for all Americans)?
Stephen Lewis
I am still testing the waters of Barack Obama's transparent government. I have spoken with a live person at his web site
http://my.barackobama.com
5 minutes ago. I withdraw my comment that it is all bullshit until I get a response back from them.
I am responding to your question and will keep you posted as to what I find. It is very important to me because the integrity of America is at stake once again. If my questions get answered and something gets resolved here, it will prove the power of the citizens of the globe.
Lindsay Newland Bowker 50+
The President did all he could, and for good reason, but under U.S.Law the rape Lael Garcia committed is a state crime , not a federal crime so the Federal Government had no jurisdiction. Obama introduced a Law that would allow Federal intervention when Vienna Convention rules are violated as they were by the State of Texas but it has not yet won support for passage.
Although rapist Lael Garcia had lived in the U.S. since he was two he was not a U.S. citizen and was entitled to notify the Mexican consulate at the time of his arrest for his heinous crime. Had notice been made,however, the outcome would have been the same. Rapist Lael Garcia would have been kept in the U.S., tried and executed.
Stephen Lewis
I sent the email to the President asking how he intended to respond to a Governor who ignores international law and I believe vigilantism is illegal even in the state of Texas so national law. This is what I have received;
The White House, Washington
July 15, 2011
Dear Friend:
Thank you for your kind note. Your thoughtful words join a chorus of millions of Americans who are eager to lead our Nation towards a brighter tomorrow.
Each day, I am inspired by the encouraging messages of hope and determination I have received from people across the country. With the magnitude of challenges we face, we will only overcome them if our imagination is joined to common purpose.
The future we leave to our children and grandchildren will be determined by our willingness to shoulder each other's burdens, take great risks, and move forward as one people and one Nation. With your help, we will build on what we have already achieved and lay a new foundation for real and lasting progress.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
To which I replied;
"This is more "BULLSHIT" This is not a response to what I wrote. Thank You for mass emailing an empty letter. How is this supposed to inspire people?"
President Obama has done exactly what he said he would by making the government "Transparent". I see that there is no intention of letting America's democratic society have any "REAL VOICE". He might as well be Chairman Mao.
Dan Willis
justine laine
Tim blackburn 30+
Stephen Lewis
Laurens is absolutely right. There is The Constitution, there is due process, there is agreed upon international law.
The fact is, despite warning from not only President Bush, President Obama and the Mexican government, Governor Rick Perry took it upon himself to administer justice. That is vigilantism and is against the law.
Are we citizens under "Perry Law"? If we are then I am going to enact "Lewis Law". Chaos to follow.
Leal was remorseful and accepted his fate and I have to assume that the Mexican authorities would have dealt with his punishment to the fullest degree.
I emailed Governor Brown, of California and The White House using my "Perry Law" comment the night this was posted, as per my civic duty, to voice concern over losing my protection under the law.
1. If you live in Texas be very afraid. That man thinks he can do what ever he wants.
2. If you are an American citizen jailed in a foreign country and you think Perry's actions were justified, then you are saying that that country does not have to follow international law.
Good luck on your vacation to Tijuana.
Salim Solaiman 50+
intension of media I am always skeptic about.
Stephen Lewis
If he was a British citizen, I can only imagine, he would not have been executed. I guess I should not make that statement but it is how I feel.
Stephen Lewis
I have not had much interest in the current propaganda machine, oops I mean the news, for quite some time now. I will ask for a response from Gov. Jerry Brown and from President Obama. Very little can be done now for that man, but someone needs to justify that action.We, as people cannot tolerate that behavior.
If I accept the injustice done to another, then I have to accept when injustice is done to me.
Harald Jezek 50+
Laurens Rademakers 50+
By ignoring the Vienna Convention, Texas has endangered the lives of all Americans abroad.
J Ali
Laurens Rademakers 50+
J Ali
Laurens Rademakers 50+
The discussion is about respecting the Vienna Convention, so that when you are in trouble abroad, you retain your basic right of consulting with people from your embassy or consulate.
Harald Jezek 50+
In any case, I doubt it would have made any difference in this particular case.
J Ali
Harald Jezek 50+
As I said, most people just don'1 feel any urgent need to defend a murderer and rapist.
Whether the law was properly observed is a different question.
Ed Schulte 50+
it will be of interest to myself to hear what responses you receive to your question. I can't reply ...I am Canadian and the death penalty has been abolished for 20 years in Canada ...for what it is worth here is an amnesty intern. overview of the statistical results since implementation.
http://www.amnesty.ca/deathpenalty/canada.php
The case you ref. didn't become news ( I follow the BBC) until after the fact here in Canada, the key point now seems to be this
"He was not told he could have access to Mexican consular officials, in violation of the Vienna Convention." from this source.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14089246
I, for one, fully doubt that the UN will have any influence now or no any future similar situation.....so what to ask you ...from a European perspective...... is the UN even relevant anymore. Is it time of to from a new World Council / not based in New York or USA / ??
Julie Ann 10+
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/08/humberto-leal-garcia-executed-texas
" Texas has executed a Mexican-born man after the US supreme court and the state's governor, Rick Perry, spurned appeals from Barack Obama to spare the convicted murderer's life in order to protect US interests abroad.
Humberto Leal Garcia was executed by lethal injection for the rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl despite appeals of senior diplomats, military officials and prominent politicians who said the execution could jeopardise the lives of Americans.Shortly before Leal was led into the death chamber in Huntsville the supreme court rejected by 5-4 an appeal from the White House to block the execution on the grounds it was in breach of an international convention governing the treatment of foreigners who are arrested and would therefore do "irreparable harm" to America's interests.
Perry also declined to exercise his power to delay the execution by 30 days. His office argued that Leal was guilty of a heinous crime and deserved to die..."
Salim Solaiman 50+
Don't know anything about the case of Humberto except what you wrote. It's really a shock for me. The intension & role of media in our life is really big question mark to me all the time.....
Want to hear from TED friends from US
Just check the one of the TED talk which also talks about the justice system of US
http://www.ted.com/talks/aaron_huey.html