(11/04/06) -

Mexico Divided Over Capital Punishment

- Mexican adults are split on whether the death penalty should be used in their country, according to a poll by Parametr­a. 44 per cent of respondents disapprove of the death penalty, while 38 per cent are in favour of it.

- Mexican adults are split on whether the death penalty should be used in their country, according to a poll by Parametr­a. 44 per cent of respondents disapprove of the death penalty, while 38 per cent are in favour of it.

The Mexican Constitution allows capital punishment in certain circumstances—such as acts of treason—but no person has been executed in the country for more than 50 years. In 2002, Mexican president Vicente Fox cancelled a trip to the U.S. in 2002, over the execution of a Mexican citizen in Texas.

Last month, Mexican attorney general Daniel Cabeza de Vaca acknowledged that the government is having a hard time dealing with drug traffickers, adding, “(Police officers) do not have any training, there are no controls, and there is no coordination between police agencies. (…) The tools aren’t there to fight (crime) as people are demanding.”

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Clayton Consultants Inc. chairman Thomas Clayton said the border city of Tijuana might have the most kidnappings in the world, outside of the Middle East. 55 per cent of respondents think allowing the death penalty would help to reduce the level of insecurity in Mexico, up five points since May 2004.

Polling Data

Do you approve or disapprove of the death penalty?

Some people think allowing the death penalty would help to reduce the level of insecurity in the country, while others believe the death penalty would not help as a deterrent. Which position do you agree with?