Latest update: 23/03/2011 

- Florence Cassez - France - Mexico


Relations between France and Mexico turn icy over Florence Cassez's jail sentence

The French woman imprisoned in Mexico for being part of a kidnapping gang has lost her final appeal against her sentence. Judges have decided to uphold the 60 year sentence given to Florence Cassez in 2006, despite several requests by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to let her return to her home country. As a result, relations between France and Mexico are becoming increasingly strained.

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Florence Cassez needs to pay

Florence Cassez needs to pay on Mexico jail for the kidnapping crime

Mexican POV

I am Mexican and not as nationalist as you may think and i am aware of the huge problems in some parts of Mexico, but she has been judged by 3 different independent Tribunales (Ok, maybe some mexicans are corrupt, that is a cancer which has been hard to get rid of, due to the implicit way to handle things in lower class, but i know we are more good Mexicans that those who want to seek for the bad of this rich and vas country). We have to understand this, the kidnapping victims (whom we should actually be talking about, instead of florence) have confirmed she was part of the process including her participation in extracting blood from a kid that was kidnapped, in order to send along with a human ear to his father who was previously released to gather the money to pay the kidnappers that brought up pressure towards the family to get things done ASAP, a fact that no one can deny is that french accent is always noticeable weather they speak english, spanish or any language and the victims have claim to identify this accent, this is why i don't think she is innocent. Is she the guiltiest? Maybe not, maybe she was afraid too, maybe she is just cold blooded and careless about the victims, but she didn't only knew about the poeple that was hidden in the house she lived in, but she did nothing about it, and this is why she must remain in jail, i agree 60 years is almost an everlasting sentence for Florence, maybe it could be less, but the truth is that no head of state is in the position to argue or question a desition of a sovereign country for more good intention they may have, the years when France was a world superpower and their choices and declarations were heard everywhere have finished, and a prove to that is the behavior of the French president, the foreign affair chancellor, and the Minister of culture their comments have nothing to do with a refined diplomatic response, i am glad Mexico has responded by not participating in a One year celebration that according to Sarkozy, would have seeked to bring up Cassez issue (a convicted criminal) in every single event which falls too far apart to the main purpose of L'annne du Mexique au France. Nationalism and some people on the other end in Mexico should be more informed about foreign affairs, the treaty signed by Mexico & France in 2007 and the comparission to what an international prissioner could handle in its own country.

Hopefully for the sake of Mexico-France deep friend relationship, this will get to a good outcome and each of the counterparts can go half way into fixing this outstanding and stupid issue.

Andrés Serrato. Cancún Mexico

Florence trial

"The trial has been demonstrated", is the Mexico’s government statement. I know, because of course I really know how they work, that Mexico police accused several mistakes, because they did not follow the legal procedures. But one thing is certain; Florence for any reason was there…it means something... whatever, but something.

On the other hand regarding to the President of France request. Even though it was denied by Mr. Calderon, in that moment precisely , they both together would ask for a third party institution, for instance an International Court to determine whether she is guilty or not. Now for having omitted being polite which is the essence of diplomacy , we are involved in unnecessary troubles.

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