Definition of Treason

In the legislation Criminal law in most countries specifies that a legal asset must be protected. Yes one conduct opposes a recognized legal good (for example, freedom of expression), the law establishes a series of possible sanctions. In this sense, the interests of a state are protected by law and constitute a legal asset.

If someone acts against said interests, he is committing a crime of treason.

Actions that could constitute a crime against national interests

The war situation is considered undesirable. For this reason, if an individual collaborates with a foreign power to declare war on his own nation, he would be a traitor to the country.

If a person is in the service of a foreign power and engages in espionage, his unfair conduct could be considered treason.

If one or more people resort to force of arms to oppose the interests of his country, such action constitutes a crime against the nation.

Terrorist acts, the disclosure of secrets of national interest or serious offenses to the symbols of the state are also actions that can be considered within this criminal category.

Obviously, if the disloyalty to the nation is extremely serious, the action has a higher category and is called a crime of high treason. An example of this criminal figure could be a coup by the country's own armed forces.

Treason or high treason is understood as a national security problem

In the majority of existing criminal codes this criminal figure is valued as an attack on the safety national. Thus, everything that undermines the independence of a state, that involves a conspiracy against the authority or opposes territorial integrity are attacks on the state and should be repressed and punished. As in other situations, the charge of high treason may be related to political interests.

It is considered that there is a violation of state security when an action threatens the stability of national interests. In this sense, the various forms of treason against the fatherland constitute an obvious risk against national security.

The case of La Melinche

When the Spanish conquered the territory Mexican in the seventeenth century, there was the first mixed marriage between a Spanish and an indigenous woman. This union was that of Hernán Cortés and a Nahua woman, known as La Melinche. For many Mexican historians, the Melinche is considered the first traitor of the country.

Photos: Fotolia - Ivan Nikulin / Stegworkz