His Letter to the Editor of the Washington Post is titled, " Delay this execution."
The Post got it right in calling on government officials to diligently uphold our international treaty commitment to allow foreigners prompt and ongoing consular assistance [editorial, June 14]. My experience as a U.S. diplomat made clear that compliance with international obligations is critical to protecting Americans abroad, meeting foreign policy objectives and preserving our reputation as a law-abiding nation. The country’s interests are not served by violating international law — as happened in the case of death row inmate Humberto Leal Jr.
These concerns are why I joined several former U.S. diplomats and State Department officials in urging Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) to stay Mr. Leal’s execution. Congress recently introduced sound legislation to bring the United States into compliance with our undisputed treaty obligations and to allow federal court review of the violations of consular rights in cases such as Mr. Leal’s. Texas should stay his execution while legislation that could affect his case remains pending.
Pickering was undersecretary of state for political affairs from 1997 to 2000 and ambassador and representative to the United Nations from 1989 to 1992. The Post editorial, "Why the U.S. should allow arrested foreigners to contact their consulates," is noted in this StandDown post.
Earlier coverage of the Leal case begins with a New York Times editorial. Related posts are in the foreign citizen and international law indexes.
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