REPORT
Nº 124/01 CASE
12.387 ALFREDO
LÓPEZ ALVAREZ HONDURAS December
3, 2001 I.
SUMMARY
1.
On December 13, 2000, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
(hereafter “the Commission” or “IACHR”), received a petition
submitted by the Organización
Fraternal Negra Hondureña, OFRANEH [“Honduran Black People’s
Fraternal Organization”], represented by its president Mrs. Gregoria
Flores (hereafter “the Petitioner”], on behalf of Mr. Alfredo López
Alvarez, a Honduran citizen of Garífuna descent (hereafter “the
victim”), against the Republic of Honduras (hereafter “the Honduran
State”, “Honduras”, or “the State”).
The petition declares that the victim is a recognized Garífuna
leader, a defender of his people’s human rights, that in this context he
was arrested on April 27, 1997, and accused of a crime that he did not
commit, that he has been held until this date in preventive detention, and
that his case is still at the indictment stage.
The violations denounced relate to alleged irregularities committed
by the justice authorities during the criminal proceedings undertaken
against the victim, involving trial for the crime of possession of and
trafficking in narcotics, whereby the Honduran State violated the right to
due process, to judicial guarantees and to the right of equality before
the law, enshrined in the American Convention on Human Rights (hereafter
“the Convention” or “the American Convention”). 2.
With respect to admissibility, the Petitioner argues that her
petition is admissible, in light of the exceptions to the requirement of
exhaustion of domestic remedies and the deadline for submitting the
petition, as stipulated in Article 46(2)(a) and (b) of the Convention. 3.
For its part, the State argues, on the question of admissibility,
that Mr. Alfredo López Alvarez was imprisoned for the crime of possessing
and trafficking in narcotics, one for which release on bail does not
apply, that all guarantees granted by the right of legitimate defense have
been observed, and that criminal justice actions available under Honduran
domestic legislation are still in process. 4.
The Commission considers that the Petitioner’s charges, if
proven, could constitute violations by the State of the right to personal
liberty (Article 7), the right to a fair trial (Article 8), the right to
equality before the law (Article 24), the obligation to respect rights
(Article 1(1)) and the right to judicial protection (Article 25), of the
Convention, to the prejudice of Alfredo López Alvarez, and after
examining the positions of the parties and fulfillment of the requirements
stipulated in Articles 46 and 47 of the Convention, it has concluded that
it is competent to hear the complaint and to declare the petition
admissible. II. PROCEEDINGS
BEFORE THE COMMISSION
5.
On December 13, 2000, the Commission received the petition
submitted by the Petitioner against the Honduran state, and on January 11,
2001, it sent the relevant portions of the petition to the State and
requested it to transmit any observations with respect to how the
complaint should be handled, within 30 days.
On March 23, 2001, the Petitioner requested the Commission to order
precautionary measures on behalf of the victim, in light of the fact that
he had been removed from the Tela Penal Center, and that his whereabouts
was unknown at the time of the application.
The Commission asked the State to provide information on the
application for precautionary measures, on the same date.
On March 24, the Commission was advised by the Petitioner, by
telephone, that Mr. Alfredo López Alvarez had been transferred to the
Cortés Penal Center. On
April 11, 2001, the Commission again asked the State to submit
observations on the petition, the relevant portions of which were sent to
it on January 11, 2001. 6.
On April 20, 2001, the State sent the Commission its observations
on the petition and on the request for precautionary measures, and these
were duly transmitted to the Petitioner.
On May 25, 2001, the Petitioner sent to the Commission her response
to the State’s observations. On
June 15, 2001, the Petitioner sent the Commission a copy of the decision
of May 2, 2001, of the La Ceiba Court of Appeals, declaring null
and void the decision to take the case to plenary, and ordering that
procedural irregularities be remedied and that a new judgment be issued.
On that same date, the Commission requested additional information
from the State and from the Petitioner.
On August 9 and 10, 2001, the Petitioner and the State,
respectively, sent the Commission their responses to these requests, with
the relevant information. 7.
On August 23, the Petitioner submitted additional information,
which was sent to the State on August 24, 2001.
On November 20, the State submitted additional information which
was transmitted to the Petitioner. 8.
During its 113º regular session, the Commission intended to hold a
hearing, but this was suspended at the request of the Petitioner, for
reasons of force majeure. III.
POSITIONS OF THE PARTIES A.
The Petitioner
9.
In the complaint, the Petitioner declares that the OFRANEH was
created in 1978 to defend the individual and collective rights of the Garífuna
people, rights that for decades had been usurped.
Beginning in 1992, the tourist business Marbella and other foreign
investors, with the complicity of the civilian and military authorities,
had usurped the property rights of the Garífuna community of “Triunfo
de la Cruz”, located in the municipality of Tela.
Faced with the loss of their lands, community and national
organizations launched a series of complaints, and were successful in
having some of the usurping acts of the tourist promoters suspended.
During this struggle, according to the Petitioner, Mr. Alfredo López
Alvarez distinguished himself as an outstanding defender of the rights of
the Garífuna people. The
Petitioner maintains that, because Mr. Alfredo López Alvarez acted as
secretary of OFRANEH and president of the Committee for the Defense of
Tribunal Lands (CODET), he was arrested on April 27, 1997, in the city of
Tela, together with Messrs. Luis Angel Acosta Vargas and Zuni Loreto Cubas,
and accused of possessing and trafficking in narcotics.
The Petitioner claims that the victim is innocent of the crime of
which he is accused, and that the accusation for which he was arrested is
a fabrication concocted by persons with an interest in the Garífuna
lands, together with government agents, in order to frighten and inhibit
the Garífuna people from defending their territories. 10. The Petitioner
maintains that during the criminal trial of the victim there were serious
irregularities, that he was not offered elementary judicial guarantees,
and that due process and the right to a fair trial have been violated.
She adds that the victim was convicted on November 7, 2000, in the
court of first instance, without any evidence to demonstrate his guilt,
and was sentenced to 15 years in prison and a fine of one million lempiras.[1] 11. The serious
irregularities during the criminal trial are clear to see, according to
the Petitioner, in the negative outcome of the second analysis of the drug
sample that was supposedly seized from the accused.
This analysis was conducted on May 4, 1998,[2] by the Toxicological
Chemical Laboratory, and was in fact ordered by the court hearing the
case. Although the result was
negative,[3]
the court did not terminate proceedings.
As additional information, the Petitioner submitted a resolution of
the Court of Appeals of La Ceiba, dated May 2, 2001,[4]
relating to an appeal brought against the initial conviction.
In that resolution, the court noted that a number of irregularities
had been committed during the procedures, and declared null and void all
judicial actions taken since the decision of October 8, 1997, opening the
plenary trial. Moreover, it
ordered the case to be returned to the court of first instance, to correct
the errors indicated in that resolution.
The operative portion of the court resolution indicates: In
the present case, neither the public prosecutor who appointed the
narcotics agents who carried out the operation, nor the judge of first
instance took the pains to summon those persons to their offices, and were
content to rely upon the statement of a journalist who did not witness the
seizure of the drug, which means that the investigation into the facts was
not completed. Moreover,
during the confrontation hearing, the accused was forced to testify under
oath, all of which constitutes a violation of constitutional guarantees to
the right of defense and due process.”
The resolution adds “that the foregoing procedural irregularities
constitute a violation of compulsory standards, the penalty for which is
absolute nullity of proceedings, which this tribunal is obliged to declare
ex officio.[5] 12. The resolution
of the Court of Appeals of La Ceiba returned the case to the
indictment stage, which means that the victim has been in preventive
custody since April 27, 1997, until today, or 56 months, without
completion of indictment proceedings, nor has his guilt been demonstrated
in the crime of which he is accused.
On July 20, 2001, according to additional information from the
Petitioner, an appeal for habeas corpus[6]
was brought before the Court of Appeals of La Ceiba on behalf of
the victim, but this was declared out of order on July 23, 2001. 13. With respect to
the precautionary measures requested on behalf of the victim, on March 23,
2001, the Petitioner, in her observations to the response of the State,
declared that the transfer of Mr. López Alvarez from the Tela Penal
Center to the Cortes Center was arbitrary.
She also indicated that in 1999 a complaint had been brought before
the Honduran Committee on Human Rights (CODEH), because the Director of
the Tela Penal Center, Mr. Nasir López, prohibited the victim from
speaking in Garífuna with his family when they visited him, noting that
by using this language he could transmit information to denounce the
arbitrary measures that had been committed against the prisoners.
The Petitioner states that the events of March 22, 2001,
represented a reprisal by the head of the penal center, who had ordered
the “Mara 18”[7]
to attack the prisoners because they had organized a Committee for the
Defense of Prisoners (CODIN), of which Mr. López Alvarez was vice
president. 14.
The Petitioner maintains that her petition is admissible, because
of the exceptions to the requirements for exhaustion of domestic remedies
and the time limit for submitting a petition, provided in Article 2(a) and
(b) of the Convention. B.
The State
15. On April 24,
2001, the State sent the Commission its response to the petition and the
application for precautionary measures. 16. With respect to
the petition, the State declared that Mr. López Alvarez was in custody
for the crime of possessing and trafficking in narcotics, a crime which
according to Honduran legislation did not allow for provisional release.
With respect to the process, it reported that the sentence of the
Tela court (file 2852-2001) convicting Mr. López to 15 years imprisonment
and payment of a fine of one million lempiras, was appealed to the
Court of Appeals of the city of La Ceiba, and that it was pending
decision by that tribunal, which must either confirm the sentence or
overturn it on legal grounds. Finally, the State declared that in the present case all
guarantees covered by the right to legitimate defense had been observed.[8] 17. With respect to
the application for precautionary measures, the State attached a note from
the Director of the Penal Center of Tela addressed to the judge of the
sectional court of Tela, Lizeth Gomez Robleda, reporting on the violent
events that had happened in that center, provoked by the prisoners
themselves, which had resulted in several injuries and death threats,
including against the prisoner Alfredo López Alvarez.
It adds that the decision to transfer him to the penal center of
Puerto Cortés was taken on instructions of the senior authorities of the
Secretariat of State for Security, to ensure his personal safety, and to
avoid possible bloodshed. 18. On August 10,
2000, in response to a request from the Commission for information, the
State reported, with respect to the above-mentioned resolution of the
Court of Appeals of La Ceiba dated May 2, 2001, as follows: a)
Proceedings have returned to the indictment stage.
With nullity having been declared, the parties are free to present
the relevant evidence. The
court annulled proceedings because, despite having twice summonsed the
police officers who had arrested the accused, those officers were never
subjected to legal examination because they failed to appear in court.
The State notes that, in returning the case to the indictment
stage, the Court of Appeals had allowed the attorneys for the accused
ample opportunity to present evidence. b)
The State adds that the law sets no specific time period for
correcting the errors identified by the Court of Appeals, and that they
must be rectified as quickly as possible. c)
It declares that, given the nature of the crime of which the
accused are standing trial, national legislation does not offer the
benefit of an alternative to imprisonment.
Moreover, Decree No. 127/1996, which provides benefit of release
for persons held under preventive detention in penal institutions,
establishes that prisoners who are being tried for the crimes of treason,
parricide, murder, kidnapping, rape, robbery followed by homicide, or
automobile theft may not benefit from those provisions, nor may those
imprisoned under the law on illicit use and trafficking of drugs and
psychotropic substances, regardless of the degree of the crime, the form
of participation, or the degree of guilt of the accused. d)
Finally, it indicates that Honduran criminal legislation sets no
maximum limit on preventive detention in criminal proceedings. 19. With respect to
admissibility, the State maintains that criminal proceedings are still
underway, as provided in Honduran domestic legislation, and that all of
the guarantees pertaining to the right of legitimate defense have been
observed. IV. ANALYSIS
WITH RESPECT TO COMPETENCE AND ADMISSIBILITY
A.
Competence of the Commission, ratione
loci, ratione personae, ratione termporis, ratione materiae 20. The Petitioner
is entitled, under Article 44 of the American Convention, to bring
complaints before the Commission. The
petition in question names individuals as presumed victims whose rights,
as enshrined in the Convention, the State of Honduras was bound to respect
and guarantee. As concerns
the State, the Commission notes that Honduras is a party to the American
Convention, having ratified it on September 8, 1977.
The Commission therefore has competence ratione
personae to hear the complaint. 21. The Commission
has competence ratione loci to hear this petition because it alleges violations of
the rights protected in the American Convention, committed within the
territory of a member State. 22. The Commission
has competence ratione termporis, because the facts alleged in the petition took
place when the obligation to respect and guarantee the rights established
in the Convention was already in effect for the State. 23. Finally, the
Commission has competence ratione materiae, because the petition alleges violations of human
rights protected in the American Convention. B.
Requirements of admissibility a.
Exhaustion of domestic remedies 24.
Article 46(1)(a) of the Convention establishes, as a requirement
for admitting a petition, that the remedies available under domestic
jurisdiction have been exhausted, in accordance with generally recognized
principles of international law. Article 46(2) of the American Convention establishes that the
provision of Article 46(1)(a) shall not apply when: a) the domestic
legislation of the State concerned does not afford due process of law for
the protection of the right or rights that have allegedly been violated;
b) the party alleging violation of his rights has been denied access to
the remedies under domestic law or has been prevented from exhausting
them; or c) there has been unwarranted delay in rendering a final judgment
under the aforementioned remedies. 25.
In the current case, the State opposed the exception of
inadmissibility in the initial stage of proceedings, because of the
failure to exhaust domestic remedies, and declared in its response to the
complaint that judicial proceedings consistent with domestic legislation
were still underway. 26.
The Petitioner, on the other hand, alleges that there has been
excessive and unjustified delay in handling criminal proceedings against
the victim, and that serious irregularities have been committed during the
process. 27.
The Commission has indicated as a general rule that a criminal
investigation must be conducted promptly in order to protect the interests
of the victims, preserve evidence and safeguard the rights of any person
who might be considered a suspect in the course of the investigation.[9]
The Commission appreciates that the Court of Appeals of La Ceiba
has overturned the conviction because of procedural irregularities.
Nevertheless, it notes that, although 56 months have passed since
the investigation began, it is still at the initial indictment stage, and
the accused remain in preventive custody, which constitutes clear evidence
of delay and little regard for the effectiveness of those remedies, for
purposes of the requirement established in Article 46(2) of the American
Convention. As the
Inter-American Court has indicated, while any criminal investigation must
comply with a series of legal requirements, the rule of prior exhaustion
of domestic remedies does not mean that international intervention on
behalf of victims must be delayed until it is useless. 28.
Therefore, given the characteristics of the present case, the
Commission considers that the exception stipulated in Article 46(2)(c) of
the American Convention is applicable, and that the requirements of the
American Convention with respect to the exhaustion of domestic remedies do
not apply. 29.
It remains to note that invoking exceptions to the rule of local
remedy exhaustion as stipulated in Article 46(2) of the Convention is
strictly related to determining possible violations of certain rights
enshrined therein, such as the right to a fair trial, personal liberty,
equality before the law, and judicial protection.
Nevertheless, Article 46(2), because of its very nature, is a
standard that must prevail independent of the substantive standards of the
Convention. Therefore, the
determination of whether the exceptions to the rule of local remedy
exhaustion stipulated in that role are applicable to the case in question
must be made in advance, and separately from the analysis of the substance
of the issue, since it depends on a standard of appreciation different
from that used in determining violations of Articles 8, 7, 24 and 25 of
the Convention. As to the
causes and effects that have prevented the exhaustion of domestic remedies
in this case, they will be analyzed, as they apply, in the report that the
Commission will adopt on the substance of the dispute, in order to
determine whether they actually constitute violations of the American
Convention. 30.
With respect to the exhaustion of remedies and the length of
imprisonment, the Commission notes that Honduran legislation, as the
government indicates, does not permit a person to be released from prison
if he is being processed for crimes such as those of which Mr. López is
charged. Therefore,
consistent with Article 46(1)(a), the petitioners are exempt from
exhausting the remedies of internal jurisdiction. b.
Time limit for submission 31.
Article 46(1)(b) establishes that one of the requirements of
admissibility for a petition is that it must be "lodged within a
period of six months from the date on which the party alleging violation
of his rights was notified of the final judgment". 32.
Article 46(2) of the American Convention establishes that the
provision of Article 46(1()(b) will not apply when: a) the domestic
legislation of the State concerned does not afford due process of law for
the protection of the right or rights that have allegedly been violated;
b) the party alleging violation of his rights has been denied access to
the remedies under domestic law or has been prevented from exhausting
them; or c) there has been unwarranted delay in rendering a final judgment
under the aforementioned remedies.
33.
In the case in question, fulfillment of the requisite established
in Article 46(1)(b) of the American Convention is related to the
application of the exceptions to domestic remedy exhaustion established in
the Convention, as discussed in the previous paragraphs. 34.
Therefore, the Commission finds that the petition is not subject to
the requirement of Article 46(1)(b) of the Convention, and that it has
been presented within a reasonable time limit. c.
Duplication of proceedings and judgments 35.
Articles 46(1)(c) and 47(d) of the Convention establish as
requirements of admissibility that the subject of the petition or
communication is not pending in another international proceeding for
settlement and that it is not substantially the same as one previously
studied by the Commission or by another international organization. 36.
The file does not suggest that the petition is pending settlement
in another international proceeding, or that it is substantially the same
as one previously examined by the Commission or by another international
organization. 37.
The Commission therefore includes that the requirements established
in Articles 46(1)(c) and 47(d) of the Convention have been met.
d.
Characterization of the alleged acts 38.
Article 47(b) of the Convention establishes that any petition will
be inadmissible if it “does not state facts that tend to establish a
violation of the rights guaranteed by this Convention”. 39.
The Commission considers that the Petitioner's allegations, if
proven, could characterize a violation of the rights guaranteed in
Articles 7, 8, 25 and 24 of the Convention, taken in concordance with
Article 1(1) of that international instrument. 40.
The Commission therefore considers that the requirements of Article
47(b) and (c) of the American Convention are satisfied. V.
CONCLUSIONS 41.
The Commission concludes that it has competence to hear the
complaint submitted by the Petitioner, and that the petition is admissible
in accordance with Articles 46 and 47 of the Convention. 42.
On the basis of the arguments of fact and of law set forth above,
and without prejudice to the substance of question, THE
INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, DECIDES: 1. To declare admissible the complaint of the Petitioner on the
presumed violation of Articles 7, 8, 24, 25 and 1(1) to the prejudice of
Mr. Alfredo López Alvarez. 2.
To notify this decision to the Honduran State and to the
Petitioner. 3.
To continue its analysis of the substance of the case; and
4.
To publish this decision and include it in its Annual Report to the
OAS General Assembly. Approved by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on December 3, 2001. (Signed): Claudio Grossman, President; Juan E. Méndez, First Vice-President; Marta Altolaguirre, Second Vice-President; Commissioners Robert K. Goldman, Peter Laurie and Julio Prado Vallejo.
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[1]
Mr. Acosta Vargas received the same sentence. Mr. Zuni Loreto Cubas
died on June 25, 1999, while he was being held under preventive
detention [2]
Page 128 of the file examined at proceedings before the Sectional
Court of Tela, beginning on April 28, 2997, against Messrs. Luis Angel
Acosta Vargas, Zuni Loreto Cubas and Alfredo López Alvarez. [3]
Results of the preliminary analysis issued on May 14, 1997, tested
positive. [4]
Document attached by the Petitioner, received on June 15, 2001. [5]
Resolution of the Court of Appeals of La Ceiba, dated May 2,
2001. [6]
Document submitted by the Petitioner, received August 23, 2001. [7]
A gang of delinquents. [8]
Communication from the State received on April 23, 2001. [9] Report Nº 34/01, Case 12.250, Massacre at Mapiripan, Annual Report of the IACHR 2001, paragraph 24. |