’WPCū ¦–ÕonŸ–63öĄY¼ŽėµOĄ=9‰½©ŻĖ®¾Tœ‚wżÕ©7oąą¹²maŗöį68¼ŚÉšT³·j÷ģ7‚ad@ „D`¦Č”DČłµ?W;Ś'žu Ķ”Š½D×ÖĶķõ~ēŠqŽœ GU”R[‹»vk‡H~ucß#Mō¦Āéą$ ÕāūźŒ¤’8>‡å4č3é\Īs89£Ö>ęqŠM& <ßsW‚ F6:Ą['üÖėu8_„vqc¾o—ž0ńā}šōŪ‘I5’9åŌĒ@a6cčõæ÷¹o7=ZićĆ&ü¼ y+ąq Aī.±õGėˆo×Āęt¶š*X+DLžMuę"ąÅdńŠ¦µ_¼n&Ģ¶ęf„rüĻ‡‰ļwuvĪ¦Dģµ|"WhµŚ ćŅźvc ĘĀ2Ę-Ųa§‹£‘Lql–TY*!”N$éš$××Y8<߅GÜīuŲZp4Wš•F‘g^"0”›­źv®O§ń8Ś®×ŃÉZUęFÆ°“ę†É={"|j›34 st‚ń”ö>ü˜%v„k]£Ģ?ēüŲ½3­¬X?{v¾6‚¼ū9Ęū·ę ]Ž?‰!ąónŚ¦bT/aśä…5Sž’'z‚›T‡©Ė5U>¤Ģā 0µ® 0<c 0YŸ 0_ų 0iW 0PĄĘ 0įÖ 0(· D+ß AM %W W ] 0Nm 0Ę» #Į UNBBM(”N¼^ ¾wŹ4Īā mäō\  `‹&Times New Roman' Luis Alberto Solorzano v. Venezuela, Communication No. 156/1983 (26 March 1986), U.N. Doc.4arch 1986), U.N. Doc."Angie Dituri"0Angie Dituri .   6F , ’’4Heading 3Ō S ŌÓ p^SÓŌ€£££Ōņ ņŌ  ŌŌ  ŌŌ€XXXŌó óÓ p^SÓ<’’:Default Para6’’4HyperlinkóóņņŌ ’ ŌóóŌ  Ō<’’:FollowedHypeóóņņŌ  ŌóóŌ  Ō< ’’:Normal (Web)Ō S ŌÓ =jSÓÓ =jSÓ0’’.Strongņ ņŌ  Ōó óŌ  Ō Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5(¹2Ź$££Ż ƒ&!ŻŅÜ°ŅŅÜ°ŅŌ..ŌŌ  ŌŌ  ŌÓ  ÓŌ€X;XXXŌŌ€X;XXX;ŌŌŌŻ  Ż(’’$’’'dxd A<< c’’X#|x(ĶO$——Ō’ŌņņóóŌ’Ō(ž&$””ŅÜ°ŅŅÜ°ŅŌ..ŌŌ  ŌŌ  ŌÓ  ÓŌ€X<†XXXŌŌ€X<†XXX<†ŌŌŌ˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - Standard,ä,,,,,ä0(ČhH  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularŒū* Äpģ*ź:i¢Ų+00 ’U‹’ĄĄĄŻ ƒ&!ŻŅÜ°ŅŅÜ°ŅŌ..ŌŌ  ŌŌ  ŌÓ  ÓŌ€X;XXXŌŌ€X;XXX;ŌŌŌŻ  ŻŌ_Ōņ ņHUMAN€RIGHTS€COMMITTEEŠ ° ŠĢņņŌ_ŌSolorzanoŌ_Ō€v.€VenezuelaóóŠ |Ģ ŠĢCommunication€No.€156/1983Š H˜ ŠĢ26€March€1986Š  d ŠĢĢVIEWSó óŠ Ę   ŠĢĢņņņņSubmitted€by:€óóKaty€Ō_ŌSolorzanoŌ_Ō€de€Pena€on€behalf€of€her€brother,€Luis€Alberto€Ō_ŌSolorzanoŌ_Ō,Š xČ  Šwho€later€joined€as€co„author€Š ^®  ŠĢņņAlleged€victim:€óóLuis€Alberto€Ō_ŌSolorzanoŌ_Ō€Š *z  ŠĢņņState€party€concerned:€óóVenezuela€Š öF ŠĢņņDate€of€communication:€óó8€August€1983€(date€on€which€the€initial€letter€was€received)€Š Ā ŠĢņņDate€of€decision€on€admissibility:€óó26€October€1984€óóŠ ŽŽ ŠĢĢņņÓ  ÓThe€Human€Rights€Committeeóó€established€under€article€28€of€the€International€Covenant€onŠ @ ŠCivil€and€Political€Rights:€Š &v ŠĢņņMeetingóó€On€26€March€1986;€Š ņB ŠĢņņHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€communication€No.€156/1983,€originally€submittedŠ ¾ Što€the€Committee€by€Katy€Ō_ŌSolorzanoŌ_Ō€de€Pena,€under€the€Optional€Protocol€to€theŠ ¤ō ŠInternational€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights;€Š Š Ś ŠĢņņHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€written€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€authors€of€theŠ V"¦! Šcommunication€and€by€the€State€party€concerned;€Š <#Œ" ŠĢņņAdoptsóó€the€following:€Š %X $ ŠĢĢņņņ ņÓ  ÓViews€under€article€5,€paragraph€4€of€the€Optional€Protocol€a/ó óóóŠ ŗ' #' ŠÓ&ÓĢĢ1.1€The€original€author€of€the€communication€(initial€letter,€undated,€received€o€8€AugustŠ l*¼%* Š1983€and€further€letters€of€9€September€1983€and€16€February€1984)€is€Katy€Ō_ŌSolorzanoŌ_Ō€deŠ R+¢&+ ŠPena,€a€Venezuelan€citizen,€living€in€Caracas,€Venezuela.€She€submitted€the€communicationŠ 8,ˆ', Šon€behalf€of€her€brother,€Luis€Alberto€Ō_ŌSolorzanoŌ_Ō,€stating€that€he€was€imprisoned€at€the€SanŠ -n(- ŠCarlos€military€barracks€(Ō_ŌCuartelŌ_Ō€San€Carlos)€in€Venezuela€and€that€he€was€unable€to€submitŠ ° Šthe€communication€himself.€Mr.€Ō_ŌSolorzanoŌ_Ō€was€released€by€virtue€of€a€Presidential€DegreeŠ –ę Šof€21€December€1984.€In€a€letter€to€the€Committee€(undated),€received€on€27€June€1985,€heŠ |Ģ Šjoined€as€co„author€of€the€communication.€Š b² ŠĢ1.2€Katy€Ō_ŌSolorzanoŌ_Ō€stated€that€her€brother€(born€on€8€November€1952)€had€been€arrested€atŠ . ~ Šhis€home€on€28€February€1977€without€any€warrant€of€arrest€and€that€his€house€had€beenŠ  d Šsearched€without€a€search€warrant.€She€further€stated€that€he€had€been€subjected€to€severeŠ ś J Štorture€and€gave€the€names€of€five€officers€allegedly€responsible,€all€of€them€members€of€theŠ ą 0 ŠŌ_ŌDireccionŌ_Ō€de€los€Ō_ŌServiciosŌ_Ō€de€Ō_ŌInteligenciaŌ_Ō€y€Ō_ŌPrevencionŌ_Ō€(Ō_ŌDISIPŌ_Ō).€These€events,€as€well€asŠ Ę   Šsome€of€those€described€below,€occurred€before€the€entry€into€force€of€the€Covenant€and€theŠ ¬ ü  ŠOptional€Protocol€for€Venezuela€(10€August€1978).€Š ’ā  ŠĢ1.3€Soon€after€Mr.€Ō_ŌSolorzanoŌ_Ō's€arrest,€a€military€tribunal€had€ordered€his€detention€onŠ ^®  Šcharges€of€having€joined€in€armed€rebellion.€On€12€December€1977€he€had€been€indicted.Š D”  ŠIn€that€connection,€the€prosecutor€affirmed€the€existence€of€a€clandestine€armed€movement,Š *z  Šcalled€"Grupo€de€Ō_ŌComandosŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌRevolucionariosŌ_Ō",€aiming€at€the€overthrow€of€the€GovernmentŠ ` Šof€Venezuela€through€Ō_ŌquerrillaŌ_Ō€warfare€and€which€3€responsible€for€the€Ō_ŌkidnappingŌ_Ō€of€aŠ öF Šcitizen€of€the€United€States€of€America,€William€Frank€Ō_ŌNiebousŌ_Ō,€allegedly€undertaken€toŠ Ü, Šobtain€funds€for€the€promotion€of€e€Group's€political€activities.€Katy€Ō_ŌSolorzanoŌ_Ō€did€notŠ Ā Šcontest€her€brother's€ranks€with€the€Group€but€only€his€participation€in€the€Ō_ŌkidnappingŌ_Ō€of€Mr.Š Øų ŠŌ_ŌNiebousŌ_Ō.€Š ŽŽ ŠĢ1.4€In€a€summary€of€the€legal€issues,€Mr.€Ō_ŌSolorzanoŌ_Ō's€Ō_ŌdefenceŌ_Ō€lawyer€observed€that€afterŠ ZŖ ŠDecember€1977,€Ō_ŌSalomŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌMezaŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌEspinozaŌ_Ō€and€David€Ō_ŌNievesŌ_Ō,€two€individuals€whose€cases€wereŠ @ Šlinked€with€the€case€of€Mr.€Ō_ŌSolorzanoŌ_Ō,€had€been€elected€deputies€to€the€VenezuelanŠ &v ŠCongress.€On€the€basis€of€their€new€parliamentary€immunity,€both€of€them€had€requestedŠ  \ Štheir€release,€which€had€been€subsequently€ordered€by€a€court€partial.€The€militaryŠ ņB Šprosecutor€had€appealed€the€decision€before€the€Supreme€Court€of€Justice,€to€which€the€caseŠ Ų( Šhad€been€transferred€in€mid„1979.€All€proceedings€in€the€case,€including€those€against€Mr.Š ¾ ŠŌ_ŌSolorzanoŌ_Ō,€had€been€adjourned€pending€a€ruling€of€the€Supreme€Court€on€the€Question€ofŠ ¤ō Šthe€legality€of€the€release€of€the€two€deputies.€Š Š Ś ŠĢ1.5€Katy€Ō_ŌSolorzanoŌ_Ō€alleged€that€there€had€been€various€irregularities€in€the€proceedingsŠ V"¦! Šagainst€her€brother.€She€indicated€that:€Š <#Œ" ŠĢHer€brother,€a€civilian,€bad€been€tried€by€a€military€tribunal,€although€that€was€contrary€toŠ %X $ Šthe€Venezuelan€Constitution;€Š ī%>!% ŠĢThe€evidence€presented€by€her€brother€and€his€lawyer€had€been€disregarded€by€the€militaryŠ ŗ' #' Štribunals€in€particular,€the€lawyer€could€not€obtain€the€attendance€and€examination€ofŠ  (š#( Šwitnesses€on€her€brother's€behalf;€Š †)Ö$) ŠĢHer€brother's€trial€had€been€defective€since,€for€example,€false€declarations€had€beenŠ R+¢&+ Šadmitted€in€evidence.€In€that€connection,€Mr.€Ō_ŌDecarilŌ_Ō,€Mr.€Ō_ŌSolorzanoŌ_Ō's€lawyer,€had€statedŠ 8,ˆ', Šthat,€ņņinter€alia,€óóhis€client's€detention€and€the€charges€against€him€had€been€based€onŠ -n(- ŠŌ_Ōdeclarations,€made€by€policemen€and€other€witnesses,€which€for€one€reason€or€anotherŠ ° Šshould€have€been€considered€invalid.€Š –ę ŠĢ1.6€Katy€Solorzano€claimed€that€her€brother€had€been€subjected€to€inhuman€prisonŠ b² Šconditions,€that€in€February€1983€he€had€been€severely€beaten€at€the€Cuartel€San€Carlos€(theŠ H˜ Šname€of€the€responsible€officer€was€given),€that€after€those€incidents€and€similar€ones€inŠ . ~ Šother€prisons,€Political€detainees€all€over€the€country,€including€her€brother,€had€carried€outŠ  d Ša€month„long€hunger€strike€to€obtain€better€conditions€of€detention,€that,€due€to€the€above„Š ś J Šmentioned€events,€her€brother€had€required€medical€treatment€and€hid€transfer€to€a€hospitalŠ ą 0 Šhad€been€recommended,€but€that€the€prison€authorities€had€not€heeded€the€recommendation.€Š Ę   ŠĢ1.7€It€was€claimed€that€Mr.€Solorzano€was€a€victim€of€violations€of€articles€7,€9,€paragraphsŠ ’ā  Š1€and€4,€10,€paragraph€1,€and€14,€paragraph€3€(c)€and€{e)€of€the€International€Covenant€onŠ xČ  ŠCivil€and€Political€Rights,€and€that€no€domestic€remedies€were€available€in€the€case.€Š ^®  ŠĢ1.8€Katy€Solorzano€further€indicated€that€the€present€case€was€not€being€examined€underŠ *z  Šanother€procedure€of€international€investigation€or€settlement.€Š ` ŠĢ2.€By€its€decision€of€20€October€1983,€the€Working€Group€of€the€Human€Rights€Committee,Š Ü, Šhaving€decided€that€Katy€Solorzano€was€justified€in€acting€on€behalf€of€the€alleged€victim,Š Ā Štransmitted€the€communication€under€rule€91€of€the€provisional€rules€of€procedure€to€theŠ Øų ŠState€party€concerned,€requesting€information€and€observations€relevant€to€the€Question€ofŠ ŽŽ Šadmissibility€of€the€communication.€The€Working€Group€also€requested€the€State€party€toŠ tÄ Štransmit€to€the€Committee€copies€of€court€decisions€concerning€Mr.€Solorzano.€Š ZŖ ŠĢ3.1€In€a€submission€dated€16€January€1984,€the€State€party€informed€the€Committee€that€LuisŠ &v ŠA.€Solorzano€had€been€arrested€in€the€course€of€the€criminal€proceedings€instituted€inŠ  \ Šconnection€with€the€kidnapping€of€a€United€States€citizen,€William€Frank€Niebous,€by€"anŠ ņB Šarmed€movement€consisting€of€a€group€of€persons€forming€a€paramilitary€organizationŠ Ų( Šknown€as€Grupo€de€Comandos€Revolucionarios,€Operacion€Argimiro€Gabaldon".€FollowingŠ ¾ Špro„trial€detention€by€the€police€authorities,€as€authorized€in€article€60.1,€third€paragraph,€ofŠ ¤ō Šthe€Constitution,€an€order€confirming€his€detention€had€been€issued€on€7€March€1977€by€theŠ Š Ś ŠPermanent€Second€Military€Court€of€First€Instance€of€Caracas,€after€the€Court€hadŠ p!Ą  Šdetermined€the€existence€of€military€rebellion€and€had€found€that€there€was€firm€evidenceŠ V"¦! Šof€Guilt€on€the€part€of€Mr.€Solorzano,€as€required€by€article€182€of€the€Code€of€CriminalŠ <#Œ" ŠProcedure€and€article€202€of€the€Code€of€Military€Justice.€The€State€party€submitted€that€Mr.Š "$r# ŠSolorzano's€arrest€had€been€effected€in€accordance€with€the€Constitution€and€relevantŠ %X $ Šcriminal€laws,€and€therefore€it€could€not€be€described€as€arbitrary€and€that€the€allocation€ofŠ ī%>!% Šviolation€of€article€9,€paragraph€4,€of€the€Covenant€was€similarly€inadmissible,€"since€theŠ Ō&$"& Šremedies€of€complaint€and/or€appeal€against€a€detention€order€are€provided€for€in€article€190Š ŗ' #' Šof€the€Code€of€Criminal€Procedure€and€article€203€of€the€Code€of€Military€Justice€and€shouldŠ  (š#( Šhave€been€duly€utilized,€even€if€they€would€have€been€unsuccessful".€Š †)Ö$) ŠĢ3.2€The€State€party€further€submitted€that€the€allegations€of€torture€had€not€beenŠ R+¢&+ Šaccompanied€by€any€supporting€evidence,€while€the€allegations€of€maltreatment€of€detaineesŠ 8,ˆ', Š"could€well€refer€to€acts€of€prison€mutiny,€which€are€Quite€outside€the€scope€of€theŠ -n(- ŠCovenant".€The€State€party€added€that€it€would€seem€unlikely€that€those€allocations€ofŠ ° Šmaltreatment€and€torture€were€true,€particularly€as€they€had€been€investigated€by€the€PublicŠ –ę ŠProsecutor's€Department.€Š |Ģ ŠĢ3.3€The€State€party€observed€that€the€author's€allegations€regarding€irregularities€in€theŠ H˜ Šproceedings€(both,€apparently,€at€the€pro„trial€stage€and€after€the€trial€started€with€theŠ . ~ Šindictment€of€the€alleged€victim€on€12€December€1977),€legal€manoeuvres€to€delayŠ  d Šproceedings€and€obstruction€regarding€the€cross„examination€of€witnesses€could€not€be€takenŠ ś J Šseriously€since€Mr.€Solorzano's€lawyer€had€stated€that€"the€investigation€then€proceededŠ ą 0 Šnormally€until€the€indictment€was€made.€The€period€for€giving€evidence€was€observed,€andŠ Ę   Šsome€of€the€witnesses€summoned€to€appear€by€the€court€were€cross„examined".€Š ¬ ü  ŠĢ3.4€The€State€party€also€rejected€the€allegation€that€the€trial€of€Mr.€Solorzano€had€beenŠ xČ  Šdelayed€to€prevent€his€release.€In€that€connection,€it€stated€that,€in€the€decision€handed€downŠ ^®  Šon€22€February€1979,€the€Court€had€ordered€the€unconditional€release€of€Salom€MezaŠ D”  ŠEspinoza€and€David€Nieves,€who€had€been€charged€along€with€Mr.€Solorzano€and€anotherŠ *z  Šperson€for€military€rebellion€and€other€offences;€that€was€because€they€had€been€electedŠ ` Šdeputies€to€the€National€Congress€and€consequently€enjoyed€parliamentary€immunity€underŠ öF Šarticle€143€of€the€Constitution.€In€the€same€decision,€the€above„mentioned€Military€CourtŠ Ü, Šhad€ruled€that€the€Permanent€Military€Court€of€Caracas€should€forward€the€dossier€to€theŠ Ā ŠSupreme€Court€of€Justice€for€the€purposes€laid€down€in€article€215€(2)€of€the€Constitution,Š Øų Šwhich€stated€that€one€of€the€powers€of€the€Supreme€Court€of€Justice€was€"to€declare€whetherŠ ŽŽ Šor€not€there€are€Grounds€for€the€trial€of€members€of€Congress".€The€State€party€had€furtherŠ tÄ Šstated€that€while€the€case€was€being€heard€by€the€full€Court,€a€presidential€pardon€had€beenŠ ZŖ ŠGranted€on€28€November€1983€to€Deputy€Salom€Meza€Espinoza,€and,€on€4€December€1983,Š @ ŠDavid€Nieves€had€been€re„elected€a€deputy€to€the€National€Congress.€Š &v ŠĢ"At€this€point,€on€16€December€1983,€the€Government€Attorney€requested€the€SupremeŠ ņB ŠCourt€of€Justice€to€effect€a€separation€of€the€case€and€to€transfer€the€dossier€to€the€PermanentŠ Ų( ŠMilitary€Court€of€Caracas€for€the€continuation€of€the€proceedings€against€Luis€A.€SolorzanoŠ ¾ Šand€others€for€the€offences€already€mentioned.€The€Supreme€Court€of€Justice€acceded€to€thisŠ ¤ō Šrequest€in€an€order€dated€21€December€1983€referring€the€dossier€to€the€Permanent€MilitaryŠ Š Ś ŠCourt€of€Caracas€to€enable€the€proceedings€in€Question€to€continue€....€Š p!Ą  ŠĢ"As€far€as€the€allegations€considered€here€are€concerned,€the€most€important€considerationŠ <#Œ" Šis€that€the€proceedings€against€Luis€Alberto€Solorzano€again€followed€the€normal€course,Š "$r# Šonce€the€Question€of€the€special€status€of€his€co„defendants€had€been€resolved."€Š %X $ ŠĢ3.5€The€State€party€contended€that€domestic€remedies€had€not€been€exhausted€"since€the€trialŠ Ō&$"& Šis€entering€the€phase€of€summing„up€and€sentencing€at€first€instance.€This€leaves€all€theŠ ŗ' #' Šsecond€instance€procedure€untouched,€as€well€as€the€appeal€to€set€aside€the€judgement,€inŠ  (š#( Šaccordance€with€the€procedural€legislation€in€force".€Š †)Ö$) ŠĢ4.1€In€a€further€submission€dated€16€February€1984,€Katy€Solorzano€commented€on€te€StateŠ R+¢&+ Šparty's€submission€and€reiterated€that€her€brother's€detention€was€unlawful€for€the€followingŠ 8,ˆ', Šreasons:€Š -n(- Š‡"He€was€arrested€more€than€one€year€after€the€kidnapping€of€the€American€citizen,€so€thatŠ ° Šthere€is€no€question€of€ņņflagrante€delicto,€óówhich€is€an€exception€provided€for€in€article€60,Š –ę Šparagraph€1,€of€the€Constitutions€Š |Ģ ŠĢ"He€is€being€detained€without€any€written€order€by€the€competent€official."€Š H˜ ŠĢ4.2€Katy€Solorzano€alleged€that€her€brother's€right€to€defend€himself€had€not€been€respected.Š  d ŠIn€particular€she€mentioned€that€the€right€to€cross„examine€witnesses€had€been€deniedŠ ś J Š(names€were€given).€She€added€that€'the€court€failed€to€take€any€firm€action€when€the€onlyŠ ą 0 Šwitness€to€appear€voluntarily,€on€being€cross„examined,€admitted€that€she€had€made€herŠ Ę   Šstatement€against€Luis€Alberto€Solorzano€because€OISIP€(Political€Police)€had€threatenedŠ ¬ ü  Šher€with€imprisonment€if€she€did€not€do€so,€and€also€retracted€her€earlier€statement€againstŠ ’ā  Šhim.€The€name€of€this€witness€is€Aurora€Alonso€de€Sanchez,€and€the€text€of€her€statementŠ xČ  Šcan€be€found€in€the€record€of€proceedings".€As€to€the€State€party's€contention€that€Mr.Š ^®  ŠSolorzano's€lawyer€had€conceded€that€procedural€guarantees€were€observed€and€someŠ D”  Šwitnesses€cross„examined,€Katy€Solorzano€stated€that€that€had€been€done€in€order€to€secureŠ *z  Šher€brother's€release.€Š ` ŠĢ4.3€Katy€Solorzano€stressed€that€article€68€of€the€Venezuelan€Constitution€stipulated€that€theŠ Ü, Šright€to€a€defence€was€an€inviolable€right€at€every€stage€and€revel€of€proceedings€and€sheŠ Ā Šrecalled€that€her€brother€had€been€deprived€of€a€trial€for€more€than€five€years.€In€thatŠ Øų Šconnection€she€commented:€Š ŽŽ ŠĢ"While€it€is€proper€for€the€Supreme€Court€to€take€the€ņņproper€time€óóto€issue€a€decision,Š ZŖ Šnevertheless,€the€fact€that€this€proper€time€should€already€have€extended€over€more€than€fiveŠ @ Šyears€surely€defies€all€logic."€Š &v ŠĢ4.4€The€author€reiterated€that€her€brother€had€been€subjected€to€brutal€ill„treatment€inŠ ņB ŠFebruary€1983€resulting€in€injuries€to€the€head€and€other€parts€the€body€and€that€he€„€as€wellŠ Ų( Šas€other€detainees€„€had€undertaken€a€hunger€strike€in€protest€against€the€maltreatmentŠ ¾ Šinflicted€on€many€of€them.€In€March€and€April€1983,€agreements€had€been€signed€by€aŠ ¤ō Šmediation€commission€(composed€of€civilian€and€military€attorneys,€members€of€ParliamentŠ Š Ś Šand€representatives€of€prisoners€„€among€them€Mr.€Solorzano)€in€order€"to€guarantee€andŠ p!Ą  Šensure€observance€of€the€physical€and€moral€integrity€of€persons€on€trial'.€Š V"¦! ŠĢ5.1€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Human€RightsŠ "$r# ŠCommittee€must€decide,€in€accordance€with€rule€87€of€its€provisional€rules€of€procedure,Š %X $ Šwhether€or€not€it€is€admissible€under€the€Optional€Protocol€to€the€Covenant.€Š ī%>!% ŠĢ5.2€Article€5,€paragraph€2,€(a),€of€the€Optional€Protocol€precludes€the€Committee€fromŠ ŗ' #' Šconsidering€a€communication€if€the€same€matter€is€being€examined€under€another€procedureŠ  (š#( Šof€international€investigation€or€settlement.€The€Committee€noted€that€there€was€noŠ †)Ö$) Šindication€that€that€applied€in€the€present€case.€Š l*¼%* ŠĢ5.3€Article€5,€paragraph€2,€(b),€of€the€Optional€Protocol€precludes€the€Committee€fromŠ 8,ˆ', Šconsidering€a€communication€if€all€available€domestic€remedies€have€not€been€exhausted.Š -n(- ŠThe€Committee€therefore€examined€whether€the€authors'€various€claims€met€thatŠ ° Šrequirement.€Š –ę ŠĢ5.4€As€to€the€claim€that€Mr.€Solorzano€was€a€victim€of€a€violation€of€article€9,€paragraphsŠ b² Š1€and€4,€of€the€Covenant,€the€Human€Rights€Committee€observed€that€the€arrest€had€takenŠ H˜ Šplace€prior€to€the€entry€into€force€of€the€Covenant€and€the€Optional€Protocol€for€Venezuela.Š . ~ ŠThe€claim,€in€so€far€as€it€related€to€the€alleged€victim's€initial€arrest€and€detention€wasŠ  d Štherefore€found€to€be€inadmissible€ņņratione€temporis.€óóIn€so€far€as€the€communication€mightŠ ś J Šbe€understood€as€implying€that€the€continued€detention€of€Mr.€Solorzano€(after€10€AugustŠ ą 0 Š1978)€constituted,€as€such,€a€violation€of€article€9,€paragraphs€1€and€4,€of€the€Covenant,€theŠ Ę   ŠCommittee€referred€to€the€observations€of€the€State€party€set€out€in€paragraph€3.1€above€andŠ ¬ ü  Šconcluded€that€the€issue€was€also€inadmissible,€because€of€non„exhaustid€of€domesticŠ ’ā  Šremedies.€Š xČ  ŠĢ5.5€In€so€far€as€the€claim€concerning€the€alleged€torture€and€mistreatment€of€Mr.€Solorzano,Š D”  Šin€violation€of€articles€7€and€10,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Covenant,€related€to€events€said€to€haveŠ *z  Štaken€place€prior€to€10€August€1978,€the€Committee€observed€that€it€was€inadmissibleŠ ` Šņņratione€temporis.€óóIn€so€far€as€the€claim€related€to€events€alleged€to€have€taken€place€inŠ öF ŠFebruary€1983€(pars.€1.6€above),€the€Committee€noted€the€observations€of€the€State€partyŠ Ü, Š(pars.€3.2€above)€and€the€author's€comments€thereon€(para.€4.4€above).€It€was€established€thatŠ Ā Šinquiries€into€the€events€in€question€had€taken€place€and€had€led€to€an€agreement€signed,Š Øų Šamong€others,€by€Mr.€Solorzano.€The€implications€of€that€agreement,€which€might€haveŠ ŽŽ Šconstituted€a€remedy€in€regard€to€the€ground€of€complaint,€were€not€clear.€The€CommitteeŠ tÄ Šfound€that€that€part€of€the€claim,€therefore,€belonged€to€the€examination€of€the€case€on€theŠ ZŖ Šmerits€and€was€not€inadmissible.€Š @ ŠĢ5.6€In€so€far€as€Katy€Solorzano€claimed€that€the€prolonged€delays€in€the€court€proceedingsŠ  \ Šaffecting€Mr.€Solorzano€constituted€a€violation€of€article€14,€paragraph€3€(c),€of€theŠ ņB ŠCovenant,€the€Committee€observed€that€the€claim€also€concerned€article€9,€paragraph€3,€ofŠ Ų( Šthe€Covenant€(which€provided€for€the€right€to€trial€within€a€reasonable€time€or€to€releaseŠ ¾ Šfrom€detention).€The€continued€detention€of€Mr.€Solorzano€since€28€February€1977,€withoutŠ ¤ō Štrial,€clearly€raised€a€issue€under€both€of€those€provisions,€which€had€to€be€examined€on€theŠ Š Ś Šmerits.€The€Committee€noted€in€that€connection€that€the€trial€of€Mr.€Solorzano€was,Š p!Ą  Šaccording€to€the€State€party,€entering€the€phase€of€summing„up€and€sentencing€at€firstŠ V"¦! Šinstance€and€that€that€left€all€the€second€instance€procedure€untouched,€as€well€as€the€appealŠ <#Œ" Što€set€aside€the€judgement€in€accordance€with€the€procedural€legislation€in€force€(para.€3.5Š "$r# Šabove).€That€seemed€to€imply€that€considerable€time€might€still€pass€until€a€final€judgementŠ %X $ Šwas€rendered.€The€Committee€noted,€furthermore,€that€in€fact€the€proceedings€in€the€case€hadŠ ī%>!% Šbeen€adjourned€between€February€1979€and€December€1983.€The€Committee€finally€notedŠ Ō&$"& Šthat,€in€the€mean€time,€a€considerable€effort,€although€in€vain,€had€been€made€to€obtain€theŠ ŗ' #' Šrelease€of€Mr.€Solorzano€and€that€no€particulars€had€been€submitted€by€the€State€party€toŠ  (š#( Šshow€that€other€remedies€might€have€been€available,€either€to€expedite€the€proceedings€orŠ †)Ö$) Što€obtain€his€release.€In€those€circumstances,€the€Committee€concluded€that€Such€remediesŠ l*¼%* Šeither€did€not€exist,€or€could€not€be€shown€to€be€effective€in€his€situation,€and€in€any€eventŠ R+¢&+ Šthat€their€application€was€being€unreasonably€prolonged.€Accordingly,€the€Committee€foundŠ 8,ˆ', Šthat€the€claim€was€not€inadmissible€under€article€5,€paragraph€2,€(b),€of€the€OptionalŠ -n(- ŠProtocol.€Š ° ŠĢ5.7€As€to€Katy€Solorzano's€claim€that€Mr.€Solorzano€had€been€denied€the€right€to€examine,Š |Ģ Šor€have€examined,€the€witnesses€against€him€in€violation€of€article€14,€paragraph€3€(e),€of€theŠ b² ŠCovenant,€it€appeared€that€she€related€that€claim€both€to€the€period€of€pre„trial€investigationŠ H˜ Š(which€ended€with€an€indictment€on€12€December€1977,€i.e.,€before€the€Covenant€enteredŠ . ~ Šinto€force€for€Venezuela)€and€to€the€trial€period€which€followed€thereafter€(including€someŠ  d Šmonths€from€the€entry€into€force€of€the€Covenant€for€Venezuela€on€10€August€1978,€untilŠ ś J Šthe€trial€proceedings€were€adjourned€in€February€1979).€Considering€that€she€did€not€indicateŠ ą 0 Šany€dates€in€support€of€her€claim€that€article€14,€paragraph€3€(e),€had€not€been€respected€andŠ Ę   Štaking€into€account€the€other€information€before€it€in€regard€to€the€claim,€the€Human€RightsŠ ¬ ü  ŠCommittee€concluded€that€it€should€be€deemed€inadmissible.€The€issue€might,€however,€beŠ ’ā  Šseen€as€subsumed€in€the€claim€that€Mr.€Solorzano€was€a€victim€of€a€breach€of€article€14,Š xČ  Šparagraph€3€(c),€which€was€to€be€considered€on€the€merits.€Š ^®  ŠĢ6.€On€26€October€1984,€the€Human€Rights€Committee€therefore€decided:€Š *z  ŠĢ1.€That€the€communication€was€admissible€in€so€far€as€it€related€to€alleged€ill„treatment€ofŠ öF ŠMr.€Solorzano€in€February€1983€and€in€so€far€as€it€related€to€the€duration€of€the€judicialŠ Ü, Šproceedings;€Š Ā ŠĢ2.€That€the€communication€was€inadmissible€in€respect€of€the€other€claims€raised€by€theŠ ŽŽ Šauthor.€Š tÄ ŠĢ7.€In€its€submission€under€article€4,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Optional€Protocol,€dated€25€AprilŠ @ Š1985,€the€State€party€informed€the€Committee€that€"Dr.€Jaime€Lusinchi,€President€of€theŠ &v ŠRepublic€of€Venezuela,€undertook,€through€Presidential€Decree€No.€441,€of€21€DecemberŠ  \ Š1984€...€the€dismissal€of€the€proceedings€against€Lois€Alberto€Solorzano",€and€that€Mr.Š ņB ŠSolorzano€had€been€released.€The€State€party€thus€requested€the€Committee€to€close€the€case.€Š Ų( ŠĢ8.1€Before€taking€further€action,€the€Committee€instructed€the€Secretariat€to€ascertain€fromŠ ¤ō ŠMr.€Solorzano€whether€he€wished€the€Committee€to€continue€consideration€of€the€case€and,Š Š Ś Šif€so,€to€confirm€the€facts€of€the€case€as€presented€by€his€sister€and€to€correct€anyŠ p!Ą  Šinaccuracies€in€that€respect.€Š V"¦! ŠĢ8.2€In€a€reply€(undated)€received€on€27€June€1985,€Mr.€Solorzano€requested€the€CommitteeŠ "$r# Što€continue€consideration€of€the€case,€confirmed€the€information€submitted€to€the€CommitteeŠ %X $ Šby€his€sister€and€added€the€following€observations:€Š ī%>!% ŠĢ"...€this€dismissal€of€proceedings€against€me€for€ņņmilitary€rebellion,€óówhich€had€beenŠ ŗ' #' Šcontinuing€since€1977,€demonstrates€that:€Š  (š#( ŠĢ"1.€Since€there€is€no€judgement€against€me,€no€civilian€or€military€entity€or€authority€isŠ l*¼%* Šlegally€in€a€position€to€take€a€decision€on€presumed€quilt€or€innocence.€Š R+¢&+ ŠĢ"2.€In€other€words,€I€was€detained€for€almost€eight€years,€during€which€this€trial€did€notŠ -n(- Šculminate€in€a€judgement,€a€fact€which€shows€the€arbitrary€and€irregular€character€of€theŠ ° Šproceedings€to€which€I€was€subjected.€Š –ę ŠĢ"3.€Because€the€same€characteristics€attached€to€my€release,€it€may€be€stated€that€myŠ b² Šcountry's€Government€interfered€in€the€proceedings€as€it€pleased,€refusing€me€the€right€toŠ H˜ Šdefence€throughout€the€period€when€the€trial€was€paralysed."€Š . ~ ŠĢ9.€By€a€note€dated€24€September€1985,€the€State€party€observed€that:€Š ś J ŠĢ'The€Permanent€Third€Military€Court€of€First€Instance€of€Caracas€issued€a€detention€orderŠ Ę   Šagainst€Luis€Alberto€Solorzano,€who€was€presumed€to€have€committed€the€offence€ofŠ ¬ ü  Šmilitary€rebellion,€which€is€punishable€under€article€476€of€the€Code€of€Military€Justice.€TheŠ ’ā  Šfact€is€that€the€Venezuelan€legal€system€includes€dismissal€as€one€of€the€means€of€stayingŠ xČ  Štrials€or€proceedings.€In€this€case,€the€President€of€the€Republic,€pursuant€to€the€terms€ofŠ ^®  Šarticle€54,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Code€of€Military€Justice€and€in€keeping€with€PresidentialŠ D”  ŠDecree€No.€441€of€31€December€1984,€published€in€ņņOfficial€Gazette€óóof€the€Republic€No.Š *z  Š33131€of€the€same€date,€ordered€dismissal€of€the€proceedings€against€Luis€AlbertoŠ ` ŠSolorzano.€In€the€opinion€of€the€Government€of€Venezuela,€the€case€brought€against€LuisŠ öF ŠAlbert€Solorzano€has€come€to€a€complete€end€in€accordance€with€the€above.€In€any€event,Š Ü, Šunder€our€legal€system,€citizen€Luis€Alberto€Solorzano€is€entitled€to€bring€any€legal€actionŠ Ā Šhe€deems€appropriate€against€any€person,€natural€or€legal,€before€the€competent€courts.€InŠ Øų Šthe€present€instance,€his€intentions€are€against€the€Venezuelan€Government,€which€would,Š ŽŽ Šin€the€event€of€legal€action€by€Solorzano,€be€represented€by€the€Attorney„General€of€theŠ tÄ ŠRepublic,€who,€under€article€202,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Constitution,€is€assigned€the€task€ofŠ ZŖ Šcourt€or€out„of„court€representation€and€defence€of€the€interests€of€the€Republic."€Š @ ŠĢ10.1€The€Human€Rights€Committee,€having€examined€the€present€communication€in€the€lightŠ  \ Šof€all€the€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€parties€as€provided€in€article€5,€paragraphŠ ņB Š1,€of€the€Optional€Protocol,€hereby€decides€to€base€its€views€on€the€following€facts,€whichŠ Ų( Šare€either€uncontested€or€are€contested€by€the€State€party€only€by€denials€of€a€generalŠ ¾ Šcharacter€offering€no€particular€information€or€explanations.€Š ¤ō ŠĢ10.2€Mr.€Luis€Alberto€Solorzano€was€arrested€on€28€February€1977€on€suspicion€ofŠ p!Ą  Šparticipation€in€armed€rebellion,€brought€before€a€military€tribunal€and€kept€in€detention€untilŠ V"¦! Šhis€release€by€virtue€of€a€Presidential€Decree€of€21€December€1984,€that€is,€after€more€thanŠ <#Œ" Šseven€years€of€detention.€Although€he€was€indicted€on€12€December€1977€by€the€PermanentŠ "$r# ŠMilitary€Court€of€Caracas,€proceedings€were€interrupted€in€1979€because€two€co„defendantsŠ %X $ Šhad€been€elected€deputies€to€the€National€Congress,€and€their€cases€remained€pending€untilŠ ī%>!% Šsevered€by€order€of€the€Supreme€Court€of€Justice€in€December€1983.€At€the€time€of€hisŠ Ō&$"& Šrelease€in€December€1984,€no€judgement€had€been€passed€against€Mr.€Solorzano.€He€wasŠ ŗ' #' Šsubjected€to€ill„treatment€during€detention,€particularly€in€February€1983€when€he€sufferedŠ  (š#( Šinjuries€to€the€head€and€other€parts€of€the€body.€Š †)Ö$) ŠĢ11.€In€formulating€its€views,€the€Human€Rights€Committee€also€takes€into€account€the€failureŠ R+¢&+ Šof€the€State€party€to€furnish€certain€information€and€clarifications€necessary€for€theŠ 8,ˆ', ŠCommittee€to€facilitate€its€tasks,€in€particular€with€regard€to€the€treatment€in€February€1983Š -n(- Šof€which€Mr.€Solorzano€has€complained.€In€the€circumstances,€due€weight€must€be€given€toŠ ° Šthe€authors'€allegations.€It€is€implicit€in€article€4,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Optional€Protocol€thatŠ –ę Šthe€State€party€has€the€duty€to€investigate€in€good€faith€all€allocations€of€violation€of€theŠ |Ģ ŠCovenant€made€against€it€and€its€authorities,€and€to€furnish€to€the€Committee€the€informationŠ b² Šavailable€to€it.€In€no€circumstances€should€a€State€party€fail€to€investigate€duly€and€to€informŠ H˜ Šthe€Committee€properly€of€its€investigation€of€allegations€of€ill„treatment€when€the€personŠ . ~ Šor€persons€allegedly€responsible€for€the€ill„treatment€are€identified€by€the€author€of€aŠ  d Šcommunication.€A€denial€of€the€authors'€allegations€in€general€terms€and€the€reference€to€anŠ ś J Šunsubmitted€investigation€by€the€Public€Prosecutor's€Department€are€not€sufficient.€TheŠ ą 0 ŠCommittee€would€need€precise€information€and€reports,€ņņinter€alia,€óóon€the€Questioning€ofŠ Ę   Šprison€officials€accused€of€maltreatment€of€prisoners.€Š ¬ ü  ŠĢ12.€The€Human€Rights€Committee,€acting€under€article€5,€paragraph€4,€of€the€OptionalŠ xČ  ŠProtocol€to€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€is€of€the€view€that€theŠ ^®  Šfacts€as€found€by€the€Committee€disclose€violations€of€the€Covenant€with€respect€to:€Š D”  ŠĢArticle€10,€paragraph€1,€because€of€the€ill„treatment€that€Mr.€Solorzano€suffered€duringŠ ` Šdetention,€in€particular€in€February€1983;€Š öF ŠĢArticles€9,€paragraph€3,€and€14,€paragraph€3€(c),€because€he€was€not€brought€promptly€beforeŠ Ā Ša€judge€nor€tried€within€a€reasonable€time,€and€because€he€was€kept€in€detention€withoutŠ Øų Šjudgement€for€over€seven€years.€Š ŽŽ ŠĢ13.€The€Committee,€accordingly,€is€of€the€view€that€the€State€party€is€under€an€obligation,Š ZŖ Šin€accordance€with€the€provisions€of€article€2€of€the€Covenant,€to€take€effective€measures€toŠ @ Šremedy€the€violations€that€Mr.€Solorzano€has€suffered€and€to€Grant€him€compensation,€toŠ &v Šinvestioate€said€violations,€to€take€action€thereon€as€appropriate€and€to€take€steps€to€ensureŠ  \ Šthat€similar€violations€do€not€occur€in€the€future.€Š ņB ŠĢĢņņNotesóó€Š ¤ō ŠĢa/€€€Pursuant€to€rule€85€of€the€provisional€rules€of€procedure,€Mr.€Andres€Aquilar€did€notŠ p!Ą  Šparticipate€in€the€consideration€of€this€communication€or€in€the€adoption€of€the€views€of€theŠ V"¦! ŠCommittee€under€article€5,€paragraph€4,€of€the€Optional€Protocol€in€this€matter.