|
Case
11.712 - Report Nº 64/01, Leonel de Jesús Isaza Echeverry (Colombia)
126.
On
April 6, 2001, the IACHR issued Report Nº 64/01 on Case 11.712
concerning the extrajudicial execution of Leonel de Jesús Isaza
Echeverry and another person and made three recommendations. Its first
recommendation was to “conduct an impartial and effective
investigation before ordinary jurisdiction for the purpose of judging
and sanctioning those responsible for the extrajudicial execution of
Mr. Leonel de Jesús Isaza Echeverry.” The State (Note
DDH 47157 from the Department of Human Rights and International
Humanitarian Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dated December
16, 2002) reported that the coordination office of the Human
Rights Group at the Ministry of Defense had requested that the
Military Criminal Justice Department expedite the case that is ongoing
under its jurisdiction. This action was taken, the State affirms,
without prejudice to the decision of the Superior Council of the
Judiciary concerning the conflict of jurisdiction caused when the
Public Prosecutor’s Office requested the Prosecutor of the Second
Division to refer the case to the jurisdiction of the ordinary courts.
Suffice it to say that the case continues in the military criminal
justice system and has not been transferred to the ordinary courts. It
can be concluded, therefore, that there has been no progress toward
compliance with this recommendation as there has been no investigation
within the jurisdiction of the ordinary courts.
127.
The second
recommendation was to adopt the measures necessary for redress for the
consequences of violations committed to the detriment of María
Fredesvinda Echeverry and Lady Andrea Isaza Pinzón, as well as
providing due indemnity for the relatives of Leonel de Jesús Isaza
Echeverry. The State reported that the Committee of Ministers had
decided on May 3, 2002 in favor of offering the corresponding
compensation to the victims and their relatives.
However, neither the amount nor the payment of the
corresponding compensation has been determined; therefore there has
been no effective compliance with this recommendation.
128.
The third
recommendation was to adopt the measures necessary to avoid similar
events from occurring in the future, in compliance with the obligation
to prevent and to guarantee the basic rights recognized in the
American Convention, as well as adopting the necessary measures for
full compliance with the doctrine developed by the Colombian
Constitutional Court and by this Commission in the investigation and
judgment of similar cases by ordinary criminal justice. In that
connection, the State presented information on past legislative
reforms, objectives, training programs, and strategies. The measures
cited have been and will continue to be evaluated in the general
reports of the IACHR and by the Commission in the exercise of its
various functions.
Case
11.421 - Report Nº 93/00, Edison Patricio Quishpe Alcívar (Ecuador)
129.
In Report Nº
93/00 of October 5, 2000, the IACHR made the following recommendations
to the Ecuadoran State:
1.
To recognize that the State has made payment of US$30,000 in
compensation, and has failed to carry out its commitment to punish the
persons responsible for the violation alleged and to pay interest for
the delinquency in paying the compensation.
2.
To urge the State to take the necessary measures to carry out
the commitment to pursue civil and criminal proceedings and to seek to
impose punishment on those persons who, in the performance of
government functions or under the color of public authority, are
considered to have participated in the alleged violation, and the
payment of interest for the delinquency in payment of the
compensation.
3.
To continue to monitor and supervise implementation of the
friendly settlement, and in that context to remind the State, through
the Office of the Attorney General,
of its commitment to report to the IACHR every three months as
to performance of the obligations assumed by the State under this
friendly settlement.
130.
To date, the Ecuadoran State has not
reported on its compliance with the IACHR recommendations listed
above. The petitioners
reported that they were unable to obtain any information from the
State on the respective investigative processes.
As such, the Commission presumes that there has been no
compliance with the recommendation in question.
Case
11.439 - Report Nº 94/00, Byron Roberto Cañaveral (Ecuador)
131.
In Report Nº
94/00 of October 5, 2000, the IACHR made the following recommendations
to the Ecuadoran State:
1.
To recognize that the State has made payment of US$7,000.00 as
compensation, and that it has failed to carry out its commitment to
punish the persons responsible for the violation alleged, or to pay
interest for the delinquency in payment of the
compensation.
2.
To urge the State to take the measures needed to carry out the
pending commitment to bring civil, criminal, and administrative
proceedings against those persons who, in the performance of state
functions, participated in the alleged violations, and to pay interest
for the delinquency in payment of the compensation.
3.
To continue to monitor and supervise implementation of the
friendly settlement agreement, and in this context to remind the
Ecuadorian State, through the Office of the Attorney General, of its
commitment to report to the IACHR every three months on progress in
carrying out the obligations assumed by the State under this friendly
settlement.
132.
To date, the Ecuadoran State has not
reported on its compliance with the IACHR recommendations transcribed
above. The petitioners
reported that they were unable to obtain any information from the
State on the respective investigative processes. As such, the
Commission presumes that there has been no compliance with the
recommendation in question.
Case
11.445 - Report Nº 95/00, Angelo Javier Ruales Paredes (Ecuador)
133.
In Report Nº
95/00 of October 5, 2000, the IACHR made the following recommendations
to the Ecuadoran State:
1.
To acknowledge that the State punished those responsible for
the violation but has failed to pay the US$15,000 in
compensation.
2.
To urge the State to take the necessary steps to fulfill the
pending commitment regarding payment of the compensation.
3.
To continue to monitor and supervise compliance with the
friendly settlement agreement and, in this context, to remind the
State, through the Office of the Attorney General, of its commitment
to report to the IACHR every three months on compliance with the
obligations assumed (by the State) under this friendly
settlement.
134.
To date, the Ecuadoran State has not
reported on its compliance with the IACHR recommendations transcribed
above. Thus the Commission presumes that
there has been no compliance with the recommendation in
question.
Case
11.466 - Report Nº 96/00, Manuel Inocencio Lalvay Guamán (Ecuador)
135.
In Report Nº
96/00 of October 5, 2000, the IACHR made the following recommendations
to the Ecuadoran State:
1.
To recognize that the State has made payment of US$25,000 as
compensation, and has failed to carry out its commitment to punish the
persons responsible for the violation alleged.
2.
To urge the State to take the measures needed for carrying out
the commitments still pending with respect to bringing to trial the
persons considered responsible for the facts alleged.
3.
To continue to monitor and supervise compliance with each and
every point of the friendly settlement agreement, and, in this
context, to remind the State, through the Office of the Attorney
General, of its commitment to inform the IACHR, every three months, as
to the performance of the obligations assumed by the State under this
friendly settlement agreement.
136.
To date, the
Ecuadoran State has not reported on its compliance with the IACHR
recommendations transcribed above. The petitioners reported that they
were unable to obtain any information from the State on the respective
investigative processes. As such, the Commission presumes that there
has been no compliance with the recommendation in question.
Case
11.584 - Report Nº 97/00, Carlos Juela Molina (Ecuador)
137.
In Report Nº
97/00 of October 5, 2000, the IACHR made the following recommendations
to the Ecuadoran State:
1.
To recognize that the State has made payment of US$15,000 as
compensation, and that it has failed to carry out its commitment to
punish the persons responsible for the violation alleged.
2.
To urge the State to take the measures needed to comply with
the pending commitments to punish the persons responsible for the
violation alleged.
3.
To continue to monitor and supervise compliance with each and
every point of the friendly settlement agreement, and in this context
to remind the State, through the Office of the Attorney General, of
its commitment to report to the IACHR every three months regarding
performance of the obligations assumed by the State under this
friendly settlement agreement.
138.
To date, the
Ecuadoran State has not reported on its compliance with the IACHR
recommendations transcribed above. The petitioners reported that they
were unable to obtain any information from the State on the respective
investigative processes. As such, the Commission presumes that there
has been no compliance with the recommendation in question.
Case
11.783 - Report Nº 98/00 - Marcia Irene Clavijo Tapia (Ecuador)
139.
In Report Nº
98/00 of October 5, 2000, the IACHR made the following recommendations
to the Ecuadoran State:
1.
To recognize that the State has made payment of US$63,000 as
compensation, and to note its failure to carry out its commitments to
punish the persons responsible for the violations alleged and to pay
interest for the delinquency in payment of the compensation.
2.
To urge the State to take the measures necessary to carry out
the commitments pending with respect to bringing to trial and
punishing the persons responsible for the violations alleged, and to
paying interest for the delinquency in payment of the compensation.
3.
To continue to monitor and supervise each and every one of the
points of the friendly settlement agreement, and, in this context, to
remind the State of its commitment to report to the IACHR every three
months regarding performance of the obligations assumed by the State
under this friendly settlement agreement.
140.
To date, the Ecuadoran State has not
reported any information on compliance with the IACHR recommendations
shown above. The petitioners reported that they have been unable to
obtain any information from the State on the respective investigative
processes. For these reasons, the Commission presumes that there has
been no compliance with the recommendation in question.
Case
11.868 - Report Nº 99/00 - Carlos Santiago and Pedro Andrés Restrepo
(Ecuador)
141.
In Report Nº
99/00 of October 5, 2000, the IACHR made the following recommendations
to the Ecuadoran State:
1.
To recognize that the State has made payment of US$2,000,000 as
compensation, and note that it has failed to carry out its commitment
to search for the bodies and to punish the persons responsible for the
violation alleged.
2.
To urge the State to take the measures needed to comply with
the commitments still pending to carry out the total, definitive, and
complete search for the bodies of the two brothers, and the criminal
trial of the persons considered to have participated in the torture,
disappearance, and death of the Restrepo Arismendy brothers, as well
as in covering up those acts.
3.
To continue to monitor and supervise compliance with the
settlement agreement, and, in this context, to remind the State,
through the Office of the Attorney General, of its commitment to
report “periodically, upon request of the Inter-American Commission
on Human Rights or the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, as to the
performance of the obligations assumed by the State under this
friendly settlement".
142.
To date, the Ecuadoran State has not
reported any information on compliance with the IACHR recommendations
shown above. The petitioners reported that they have been unable to
obtain any information from the State on the respective investigative
processes. For these reasons, the Commission presumes that there has
been no compliance with the recommendation in question.
Case
11.991 - Report Nº 100/00, Kelvin Vicente Torres Cueva (Ecuador)
143.
In Report Nº
100/00 of October 5, 2000, the IACHR made the following
recommendations to the Ecuadoran State:
1.
To recognize that the State has made payment of the US$50,000
in compensation, and to note its failure to carry out its commitments
to punish the persons responsible for the violation alleged, and to
pay interest for the delinquency in payment of the
compensation.
2.
To urge the State to make the decisions needed to carry out the
pending commitments to bring to trial the persons considered
responsible for the facts alleged, and to pay interest for the
delinquency in payment of the compensation.
3.
To continue to monitor and supervise compliance with each and
every one of the points of the friendly settlement agreement, and, in
that context, to remind the State, through the Office of the Attorney
General, of its commitment to report to the IACHR every three months
on performance of the obligations assumed by the State under this
friendly settlement agreement.
144.
To date, the Ecuadoran State has not
reported any information on compliance with the IACHR recommendations
shown above. The petitioners reported that they have been unable to
obtain any information from the State on the respective investigative
processes. For these reasons, the Commission presumes that there has
been no compliance with the recommendation in question.
Case
11.478 - Report Nº 19/01, Juan Clímaco Cuellar et
al. (Ecuador)
145.
In Report Nº
19/01 of February 20, 2001, the IACHR made the following
recommendations to the Ecuadoran State:
1.
To acknowledge that the State has made payment of US$100,000 as
compensation to each of the victims of the situations alleged, and to
note the lack of compliance with respect to the punishment of the
persons responsible for the violation alleged, and with respect to the
payment of interest for the delay in payment of the above-noted sum.
2.
To urge the State to adopt the measures needed to comply with
the commitments pending with respect to the trial of the persons
presumed to be responsible for the facts alleged.
3.
To continue to monitor and supervise the implementation of each
and every point of the friendly settlement agreement, and, in this
context, to remind the State, through the Office of the Attorney
General, of its commitment to inform the IACHR every three months of
compliance with the obligations assumed by the State under this
friendly settlement.
146.
To date, the Ecuadoran State has not
reported any information on compliance with the IACHR recommendations
shown above. The
petitioners reported that they have been unable to obtain any
information from the State on the respective investigative processes. For these reasons, the Commission presumes that there has
been no compliance with the recommendation in question.
Case
11.512 - Report Nº 20/01, Lida Angela Riera Rodriguez (Ecuador)
147.
In Report Nº
20/01 of February 20, 2001, the IACHR made the following
recommendations to the Ecuadoran State:
1.
To acknowledge that the State has made payment of US$20,000 as
compensation, and has initiated the judicial proceedings with respect
to the sanction of the persons implicated in the facts alleged.
2.
To urge the State to adopt the necessary measures to conclude
implementation of the commitment regarding the trial of persons
implicated in the facts alleged.
3.
To continue to monitor and supervise compliance with each and
every one of the points of the friendly settlement, and, in this
context, to remind the State, through the Office of the Attorney
General, of its commitment to inform the IACHR, every three months, of
its compliance with the obligations assumed by the State under this
friendly settlement agreement.
148.
To date, the Ecuadoran State has not
reported any information on compliance with the IACHR recommendations
transcribed above. The
petitioners reported that they have been unable to obtain any
information from the State on the respective investigative processes.
For these reasons, the Commission presumes that there has been
no compliance with the recommendation in question.
Case
11.605 - Report Nº 21/01, René Gonzalo Cruz Pazmiño (Ecuador)
149.
In Report Nº
21/01 of February 20, 2001, the IACHR made the following
recommendations to the Ecuadoran State:
1.
To recognize that the State has made payment of $US30,000 in
compensation, and has initiated the judicial proceeding to punish the
persons implicated in the alleged violation.
2.
To urge the State to adopt the necessary measures to conclude
implementation of the commitment to prosecute the persons implicated
in the facts alleged.
3.
To continue to monitor and supervise the implementation of each
and every point of the friendly settlement agreement, and, in this
context, to remind the State, through the Office of the Attorney
General, of its commitment to inform the IACHR every three months of
compliance with the obligations assumed by the State under this
friendly settlement.
150.
To date, the Ecuadoran State has not
reported any information on compliance with the IACHR recommendations
shown above. The
petitioners reported that they have been unable to obtain any
information from the State on the respective investigative processes. For these reasons, the Commission presumes that there has
been no compliance with the recommendation in question.
Case
11.779 - Report Nº 22/01, José Patricio Reascos (Ecuador)
151.
In Report Nº
22/01 of February 20, 2001, the IACHR made the following
recommendations to the Ecuadoran State:
1.
To acknowledge that the State has made payment of US$20,000 as
compensation, and the beginning of judicial proceedings to punish the
persons implicated in the facts alleged.
2.
To urge the State to adopt the measures needed to comply with
the commitments pending with respect to the trial of the persons
presumed to be responsible for the facts alleged.
3.
To continue to monitor and supervise the implementation of each
and every point of the friendly settlement agreement, and, in this
context, to remind the State, through the Office of the Attorney
General, of its commitment to inform the IACHR every three months of
compliance with the obligations assumed by the State under this
friendly settlement.
152.
To date, the Ecuadoran State has not
reported any information on compliance with the IACHR recommendations
shown above. The
petitioners reported that they have been unable to obtain any
information from the State on the respective investigative processes. For these reasons, the Commission presumes that there has
been no compliance with the recommendation in question.
Case
11.441 - Report Nº 104/01, Rodrigo Elicio Muñoz Arcos et
al. (Ecuador)
153.
In Report Nº
104/01 of October 11, 2001, the IACHR made the following
recommendations to the Ecuadoran State:
1.
To certify that the State has complied with the commitment to
pay US$10,000 to each victim in this case, as compensation.
2.
To remind the State that it must comply fully with the friendly
settlement agreement by instituting judicial proceedings against the
persons implicated in the violations alleged.
3.
To continue to monitor and supervise compliance with each and
every point of the friendly settlement agreements, and, in this
context, to remind the State, through the Office of the Attorney
General, of its commitment to report to the IACHR every three months
as to compliance with the obligations assumed by the State under these
friendly settlements.
154.
To date, the Ecuadoran State has not
reported any information on compliance with the IACHR recommendations
transcribed above. The petitioners reported that they have been unable
to obtain any information from the State on the respective
investigative processes. For these reasons, the Commission presumes
that there has been no compliance with the recommendations in
question.
Case
11.443 - Report Nº 105/01, Washington Ayora Rodriguez (Ecuador)
155.
In Report Nº
105/01 of October 11, 2001, the IACHR made the following
recommendations to the Ecuadoran State:
1.
To certify compliance by the State with the payment of
US$30,000 to the petitioner in this case, as compensation.
2.
To remind the State that it should fully implement the friendly
settlement by beginning judicial proceedings against the persons
implicated in the violations alleged.
3.
To continue to monitor and supervise the implementation of each
and every point of the friendly settlement agreement, and in this
context, to remind the State, through the Office of the Attorney
General, of its commitment to report to the IACHR, every three months,
on the implementation of the obligations assumed by the State under
this friendly settlement agreement.
156.
To date, the Ecuadoran State has not
reported any information on compliance with the IACHR recommendations
transcribed above. The
petitioners reported that they have been unable to obtain any
information from the State on the respective investigative processes.
For these reasons, the Commission presumes that there has been
no compliance with the recommendations in question.
Case
11.450 - Report Nº 106/01, Marco Vinicio Almeida Calispa (Ecuador)
157.
In Report Nº
106/01 of October 11, 2001, the IACHR made the following
recommendations to the Ecuadoran State:
1.
To certify compliance by the State with the payment of
US$30,000 to the petitioner in this case as compensation.
2.
To remind the State that it must fully implement the friendly
settlement agreement, bringing judicial proceedings against the
persons implicated in the violations alleged.
3.
To continue to monitor and supervise compliance with each and
every one of the points of the friendly settlement agreement, and, in
this context, to remind the State, through the Office of the Attorney
General, of its commitment to report to the IACHR every three months
on compliance with the obligations assumed by the State under this
friendly settlement.
158.
To date, the Ecuadoran State has not
reported any information on compliance with the IACHR recommendations
transcribed above. The petitioners reported that they have been unable
to obtain any information from the State on the respective
investigative processes. For these reasons, the Commission presumes
that there has been no compliance with the recommendations in
question.
Case
11.542 - Report Nº 107/01, Angel Reiniero Vega Jiménez (Ecuador)
159.
In Report Nº
107/01 of October 11, 2001, the IACHR made the following
recommendations to the Ecuadoran State:
1.
To certify compliance by the State with the payment of
US$30,000 to the petitioner in this case as compensation.
2.
To remind the State that it must fully implement the friendly
settlement agreement, bringing judicial proceedings against the
persons implicated in the violations alleged.
3.
To continue to monitor and supervise compliance with each and
every one of the points of the friendly settlement agreement, and, in
this context, to remind the State, through the Office of the Attorney
General, of its commitment to report to the IACHR every three months
on compliance with the obligations assumed by the State under this
friendly settlement.
160.
To date, the
Ecuadoran State has not reported on its compliance with the
recommendations of the IACHR listed above. The petitioners reported
that by judgment of June 21, 2001, the Criminal Court absolved the
persons implicated and that the matter has been left unpunished. The
IACHR concludes therefore that there has been no compliance with the
relevant recommendations.
Case
11.574 - Report Nº 108/01, Wilberto Samuel Manzanos (Ecuador)
161.
In Report Nº
108/01 of October 11, 2001, the IACHR made the following
recommendations to the Ecuadoran State:
1.
To certify compliance by the State with the payment of
US$30,000 to the petitioner in this case as compensation.
2.
To remind the State that it must fully implement the friendly
settlement agreement, bringing judicial proceedings against the
persons implicated in the violations alleged.
3.
To continue to monitor and supervise compliance with each and
every one of the points of the friendly settlement agreement, and, in
this context, to remind the State, through the Office of the Attorney
General, of its commitment to report to the IACHR every three months
on compliance with the obligations assumed by the State under this
friendly settlement.
162.
To date, the Ecuadoran State has not
reported any information on compliance with the IACHR recommendations
shown above. The
petitioners reported that they have been unable to obtain any
information from the State on the respective investigative processes. For these reasons, the Commission presumes that there has
been no compliance with the recommendation in question.
Case
11.632 - Report Nº 109/01, Vidal Segura Hurtado (Ecuador)
163.
In Report Nº
109/01 of October 11, 2001, the IACHR made the following
recommendations to the Ecuadoran State:
1.
To certify compliance by the State with the payment of
US$30,000 to the petitioner in this case as compensation.
2.
To remind the State that it must fully implement the friendly
settlement agreement, bringing judicial proceedings against the
persons implicated in the violations alleged.
3.
To continue to monitor and supervise compliance with each and
every one of the points of the friendly settlement agreement, and, in
this context, to remind the State, through the Office of the Attorney
General, of its commitment to report to the IACHR every three months
on compliance with the obligations assumed by the State under this
friendly settlement.
164.
To date, the Ecuadoran State has not
reported any information on compliance with the IACHR recommendations
transcribed above. The
petitioners reported that they have been unable to obtain any
information from the State on the respective investigative processes.
For these reasons, the Commission presumes that there has been
no compliance with the recommendations in question.
Case
12.007 - Report Nº 110/01, Pompeyo Carlos Andrade Benítez (Ecuador)
165.
In Report Nº
110/01 of October 11, 2001, the IACHR made the following
recommendations to the Ecuadoran State:
1.
To certify compliance by the State with the payment of
US$20,000 to the petitioner in this case as compensation.
2.
To remind the State that it must fully implement the friendly
settlement agreement, bringing judicial proceedings against the
persons implicated in the violations alleged.
3.
To continue to monitor and supervise compliance with each and
every one of the points of the friendly settlement agreement, and, in
this context, to remind the State, through the Office of the Attorney
General, of its commitment to report to the IACHR every three months
on compliance with the obligations assumed by the State under this
friendly settlement.
166.
To date, the Ecuadoran State has not
reported any information on compliance with the IACHR recommendations
transcribed above. The
petitioners reported the following: In 1999, a petition was filed with
the President of the Supreme Court as the accused included
ministers/judges of the High Court of Guayaquil,
having jurisdiction in the matter. Since then, the Supreme Court has
taken no investigative action. In
the meantime, a new code of criminal procedure has been put in place
establishing that the stage of prior investigation, which is reserved,
and discovery by the prosecution will be handled by the Public
Prosecutor’s Office. Therefore,
in November 2002, the President of the Court was recused from hearing
the petition under the new code and had to refer it by law to the
Attorney General.
For these reasons, the Commission deems that there has been no
compliance with the recommendation in question.
Case
11.992 - Report Nº 66/01, Dayra Maria Levoyer Jiménez (Ecuador)
167.
In Report Nº
66/01 of June 14, 2001, the IACHR made the following recommendations
to the Ecuadoran State:
1.
Proceed to grant full reparations, which involves granting
adequate compensation to Mrs. Dayra Maria Levoyer Jimenez;
2.
Order an investigation to determine responsibility for the
violations detected by the Commission and eventually to punish the
individuals responsible;
3.
Take such steps as are necessary to reform habeas
corpus legislation as indicated in the present report, as well as
to enact such reforms with immediate effect.
168.
To date, the Ecuadoran State has not
reported any information on compliance with the IACHR recommendations
shown above. The
petitioners reported that the State had not complied with the
recommendations made by the IACHR in its Report on the Merits.
For these reasons, the Commission considers that there has been
no compliance with its recommendation.
Case
12.028 – Report Nº 47/01, Donnason Knights (Grenada)
169.
In
Report Nº 48/01 dated April 4, 2001, the Commission recommended that
the State:
1.
Grant Mr. Knights an effective remedy which includes
commutation of sentence and compensation.
2.
Adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to
ensure that the death penalty is not imposed in violation of the
rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Convention, including
Articles 4, 5, and 8, and in particular, to ensure that no person is
sentenced to death pursuant to a mandatory sentencing law.
3.
Adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to
ensure that the right under Article 4(6) of the American Convention to
apply for amnesty, pardon or commutation of sentence is given effect
in Grenada.
4.
Adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to
ensure that the right to a fair hearing under Article 8(1) of the
American Convention and the right to judicial protection under Article
25 of the American Convention are given effect in Grenada in relation
to recourse to Constitutional Motions.
5.
Adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to
ensure that the right to humane treatment under Article 5(1) and
Article 5(2) of the American Convention in respect of the victim’s
conditions of detention is given effect in Grenada.
170.
The
State has not informed the Commission as to its compliance with the
Commission’s recommendations in Report Nº
47/01.
On December 23, 2002, the Petitioner wrote to the Commission and
informed of the following: On May 2001, Anslem B. Clouden,
Attorney-at-Law had written to the Attorney General of Grenada
requesting adoption of the necessary measures in compliance with the
Commission’s recommendations. To date, as far as we are aware, there
has been no response from the Attorney General, and Mr. Knights
remains on death row, and we are unaware of any legislative measures,
or any measures being adopted in relation to conditions of detention.
In March 2002, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council delivered
landmark decisions in 3 cases, Patrick Reyes, Peter Hughes &
Bertil Fox. They declared that the mandatory death penalty imposed on
all those convicted of murder in the Eastern Caribbean and Belize
unconstitutional. The effect of this decision means that Mr. Knights’
sentence will have to be reviewed as he was automatically sentenced to
death upon conviction. Mr. Knights will now have an opportunity to
place before the courts mitigating circumstances as to why the death
penalty may not be appropriate in his case.
Whilst the adoption of new legislative measures were as a
result of the appeal to the Privy Council in the trilogy of cases
mentioned above, and, not as a result of the Commission’s
recommendations in this case, the views of the Commission in relation
to the mandatory issue were an important aspect of the arguments
before the courts. The Commission’s recommendations, and its
decisions have played an instrumental role in these decisions."
Based on these considerations, the IACHR presumes that the Government
of Grenada has not comply with the Commission's recommendations.
Case
11.625 - Report Nº 4/01, María Eugenia Morales de Sierra (Guatemala)
171.
In Report Nº
4/01 of January 19, 2001, the IACHR issued the following
recommendations to the Guatemalan State:
1.
Adapt the pertinent
provisions of the Civil Code to balance the legal recognition of the
reciprocal duties of women and men in marriage and take the
legislative and other measures necessary to amend Article 317 of the
Civil Code so as to bring national law into conformity with the norms
of the American Convention and give full effect to the rights and
freedoms guaranteed to María Eugenia Morales de Sierra therein.
2. Redress and adequately compensate María Eugenia Morales de Sierra for the harm done by the violations established in this Report.
172.
In a note dated February 25,
2002, the state informed the Commission that, in regard to the first
recommendation, on March 13, 2001, the Presidential Coordinating
Commission on Executive Human Rights Policy (COPREDEH) presented to
the General Secretariat of the Republic, for presentation to the
Congress of the Republic, preliminary draft legislation on amending
Article 317.4 of Decree Law 106 (Civil Code) to correct the
legislative deficiencies called to the Guatemalan state’s attention
by the Commission in its Report Nº 04/01.
According to the state’s reply, that draft legislation
remains pending consideration by Congress. The petitioners indicated
to the Commission that, according to information provided to them by
the Office of the Legislative Director of the Congress of Guatemala,
to date the Executive had not submitted any legislation to amend
Article 317.4 of the Civil Code.
On November 19, 2002, the Guatemalan government reported that
it had presented to the Commission on Women and Children of the
Congress of the Republic the bill amending Article 317.4 of the Civil
Code; and that, as regards the second recommendation, it maintains its
view that no reparation is due because in its opinion there is no
specific deed through which the petitioner’s rights have been
violated. The Commission
notes that to date the provision of the Civil Code in question has not
been amended.
Case
9111 - Report Nº 60/01, Ileana del Rosario Solares Castillo et al.
(Guatemala)
173.
In Report Nº 60/01 of April 4, 2001,
the IACHR issued the following recommendations to the Guatemalan
State:
a.
Conduct an impartial and effective investigation into the facts
of this complaint to determine the whereabouts and condition of Ileana
del Rosario Solares Castillo, María Ana López Rodríguez, and Luz
Leticia Hernández, to identify the persons responsible for their
disappearance, and to punish them in accordance with the rules of due
legal process.
b.
Take steps to make full amends for the proven violations,
including measures to locate the remains of Ileana del Rosario Solares
Castillo, María Ana López Rodríguez, and Luz Leticia Hernández,
the arrangements necessary to fulfill their families’ wishes
regarding the final resting place of their remains, and adequate and
timely compensation for the victims’ relatives.
174.
In a note of April 4, 2002,
the Guatemalan state informed the Commission, in connection with the
first recommendation, that the Government had sent a report to the
Attorney General’s office so that it might conduct the
investigation. It also
stated that the case had been transferred to the Missing Persons Unit
of COPREDEH. That unit
located the relatives of Ms. Ileana del Rosario Solares.
Two meetings were held with the relatives, at which they were
informed of the Government’s intention to comply with the
recommendations of the IACHR. The
relatives agreed to communicate with the relatives of the other
victims for the purpose of seeking means of financial reparations.
Concerning the second recommendation, the Government of
Guatemala expressed its readiness to have the case heard under the
National Reparations Program, which was to be discussed with civil
society. Consequently, the Government undertook to refer the case to
the Secretariat of Peace for appropriate follow-up.
Despite the requirement that the parties furnish follow-up
information, the Commission lacks up-to-date information on compliance
with Report Nº 60/01.
Case
9207 - Report Nº 58/01, Oscar Manuel Gramajo López (Guatemala)
175.
In Report Nº 58/01 of April 4, 2001,
the IACHR issued the following recommendations to the Guatemalan
state:
a.
Conduct and impartial and effective investigation of the facts
reported to determine the circumstances and fate of Mr. Oscar Manuel
Gramajo López, which would establish the identity of those
responsible for his disappearance and punish them in accordance with
due process of law.
b.
Adopt measures for full reparation of the violations
determined, including: steps to locate the remains of Mr. Oscar Manuel
Gramajo López; the necessary arrangements to accommodate the family’s
wishes in respect of his final resting place; and proper and timely
reparations for the victim’s family.
176.
In a note of April 4, 2002,
the Guatemalan state informed the Commission, in connection with the
first recommendation, that the Government had sent a report to the
Attorney General’s office so that it might conduct the
investigation. It also
stated that the case had been transferred to the Missing Persons Unit
of COPREDEH. That unit began to seek information on the case and to
look for the relatives of Mr. Gramajo López. Concerning the second
recommendation, the Government of Guatemala expressed its readiness to
have the case heard under the National Reparations Program, which was
to be discussed with civil society. Despite the requirement that the
parties furnish follow-up information, the Commission lacks up-to-date
information on compliance with the report in question.
Cases
10.626, 10.627, 11.198(A), 10.799, 10.751 and 10.901 - Report
Nº 59/01 Remigio Domingo Morales et al. (Guatemala)
177.
In Report Nº 59/01 of April 7, 2001,
the IACHR issued the following recommendations to the Guatemalan
state:
1.
That it conduct a thorough, impartial and effective
investigation to determine the circumstances of the extrajudicial
executions and attempted extrajudicial executions of each victim and
the attendant violations, and punish those responsible.
2.
That it take the necessary measures so that the next of kin of
the victims of the extrajudicial executions might receive adequate and
prompt compensation for the violations herein established.
3.
That it take the necessary measures so that the victims of the
attempted extrajudicial executions might receive adequate and prompt
compensation for the violations herein established.
4.
That it effectively prevent a resurgence and reorganization of
the Civil Patrols.
5.
That in Guatemala the principles established in the United
Nations “Declaration on the right and responsibility of individuals,
groups and institutions to promote and protect universally recognized
human rights and fundamental freedoms” be promoted and that the
necessary measures be taken to ensure that the right of those who work
to secure respect for fundamental rights is respected and that their
life and personal integrity are protected.
178.
In a hearing on March 4,
2002, during the 114th regular session of the IACHR, the Guatemalan
state, referring to the first recommendation, reported that the
Government had requested the Attorney General’s Office to reopen and
reorient the investigation. With respect to the other recommendations
made by the IACHR, the state reported that steps to address them were
under way, as part of the new human rights policy adopted by the
Government of Guatemala. The Government reported that, according to
this new policy, it had presented legislation to Congress to establish
the Reparations Fund.
179.
In a communication received on
November 27, 2002, the petitioners told the Commission that the
Guatemalan state had failed to fulfill its obligation to conduct an
investigation leading to the identification, arrest, and trial of
those responsible for the extrajudicial executions. As for the recommendation on reparation, the petitioners
reported that the state had not taken any steps to compensate the next
of kin of the victims. Concerning
the fourth recommendation, they said the Civil Patrols were
reorganizing and joining up in each region under the local authorities
they had been subject to during the armed conflict.
Finally, as regards the fifth recommendation, the petitioners
refer to one of the conclusions and recommendations of the thirteenth
report of MINUGUA on human rights, according to which in 2002 the “atmosphere
of intimidation worsened because of the threats to and murders of
judges, journalists, and human rights defenders;” and they conclude
that the Government of Guatemala has failed to foster a climate of
respect of human rights and to adopt the measures needed to ensure
that those rights are observed.
180.
The
Commission lacks up to date information from the state on compliance
with the recommendations of the IACHR in Report 59/01, despite having
requested it.
[ Table of Contents | Previous | Next ] |