Letter to US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice

I mentioned in the previous posting on this blog, that Rebecca Roth was writing a letter that she hoped would reach US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. Below is that letter.

October 23, 2008

Condoleezza Rice
US Secretary of State, State Department
United States of America
Washington, D.C.

Secretary Rice,

My name is Rebecca Roth. I grew up in a country where one person can make a difference. But after the ordeal I have lived through for the past two years 8 months, I believe that one person makes no difference in our country. I have been in prison since my arrest on February 13, 2006. I write this from my prison cell near Guadalajara, Mexico.

When I moved to Mexico in 1998, I never knowingly rescinded any of my rights as a U.S. citizen under the Constitution. Dr. Rice, how could they be taken away from me without my knowledge? At no time have I ever been given legal assistance i.e. advice of my legal rights from my own government and more specifically from the Consular Agent in charge of services for American citizens. In fact, I was told they are prohibited from doing so.

For four and a half months after I was arrested, I had no interpreter. It was an inmate who told me that I had a right to an interpreter from day one, when I complained of not knowing what was going on; and she helped me file an inquiry with the Human Rights Administration. Later, an interpreter was provided. I had to find my own way through the labyrinth – known as the Mexican legal system. I was repeatedly told by the various rotating Consular officers that they could go only as far as insuring that “due process” was observed by the Mexicans. However, as the case progressed, I became aware that “due process” had become on of those vague terms whose definition can be altered at the whim of your staff and in the end meant nothing to any of them. Each time my family and I have brought the legal irregularities to the attention of the Consulate (or impediments to due process) we were patently advised that Mexico is a sovereign country and we cannot interfere. Yet we do, as in the Merida Initiative and the reason I feel compelled to contact you.

I was convicted of Organized Crime and Money Laundering. This unbridled injustice was accomplished without the evidence to do so.

I have been advised that may of my legal rights have been violated under US, Mexico and International law, yet there was no one to report this to. The authorities made me sign a paper that said I was fluent in Spanish and for almost a year I didn’t even know about it, until my attorneys, knowing I spoke very little Spanish asked me why I’d signed such a document.

There is a huge chasm between Mexico and the US which is broader than just language. Although they use the same terminology at time it doesn’t mean the same thing. Nor do they act or think in the same manner as I’m sure you are aware.

The laws on the books (at least in my case) are written in a straight forward and logical manner. When I first read a translation of the charges against me, I was mistakenly relieved to find out what they said. Because they could never prove what was required by the definition of the charges. I was under the naive notion that I would go free. They were able to convict me because the judge can widely interpret the evidence. You may wonder, why would the Judge do that? It’s very simple. The salary of a Judge is one of the highest available in the country. If they acquit people, the prosecutor’s can and do make life very difficult for them because they charge them with corruption and threaten to do so. Because of this, the Judges at least in the State of Jalisco condemn the majority of those arrested regardless of evidence. They simply want to protect their jobs and salaries. Receiving a minimum sentence such as I did can be translated to: NOT GUILTY. This minimum sentence is 9 years of my life! An abomination of justice.

The reason I am writing you is because I tried to get a message to you during your meeting with Patricia Espinosa. The office of Patricia Espinosa, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, your counterpart in Mexico on December 4, 2001, granted permission under #30356 for the real perpetrators of the crime I have been convicted of, to transfer a luxury property in Puerto Vallarta, valued at 2.5 million dollars, from the mother of Alyn Waage to his attorney, Marco Antonio del toro Careza for his attorneys fees. This house was purchased with money from Alyn Waage’s business, which has been considered illegal funds by the Mexican authorities. Therefore, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs is involved in some capacity.

I contacted the US Consulate once again but like always, I was shut down and told by your staff that it wouldn’t be appropriate for them to contact you, that not even they have access to you. The Assistant Director of this prison could not believe that in a democracy such as the US, the public servants are not accessible to the public who pay their salaries. I told her I was denied access in getting you this important message.

For this reason, she encouraged me to write this letter to you to prove to me that you will receive it and respond to me. You see any Mexican can send a message to any politician here and they can even make an appointment to see the President and it is granted.

THIS IS THE MESSAGE

I was convicted of a crime I did not commit, without evidence against me. The US Consulate witnessed my trial and saw the lack of evidence and did nothing to prevent it as they cannot interfere. Yet, we do interfere when we send billions of taxpayer’s dollars to a country to prosecute Organized Crime (ironically the same crime I was convicted of); in a country well known for their corrupt and unjust legal system and we provide funding for them to perpetuate their injustices and system of impunity and privilege without sufficient checks and balances beyond words.

Our country turns a blind eye based upon the erroneous belief that justice will be served. Until we understand the tribal mentality of Narcotics traffickers who as everyone knows control geographical areas, provide work for it’s citizens, aid for the elderly and it is inbred into the fabric of the Mexican Economy, how can anyone expect to resolve this problem by supplying, arming and training the authorities to launch a more and better equipped assault against these groups. Many here have used the word “civil war” to describe the numerous armed conflicts now taking place…and the death toll rises daily.

Dr. Rice. How can you and your staff turn a blind eye while this injustice and corruption runs unchecked? Ask yourself why do the Mexicans risk life and limb to cross the border? For decent work to support their families. Why then do the Mexicans join the drug mafias? The same reason, for work – decent pay and to support their families. How do you end the flow of illegals into the US and deal the death blow to the drug traffickers? Provide the Mexicans with decent good paying jobs in their own country.


Dr. Rice, I am currently fighting this sentence through the Mexican legal system and I ask you to please help me.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Roth
US Citizen in good standing


Your comments would be appreciated, as well as any efforts you might make on behalf of Rebecca Roth. At the end of my previous posting, I provided a link to contact the State Department in hopes of reaching Dr. Rice. Below, find that link again. Please do what you can to bring to light the injustice that has been brought on a US citizen in a foreign land and demand that our government take steps to ensure justice for one of our own.

To send an electronic note to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, click on this Contact the State Department Link asking Secretary Rice to now get involved. In the area called Additional Information... Search by Topic: select Secretary of State.

Maybe with enough people reaching out, we can make a difference.