More Justice for Brenda Martin

I write this as someone who has every intention of voting Liberal in the next election, but every time Stephane Dion politically positions himself on an issue, or opens his mouth at all, I cringe, and wonder if I’ll be able to go through with it.

With regard to the Brenda Martin situation, Stephane Dion has put his head metaphorically up his keester just in time for Easter. Shockingly, he has equated the brand of justice that Brenda Martin faces in Mexico with that which Mohamed Kohail faces in Saudi Arabia. In the absence of a demand from Stephen Harper to release Brenda Martin, Dion has declared hypocritical our governments advocacy on behalf of Kohail, who faces execution by having his head cut off with a sword. Therefore, in Stephane Dion’s mind, executing a Canadian citizen using distinctly medieval means is no different than detaining a Canadian citizen for two years while she changes legal teams repeatedly and uses procedural technicalities and constitutional challenges which have the effect of delaying her own trial.

Canada has to recognize the integrity of an independent judiciary, which Mexico has. So when Mr. Dion says: “How, then, can he say that Canada will intervene with Saudi Arabia to spare the life of Mr. Kohail?” In saying something so irresponsible as this, he may score some political points amongst people whose sympathy exceeds their ability to think clearly, but he is ruining his credibility amongst the others. Keep in mind, that Canada asked for clemency for a man sentenced to death in Texas even though he freely admitted his guilt. The issue is the death penalty. We don’t recognize the right of any country to put a citizen of ours to death – guilty or not. We do however recognize the integrity of other countries’ legal systems insofar as they have integrity, and we also recognize that our citizens have to obey the laws of the countries that they visit.

No Brenda Martin supporter is calling for a speedy and fair trial. They are demanding immediate release citing an affidavit signed by a con artist saying that Brenda Martin was unaware of the activities of the company that she worked for – and invested in.

That affidavit seems to carry a lot of weight in the media, but in a trial, according the Mexican authorities, it will be placed beside a written confession signed by Brenda Martin. Who knows if that confession was made under some form of duress? That is something that would come to light in a fair trial. The other evidence in the case will also be presented. If she were to receive a speedy and fair trial, could any one in Canada complain about that? I mean, if she is guilty, she should be subjected to punishment under Mexican law right? Of course, that is only provided that the punishment fits the crime, and is not seen to be cruel and unusual as is the case with the imminent beheading of another Canadian, who, in the face of Dion’s superior political logic, I will admit is not white.

If Brenda Martin will advise her lawyers to abandon the procedural delay tactics and constitutional challenges and move to trial, we, as Canadians, after having heard the evidence against her, may owe Mexico an apology for the outrage and disrepect we have shown.

The role our government can play in this situation is to help ensure the trial is fair. If it is not, Mexico should be subject to sanctions. At such a time as Brenda Martin has been convicted without a fair trial, then the Canadian government should demand her immediate return.