November 16, 2000

Univision interviews Consul General of Mexico

The article, Mexican Consul General forced out by mutiny, appearing on the Internet pages of HispanicVista.Com caused Univision Spanish television news to seek an interview with Mexico Consul General Gabriela Torres Ramirez.

Appearing on the 6 o'clock news, Torres Ramirez denied the letter signed by 22 Consulate employees and the Bon Sandoval letter were the reasons for her departure. She told Univision that she was leaving at the end of the month because it coincided with the change of presidential administration, not as had been reported in the Internet (HispanicVista.com). However, in apparent contradiction, she then said she would be leaving some days earlier than the end of the month.

The article signed by the 22 Consular employees noted mistreatment, abuse and deterioration of morale due to firing of some employees without cause, and lack of support for community efforts traditionally given by the Consulate. The letter was addressed to Secretary of Foreign Relations (SRE), Rosario Green.

The Bon Sandoval letter related how her immediate superior the Consulate administrator was doctoring expense reports submitted monthly to the SRE. This letter was also sent to the Secretary.

During the Univision interview Torres Ramirez only made mention of the letter signed by the 22 employees, ignoring completely the Bon Sandoval letter or make any other reference to the article appearing on the HispanicVista.Com web site.

Univision also reported that they have received information from consulate employees that there were continuing repercussions towards employees who had signed the letter.

HispanicVista received a call from a family member of a consulate employee, who requested confidentiality for fear that her relative would be fired. She stated that already firings had started, and that others were under such duress with threats of being fired either "today or tomorrow" by Torres Ramirez.

The source said that Torres Ramirez was a "personal friend" of outgoing President Ernesto Zedillo and for that reason had not been removed from office before this date. She confirmed that Torres Ramirez had been scheduled to vacate her post on November 14^th, but since the appearance of the "article" on the Internet, she had called Mexico City to request a few more days to give the appearance of non-truth to the article.

HispanicVista sent Torres Ramirez a fax memorandum with a copy of the article, an invitation to respond, and an offer to provide her with copies of the letters and other information sources on request. Additionally, "if your office has contradictory information, please provide it and a retraction will be made," read part of the memorandum.