MEXICO. PARLIAMENT ABOLISHES CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR MILITARY CRIMES

Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies abolished the death penalty for military crimes. With 346 votes in favour, none against, and three abstensions the plenum ratified the amendements to the Code of Military Justice which had already been approved by the Senate in April 2004. The changes to the code, which were much sought after by President Vicente Fox's government with the backing of the military, substituted the death penalty with imprisonment of between 30 and 60 years.
"Each and every person should be considered for what they are and not as a means for reaching other objectives. The application of the death penalty had a purpose which went beyond that of the condemned person," declared PAN deputy Fernando Pérez.
The PRD, which voted in favour of the amendement, had asked for more lenient prison sentences, of between 20 and 40 years.
"It would be more in line with sanctions based on principles of humanity and of rehabilitation and it would avoid the idea of a merely symbolic, demogogic and repressive choice," stated PRD deputy Cristina Portillo in presenting the amendement which was received by the by the Chamber.
Although still present in the country's constitution, the death penalty cannot be imposed for it is not provided for in either the civil or federeal laws of Mexico. With the elimination of the death penalty from military law, Mexico can be considered to be a completely abolitionist state.
The last execution carried out in Mexico was in 1961 when infantryman Isaías Constante Laureano was put to death for the murder of an official in Saltillo Coahuila. Since then 32 people condemned to death under military law were either pardoned or had their sentences commuted.