The arbitrary and illegal detention of Nestora Salgado was not only planned, but federal and Guerrero state governments have perversely managed the judicial proceeding in order to keep her in prison since August 2013, without any evidence against her, charged César Rivero Espinoza, a lawyer for the Regional Coordinator of Community Police [CRAC] in Olinalá.
Rivero argued that 30 months after a judicial process plagued with irregularities, in which none of the people who are accusing her of kidnapping has declared*, the defense is presenting various alternatives on her behalf. One, he said, is withdrawal of charges by Guerrero State Attorney General. Another is the legal proceeding such that the judicial process might be rerun in full [in effect, a mistrial, such that the judicial proceeding would be completely done over]. In addition, the state Congress might approve an amnesty law that would benefit Salgado.
*MV Note: Under Mexican law, plaintiff's 'declaration' is a formal legal statement made before the court. Moreover, if plaintiff fails to show up to declare, the accused is presumed innocent. This is thus one of the irregularities cited by Salgado's attorney.As a participant in the forum "Justice for Whom? For Nestora Salgado's Release" held last night at the Faculty of Law of the UNAM [National Autonomous University of Mexico], Rivero noted that the first options are "objective and real", and that the defense is working along these legal paths.
Rivero underscored that, although it has been said that Nestora Salgado is a U.S. citizen, during the judicial process she has not delivered any evidence proving it. The situation has been remedied with a document issued by the United States Embassy, a point that could help reposition the process. Spanish original
For more on this story, see Nestora Salgado.
Related MV Translations:
Related MV Translations:
- Mexico Drug War-Guerrero: UN Group's Resolution to Release Nestora Binding on Government (2/4/2016);
- Mexico Drug War-Guerrero: Nestora Salgado's Arrest "Illegal and Arbitrary" - UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (2/3/2016);
- Mexico Drug War-Guerrero: Nestora Salgado's Letter from Tepepan Women's Prison (8/28/2015);
- Mexico: Guerrero State Superior Court to Streamline Nestora Salgado's Judicial Process (8/26/2015);
- Nestora Salgado, the Narco-State and Patriarchal Violence (8/24/2015);
- Nestora Salgado Should be Released Immediately" - Human Rights Groups (8/12/2015);
- Witnesses Against Nestora Salgado Fail to Appear to Testify; Process Delayed (8/11/2015);
- Nestora Salgado Presents Her Case (8/10/2015);
- Nestora Salgado Charges: "The Criminals Respected Community Police; The Government Wanted to Destroy Us" (6/23/2015);
- Nestora Salgado Is Illegally Imprisoned; Victim of Irregular Court Proceedings (5/11/2015);
- Mexico-Guerrero: Defending CRAC-PC In Its Time of Crisis (7/19/2014);
- Community Police and Self-Defense Groups: A Necessary Distinction (1/23/2014);
- Self-Defense Groups and Community Police Are Not the Same (1/20/2014);
- "Being a Community Police Officer Is Not a Choice, But An Assembly Decision" (9/27/2013);
- Community Police Justice Focuses On Re-Education, Study and Work for 'Criminals' in Guerrero, Mexico (6/9/2013);
- Leaders of CRAC Community Police Defend Their 17-Year Record of "Good Work" (3/22/2013).