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A6 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 6 sepTember 2022
Mexico’s Supreme Court debates mandatory pretrial detention

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexi- clare the practice uncon-
co’s Supreme Court held a stitutional. But the court
first day of debate Monday must still hear a more lim-
on the country’s policy of ited appeal on the same
mandatory pretrial deten- grounds that would benefit
tion as President Andrés only the plaintiffs in a par-
Manuel López Obrador ac- ticular case.
cused the justices of violat- Supreme Court Chief Jus-
ing the separation of pow- tice Arturo Zaldivar wrote
ers. Suspects accused of in his Twitter account Mon-
the most violent crimes sel- day that the court “is start-
dom get released on bail ing debate on one of the
anywhere in the world. But most transcendent topics
in Mexico, López Obrador for the constitutional sys-
has expanded the list of tem and people’s human
charges that require a sus- rights. We will do it with in-
pect to be detained pend- dependence and full re-
ing trial to 16, including sponsibility.”
some nonviolent crimes. Only about two of every 10
Some justices argue the people accused of a crime
policy violates international in Mexico are ever found
treaties barring pretrial de- guilty. That means that of
tention in all but “excep- the estimated 92,000 sus-
tional” cases to prevent pects held pending trial
suspects from fleeing jus- often in the same cells with
tice. But López Obrador hardened criminals around
says that’s up to Congress Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador speaks during his State of the Nation address at 75,000 won’t be convicted
to decide. the National Palace in Mexico City, Sept. 1, 2022. Associated Press despite sometimes spend-
“If they cancel this article, ing years locked up in Mex-
it is an open invasion of it is a complete violation of far less than the amount of of international treaties. ico’s crowded, dangerous
the powers of the legisla- the Constitution.” time most people spend The court then adjourned prisons.
tive branch, and it would Supreme Court Justice Luis awaiting trial. until Tuesday, when the Trials in Mexico can drag on
violate the balance and Maria Aguilar argued that But other judges disagreed, rest of the 11 justices are for a surprisingly long time.
separation of powers,” pretrial detention amount- saying the court didn’t expected to present argu- Two men were recently
López Obrador said Mon- ed to a “sentence carried have the authority to de- ments. released with ankle moni-
day before the court ses- out beforehand,” noting clare an article of the con- The proceedings Monday tors after spending 17 years
sion opened. “I don’t think some charges carried sen- stitution unconstitutional made it appear likely there in prison while on trial for
they will dare to, because tences of just a few months, based on the supremacy aren’t enough votes to de- murder.q

Sri Lanka refuses international human

rights investigation

The statement is a retrac- upcoming Human Rights rights violations. The gov-
tion of President Ranil Wick- Council meetings starting ernment was accused of
remesinghe’s earlier stance Sept. 12 in Geneva, Switzer- bombing hospitals and
when he was prime min- land. The sessions continue places where displaced
ister. In 2015 he co-spon- until Oct. 7. Tamil civilians had taken
sored a resolution agreeing In March last year, the temporary shelter, and
to a joint investigation of council adopted a resolu- controlling supplies of med-
alleged abuses with partici- tion strengthening the Of- icine and food as a weap-
pation by Commonwealth fice of the U.N. High Com- on of war. The government
and other foreign judges, missioner for Human Rights has denied the allegations.
Foreign minister of Sri Lanka Ali Sabry gestures as he addresses defense lawyers, autho- to collect, analyze and The rebels were accused
media in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, Sept. 5, 2022. rized prosecutors and in- preserve information and of recruiting child soldiers,
Associated Press
vestigators. develop possible strategies using civilians as human
By KRISHAN FRANCIS community in seeking clo- Wickremesinghe is currently for future accountability for shields and killing those try-
Associated Press sure for human rights issues, supported in Parliament by violations of human rights in ing to flee their control.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) but that any solution should lawmakers loyal to his pre- Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is presently going
— Sri Lanka will not accept conform with the country’s decessor, Gotabaya Raja- Sri Lanka fought a civil war through its worst econom-
any international investiga- Constitution. paksa, who was a defense with now-defeated Tamil ic crisis in its history and is
tion imposed by the U.N. “Any external mechanism, official during the war and Tiger rebels, who fought for seeking international assis-
Human Rights Council into external evidence gather- holds hard-line views on the an independent state for tance.
alleged rights abuses dur- ing mechanism, charging U.N.’s role on Sri Lanka. the country’s ethnic minor- It has defaulted on repay-
ing the country’s long civil citizens outside the coun- The Office of the U.N. High ity Tamils. Government sol- ment of foreign loans and is
war, an official said Mon- try, getting hybrid judges to Commissioner for Human diers crushed the rebels in suffering acute shortages of
day. Foreign Minister Mo- come and hear the cases, Rights is scheduled to pub- 2009. fuel, medicines and some
hamed Ali Sabry said the all these are against the lish an update on Sri Lanka’s Both government troops foods because it does not
government is willing to en- Constitution. So we can’t progress in accountability and the rebels were ac- have foreign currency to
gage with the international agree to that,” he said. for the alleged abuses at cused of serious human pay for imports.q