NEWS RELEASES

April 15, 1998 No. 90

CANADIAN EMBASSY IN MEXICO OUTLINES ROLE IN RECENT CONSULAR CASE

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade today outlined the role played by the Canadian Embassy in Mexico City during the expulsion from Mexico of Sarah Mireille Baillargeon and Julie Marquette on Sunday, April 12.

"The Canadian Embassy in Mexico City went out of its way to provide consular assistance to the two Canadians," said Ambassador Stanley Gooch. "Lines of communication were established early and Canadian Embassy staff acted in a timely and professional fashion to ensure their well-being," he added.

The two Canadians entered Mexico on tourist visas and did not register with the Embassy, nor did they inform the Embassy of their whereabouts or activities.

At about 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, the Canadian Embassy was informed about the detention of the two Canadians by the Mexican government. The Consul immediately contacted Mexican immigration authorities, and enquired about their whereabouts and well-being. They were then contacted in San Cristobal by the Consul.

They informed him that they were well and had not been mistreated. The Consul reported to them that immigration authorities would discuss their status on Easter Sunday. At their request, the Consul attempted to reach Renaude Grégoire, head of the Quebec non-governmental organization, Salut le Monde, with which they are affiliated. A message was left on her answering machine.

On Sunday, April 12, the Consul was unable to reach the two Canadians during the day because they were in transit to Tuxtla Gutierrez and then to Mexico City. He went to the airport that evening in an attempt to see them. Unable to locate the area where they were being held, the Consul subsequently spoke with both of them by phone. He told them that Renaude Grégoire and their parents had been informed about their situation.

The two Canadians requested and were given the Consul's direct telephone number so that they could discuss their situation at a later date. They also requested that the Embassy pick up and return to them their belongings left in San Cristobal, about 15 hours by car from Mexico City. The Embassy has agreed to do so and it has confirmed the whereabouts of their effects, which will be picked up next week when the Embassy makes one of its regular visits to Chiapas.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade issued a Travel Information Report at the beginning of March, noting that the Mexican Government is vigorously enforcing migratory legislation, and recommending obtaining the proper visa.

The Canadian Government believes it is important that national and international human rights organizations be able to travel freely and report on areas of concern.

Minister Axworthy will be discussing the expulsion of the two Canadians later this week in Santiago, Chile, with Mexican Foreign Secretary Rosario Green.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Debora Brown

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

Eduardo Del Buey

Embassy of Canada, Mexico City

011-52-5-724-7900

This document is also available on the Department's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca