ÿWPCƒ ùÒaÈDrGì¹àBçÉ`Љ9 1s]ôjOŸî«P[úgÈÈíïöKL43±1¶OÿÂ?”×tö^ã¬ïÏ™{`FØM¦éS‹¯üoü׿Út϶:± c‘·ªO÷ßëbƒ`»¾öayðýáÚ4µhRœ˜ñò§j8­]C†Í8c&)ÿæá•‚Ñ9t{H4.W^‰°¾’óÌÏ™8NÜ<ÎÛß&ÉÂD/Û‚‘=5^²5¬P^¢·FÙqø-±Öˆ‡ÄZ¢ ’Õà0j„CƒKštÏ,w§Æ,“2T>7ûé”ïè÷qW6ïÝ!Òûû׺€²ê ¤‚ƒö¬8laK©wöÔèG2‡ÁQ›EùZß³ ºŒ]¶c|šDį/ç•qä‰gFõý©•H°äß~hûƒ/ƒÜc ó'‘²öÛF0±-6Îná:«êáñïÜÿ>^¦Ú€Îô1Ï ¦òúî¦ú®çI½Îp#Ó¼öø,ÕìHtÅ\o¡!ö«hºgÔÎtZMÄ1å­¦&úªöjtÂB¯å|eû™7˜uÑr oCb'ŸÔ‚%0=µó Âò÷ÇDÇ©$$•íý\JÕ%\Ùz̸ 0µ„ 0<9 0Yu 0_Î 0i- 0P–Ææ 0ᬠ0( D+µ AMà - 0Æ= #Á UNÄ %M(ND^ FwR4Vj mlô\  `‹&Times New Roman' husband of Maria Fanny Suarez de Guerrero v. Colombia, Communication No. R.11/45 (5 Februa4No. R.11/45 (5 Februa"Angie Dituri"0Angie Dituri .   6F , ÿÿ4Heading 3Ô S ÔÓ p^SÓÔ€£££Ôò òÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÔ€XXXÔó óÓ p^SÓ<ÿÿ:Default Para6ÿÿ4HyperlinkóóòòÔ ÿ ÔóóÔ  Ô<ÿÿ:FollowedHypeóóòòÔ  ÔóóÔ  Ô< ÿÿ:Normal (Web)Ô S ÔÓ =jSÓÓ =jSÓ0ÿÿ.Strongò òÔ  Ôó óÔ  Ô Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5(¹2öN$££Ý ƒö*!ÝÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€Xm—XXXÔÔ€Xm—XXXm—ÔÔÔÝ  Ý(ÿÿ$’’'dxd A<< cÿÿ#|x(žö*$¡¡ÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€XqÃXXXÔÔ€XqÃXXXqÃÔÔÔ˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - Standard,ä,,,,,ä0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX;ƒô* Äpì*À€Ÿ ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒö*!ÝÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€XpçXXXÔÔ€XpçXXXpçÔÔÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òHUMAN€RIGHTS€COMMITTEEÐ ° ÐÌÔ_ÔòòÔ_ÔÔ_ÔdeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔGuerreroÔ_Ô€v.€ColombiaóóÐ |Ì ÐÌCommunication€No.€R.11/45€Ð H˜ ÐÌ31€March€1982Ð  d ÐÌÌVIEWSó óÐ Æ   ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€Pedro€Pablo€Ô_ÔCamargoÔ_Ô€on€behalf€of€the€husband€of€Maria€Fanny€Suarez€deÐ xÈ  ÐÔ_ÔGuerreroÔ_ÔÐ ^®  ÐòòÌState€party€concerned:óó€Colombia€Ð *z  ÐòòÌDate€of€communication:óó€5€February€1979€(date€of€initial€letter)€Ð öF ÐòòÌDate€of€decision€on€admissibility:óó€9€April€1981óó€Ð  ÐÌÌòòÓ  ÓThe€Human€Rights€Committeeóó€established€under€article€28€of€the€International€Covenant€onÐ tÄ ÐCivil€and€Political€Rights,Ð Zª ÐÌòòMeetingóó€on€31€March€1982,€Ð &v ÐÌòòHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€communication€No.€R.11/45€submitted€to€theÐ òB ÐCommittee€by€Pedro€Pablo€Ô_ÔCamargoÔ_Ô€on€behalf€of€the€husband€of€Maria€Fanny€Suarez€deÐ Ø( ÐÔ_ÔGuerreroÔ_Ô€under€the€Optional€Protocol€to€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€PoliticalÐ ¾ ÐRights,€Ð ¤ô ÐÌòòHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€written€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€theÐ p!À  Ðcommunication€and€by€the€State€party€concerned,€Ð V"¦! ÐÌòòAdoptsóó€the€following:€Ð "$r# ÐÓ¹ÓÌÌÓ  Óò òòòVIEWS€UNDER€ARTICLE€5€(4)€OF€THE€OPTIONAL€PROTOCOLóóó ó€Ð Ô&$"& ÐÓ9ÓÌÌÓ  Ó1.1€The€communication€(initial€letter€dated€5€February€1979€and€further€letters€dated€26€JuneÐ †)Ö$) Ð1979,€2€June,€3€and€31€October€1980€and€2€January€1981}€was€submitted€by€Pedro€PabloÐ l*¼%* ÐÔ_ÔCamargoÔ_Ô,€Professor€of€International€Law€of€the€National€University€of€Colombia,€at€presentÐ R+¢&+ Ðresiding€in€Quito,€Ecuador.€He€submitted€the€communication€on€behalf€of€the€husband€ofÐ 8,ˆ', ÐMaria€Fanny€Suarez€de€Ô_ÔGuerreroÔ_Ô.€Ð -n(- Ї1.2€The€author€of€the€Communication€describes€the€relevant€facts€as€follows:€On€13€AprilÐ ° Ð1978,€the€judge€of€the€77th€Military€Criminal€Court€of€Investigation,€himself€a€member€ofÐ –æ Ðthe€police,€ordered€a€raid€to€be€carried€out€at€the€house€at€No.€136„67€Ô_ÔTransversalÔ_Ô€31€in€theÐ |Ì Ð"Ô_ÔContadorÔ_Ô"€district€of€Bogota.€The€order€for€the€raid€was€issued€to€Major€Carlos€JulioÐ b² ÐÔ_ÔCastanoÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔRozoÔ_Ô,€the€Ô_ÔSIPECÔ_Ô€Chief€of€the€F„2€Police,€Bogota€Police€Department.€The€raid€wasÐ H˜ Ðordered€in€the€belief€that€Miguel€de€German€Ô_ÔRibonÔ_Ô,€former€Ambassador€of€Colombia€toÐ . ~ ÐFrance,€who€had€been€Ô_ÔkidnappedÔ_Ô€some€days€earlier€by€a€Ô_ÔguerrilaÔ_Ô€organization,€was€beingÐ  d Ðheld€prisoner€In€the€house€in€question.€Those€taking€part€In€the€raid€were€Captains€JaimeÐ ú J ÐÔ_ÔPatarroyoÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔBarbosaÔ_Ô€and€Jorge€Noel€Ô_ÔBarreroÔ_Ô€Rodriguez;€Lieutenants€Alvaro€MendozaÐ à 0 ÐÔ_ÔContrerasÔ_Ô€and€Manuel€Antonio€Bravo€Sarmiento;€Corporal€First€Class€Arturo€MartinÐ Æ   ÐMoreno;€Constables€Joel€de€Jesus€Ô_ÔAlarconÔ_Ô€Toro,€Joaquin€Ô_ÔLeytonÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔDominguezÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔEfralnÔ_Ô€MoralesÐ ¬ ü  ÐCardenas,€Ô_ÔGustavosÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔOspinaÔ_Ô€Rios€and€Jaime€Ô_ÔQuirogaÔ_Ô,€and€a€driver,€Jose€de€los€SantosÐ ’â  ÐÔ_ÔBaqueroÔ_Ô.€In€spite€of€the€fact€that€Miguel€de€German€Ô_ÔRibonÔ_Ô€was€not€found,€the€police€patrolÐ xÈ  Ðdecided€to€hide€in€the€house€to€await€the€arrival€of€the€"suspected€kidnappers".€They€wereÐ ^®  Ðkilled€as€they€arrived.€In€this€way,€seven€innocent€human€beings€were€shot€dead:€MariaÐ D”  ÐFanny€Suarez€de€Ô_ÔGuerreroÔ_Ô,€Alvaro€Enrique€Vallejo,€Eduardo€Ô_ÔSabinoÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔLloredoÔ_Ô,€Blanco€Ô_ÔFlorezÔ_ÔÐ *z  ÐÔ_ÔVanegasÔ_Ô,€Juan€Bautista€Ortiz€Ruiz,€Omar€Flores€and€Jorge€Enrique€Ô_ÔSalcedoÔ_Ô.€Although€theÐ ` Ðpolice€stated€initially€that€the€victims€had€died€while€resisting€arrest,€brandishing€and€evenÐ öF Ðfiring€various€weapons,€the€report€of€the€Institute€of€Forensic€Medicine€(Report€No.€8683,Ð Ü, Ðof€17€April€1978),€together€with€the€ballistics€reports€and€the€results€of€the€paraffin€test,Ð Â Ðshowed€that€none€of€the€victims€had€fired€a€shot€and€that€they€had€all€been€killed€at€point„Ð ¨ø Ðblank€range,€some€of€them€shot€in€the€back€or€in€the€head.€It€was€also€established€that€theÐ ŽÞ Ðvictims€were€not€all€killed€at€the€same€time,€but€at€intervals,€as€they€arrived€at€the€house,€andÐ tÄ Ðthat€most€of€them€had€been€shot€while€trying€to€save€themselves€from€the€unexpected€attack.Ð Zª ÐIn€the€case€of€Mrs.€Maria€Fanny€Suarez€de€Ô_ÔGuerreroÔ_Ô,€the€forensic€report€showed€that€she€hadÐ @ Ðbeen€shot€several€times€after€she€had€already€died€from€a€heart€attack.€Ð &v ÐÌ1.3€The€author€adds€that,€according€to€witnesses,€the€victims€were€not€given€the€opportunityÐ òB Ðto€surrender.€He€mentions€that€the€police€stated€that€they€were€dealing€with€persons€withÐ Ø( Ðcriminal€records€but€that€subsequent€Investigation€Dy€the€police€did€not€prove€that€theÐ ¾ Ðvictims€were€kidnappers.€Ð ¤ô ÐÌ1.4€The€author€alleges€that€seven€persons€„€including€Maria€Fanny€Suarez€de€Ô_ÔGuerreroÔ_Ô€„€wereÐ p!À  Ðarbitrarily€killed€by€the€police,€that€the€police€action€was€unjustified€and€that€it€has€beenÐ V"¦! Ðinadequately€investigated€by€the€Colombian€authorities.€He€claims€that,€at€the€beginning,€theÐ <#Œ" Ðcase€was€shelved€under€Legislative€Decree€No.€0070€of€20€January€1978€because€theÐ "$r# ÐColombian€authorities€considered€that€the€police€had€acted€within€the€powers€granted€by€thatÐ %X $ ÐDecree.€He€further€alleges€that€there€have€been€other€cases€of€arbitrary€killings€by€the€armyÐ î%>!% Ðand€the€police€on€the€pretext€that€they€were€dealing€with€suspicious€people€and€that€it€hasÐ Ô&$"& Ðlater€been€proved€that€the€victims€were€either€innocent€or€persecuted€for€political€reasons.€Ð º' #' ÐÌ1.5€Legislative€Decree€No.€0070*€"introducing€measures€for€the€restoration€of€public€order"Ð †)Ö$) Ðamended€article€25€of€the€Colombian€Penal€Code€Dy€adding€a€new€paragraph€4.€TheÐ l*¼%* Ðsubstantive€part€of€the€Decree€reads€as€follows:€Ð R+¢&+ ÐÌ"Article€1.€For€so€long€as€public€order€remains€disturbed€and€the€national€territory€is€in€aÐ -n(- Ðstate€of€siege,€article€25€of€the€Penal€Code€shall€read€as€follows:€Ð ° ÐÌ"Article€25.€The€[penal]€act€is€justified€if€committed:€Ð |Ì ÐÌ"...€(4)€By€the€members€of€the€police€force€in€the€course€of€operations€planned€with€theÐ H˜ Ðobject€of€preventing€and€curbing€the€offences€of€extortion€and€Ô_ÔkidnappingÔ_Ô,€and€theÐ . ~ Ðproduction€and€processing€of€and€trafficking€,n€narcotic€drugs".€Ð  d ÐÌ1.6€The€author€states€that€Legislative€Decree€No.€0070€of€1978€has€established€a€new€groundÐ à 0 Ðof€Ô_ÔdefenceÔ_Ô€against€a€criminal€charge€so€as€to€justify€crimes€committed€by€members€of€theÐ Æ   Ðpolice€force€when€they€are€taking€part€in€operations€to€repress€certain€types€of€offences.€InÐ ¬ ü  Ðother€words,€the€otherwise€penal€act€is€justified€and€does€not€give€rise€to€penal€responsibilityÐ ’â  Ðwhen€it€is€committed€by€members€of€the€police€force.€He€further€argues€that,€if€publicÐ xÈ  Ðauthorities€are€allowed€to€kill€an€individual€because€he€is€suspected€of€having€committedÐ ^®  Ðcertain€types€of€offences€specified€in€Decree€No.€0070,€it€means€that€they€are€allowed€toÐ D”  Ðcommit€arbitrary€acts€and,€by€doing€so,€to€violate€fundamental€human€rights,€in€particularÐ *z  Ðthe€most€fundamental€one€of„all€„€the€right€to€life.€The€author€claims€that€Decree€No.€0070Ð ` Ðof€1978€violates€articles€6,€7,€9€and€14€and€17€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€andÐ öF ÐPolitical€Rights€because€public€authorities€are€allowed€to€violate€the€fundamental€guaranteesÐ Ü, Ðof€security€of€person,€of€privacy,€home€and€correspondence,€individual€liberty€and€integrity,Ð Â Ðand€cue€process€of€law,€in€order€to€prevent€and€punish€certain€types€of€offences.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ1.7€The€author€states€that€domestic€remedies€to€declare€Decree€No.€0070€unconstitutionalÐ tÄ Ðhave€been€exhausted,€since€there€is€a€decision€of€the€Supreme€Court€of€Colombia€of€9€MarchÐ Zª Ð1980€upholding€the€Decree's€constitutionality.€Ð @ ÐÌ1.8€The€author€states€that€the€case€has€not€been€submitted€to€any€other€procedure€ofÐ  \ Ðinternational€investigation€or€settlement.€Ð òB ÐÌ2.€On€9€August€1979,€the€Human€Rights€Committee€decided€to€transmit€the€communicationsÐ ¾ Ðto€the€State€party,€Ô_ÔuneerÔ_Ô€rule€91€of€the€provisional€rules€of€procedure,€requesting€informationÐ ¤ô Ðand€observations€relevant€to€the€question€of€admissibility.€Ð Š Ú ÐÌ3.1€By€letter€dated€5€May€1980,€the€State€party€refuted€the€a/legations€made€by€the€authorÐ V"¦! Ðof€the€communication€that€the€enactment€of€Legislative€Decree€No.€0070€of€20€January€1978Ð <#Œ" Ðconstitutes€a€breach€of€articles€6,€7,€9,€14€and€17€of€the€Covenant.€Ð "$r# ÐÌ3.2€The€State€party€submitted€that€it€cannot€reasonably€be€claimed€that€this€DecreeÐ î%>!% Ðestablishes€the€death€penalty€or€empowers€the€police€to€practice€torture€or€cruel,€inhumanÐ Ô&$"& Ðor€degrading€treatment€or€that€it€infringes€the€rights€or€guarantees€established€by€articles€9,Ð º' #' Ð14€and€17€of€the€Covenant.€It€cited€the€ruling€on€the€scope€of€the€Decree€given€by€theÐ  (ð#( ÐSupreme€Court€of€Justice€in€its€judgement€of€9€March€1978,€by€which€it€held€the€DecreeÐ †)Ö$) Ðconstitutional.€The€Court€said€in€particular:€Ð l*¼%* ÐÌ"...€as€can€be€seen,€the€Decree,€in€article€1,€paragraph€2€(4),€introduces€a€temporary€additionÐ 8,ˆ', Ðto€the€current€text€of€article€25€of€the€Penal€Code,€for€the€purpose€of€creating€a€new€Ô_ÔdefenceÔ_ÔÐ -n(- Ðto€a,€criminal€charge;€the€Decree€provides€that€it€is€a€good€Ô_ÔdefenceÔ_Ô€in€answer€to€such€aÐ ° Ðcharge€to€show€that€the€punishable€act€was€'committed€...€by€the€members€of€the€police€forceÐ –æ Ðin€the€course€of€operations€planned€with€the€object€of€preventing€and€curbing€the€offencesÐ |Ì Ðof€extortion€and€Ô_ÔkidnappingÔ_Ô€and€the€production€and€processing€of€and€trafficking€in€narcoticÐ b² Ðdrugs'.€This€amendment€contemplates€a€legal€situation€different€from€those€referred€to€in€theÐ H˜ Ðfirst€three€subparagraphs€of€'article€25,€which€formerly€constituted€the€entire€article€andÐ . ~ Ðhence€has€special€characteristics.€Ð  d ÐÌ"The€sense€in€which€the€provision€in€question€creates€a€different€legal€situation€is€that€It€doesÐ à 0 Ðnot€deal€with€a€case€of€obedience€to€a€mandatory€order€given€by€a€competent€authority,€norÐ Æ   Ðwith€self„Ô_ÔdefenceÔ_Ô,€nor€with€a€state€of€necessity€affecting€an€individual.€Ð ¬ ü  ÐÌ"The€provision€introduced'€by€Decree€No.€70€concerns€another€class€of€circumstances€toÐ xÈ  Ðjustify€action€taken€by€the€police€with€the€object€of€preventing€or€curbing€the€offences€ofÐ ^®  Ðextortion,€Ô_ÔkidnappingÔ_Ô€and€the€production€and€processing€of€and€trafficking€in€narcotic€drugs.€Ð D”  ÐÌ"On€the€one€hand,€the€provision€is€broad€in€scope€in€that€it€does€not€limit€the€means€ofÐ ` Ðaction,€for€under€the€provision€both€armed€force€and€other€means€of€coercion,€persuasion€orÐ öF Ðdissuasion€may€be€used.€Ð Ü, ÐÌ"On€the€other€hand,€however,€the€provision€limits€the€field€of€action€to€the€objectivesÐ ¨ø Ðreferred€to€therein,€namely,€preventing€and€curbing€the€offences€of€Ô_ÔkidnappingÔ_Ô,€extortion€andÐ ŽÞ Ðthe€production€and€processing€of€and€trafficking€in€narcotic€drugs€..."€Ð tÄ ÐÌThe€Court€observed€that€the€Decree€was€obviously€related€to€the€tact€that€the€nationalÐ @ Ðterritory€was€in€a€state€of€siege€and€It€further€stated:€Ð &v ÐÌ"...€this€is€a€special€measure€that€involves€a€right€of€social€Ô_ÔdefenceÔ_Ô;€for,€on€the€one€hand,€itÐ òB Ðis€legitimate€that€the€members€of€the€armed€forces€who€are€obliged€to€take€part€in€operationsÐ Ø( Ðlike€those€described€and€whose€purpose€it€is€to€prevent€or€curb€offences€which,€by€theirÐ ¾ Ðnature,€are€violent€and€are€committed€by€means€of€violence€against€persons€or€property,Ð ¤ô Ðshould€be€protected€by€a€justification€of€the€punishable€acts€that€they€are€constrained€toÐ Š Ú Ðcommit,€and,€on€the€other€hand,€both€the€Government,€acting€on€behalf€of€society,€andÐ p!À  Ðsociety€itself,€have€an€interest€in€the€Ô_ÔdefenceÔ_Ô€of€society€and€in€ensuring€that€it€is€adequatelyÐ V"¦! Ðdefended€by€the€agencies€to€which€the€law€has€entrusted€the€weapons€for€its€Ô_ÔdefenceÔ_Ô".€Ð <#Œ" ÐÌ3.3€In€considering€the€provisions€of€Decree€NO.€0070,€the€State€party€argued€that€it€shouldÐ %X $ Ðbe€borne€in€mind€that€the€new€grounds€do€not€establish€a€statutory€presumption€ofÐ î%>!% Ðjustification€of€the€act,€for€such€a€presumption€must€be€expressed,€as€is€required€by€articleÐ Ô&$"& Ð232€of€the€Code€of€Criminal€Procedure,€which€provides:€"There€is€a€statutory€presumptionÐ º' #' Ðif€the€law€prescribes€that€an€act€shall€constitute€conclusive€proof€of€another€act".Ð  (ð#( ÐAccordingly,€before€the€fourth€ground€in€article€25€can€be€applied€to€a€specific€case,€it€isÐ †)Ö$) Ðalways€necessary€to€weigh€the€circumstances€of€the€act,€in€order€to€determine€whether€it€isÐ l*¼%* Ðjustifiable€on€that€ground.€Ð R+¢&+ ÐÌ3.4€With€regard€to€the€specific€incident€involving€the€death€of€Maria€Fanny€Suarez€deÐ -n(- ÐÔ_ÔGuerreroÔ_Ô,€the€State€party€stated€that:€(a)€in€the€course€of€a€police€operation€on€13€April€1978Ð ° Ðin€the€"Ô_ÔContadorÔ_Ô"€district€of€Bogota€the€following€persons€died€in€the€house€at€136„67Ð –æ ÐThirty„first€Street:€Maria€Fanny€Ô_ÔBudfezÔ_Ô€de€Ô_ÔGuerreroÔ_Ô,€Alvaro€Enrique€Vallejo,€EduardoÐ |Ì ÐÔ_ÔSabinoÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔLloredoÔ_Ô,€Blanca€Ô_ÔFlorezÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔVanegasÔ_Ô,€Juan€Bautista€Ortiz€Ruiz,€Omar€Ô_ÔFlorezÔ_Ô€and€JorgeÐ b² ÐEnrique€Ô_ÔSalcedoÔ_Ô;€(b)€the€Office€of€the€State€Counsel€for€the€national€police€instituted€anÐ H˜ Ðadministrative€inquiry€into€the€case€and€the€judge€of€the€77th€Criminal€Military€Court€wasÐ . ~ Ðordered€to€hold€a€criminal€Investigation;€(c)€as€a€result€of€the€criminal€investigation,€policeÐ  d Ðcaptains€Ô_ÔAlvareÔ_Ô€Mendoza€Ô_ÔContrerasÔ_Ô€and€Jorge€Noel€Ô_ÔBarretoÔ_Ô€Rodriguez,€police€lieutenantÐ ú J ÐManuel€Bravo€Sarmiento€and€officers€Jesus€Ô_ÔAlarconÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔGustavoÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔOspinaÔ_Ô,€Joaquin€Ô_ÔDominguezÔ_Ô,Ð à 0 ÐArturo€Moreno,€Ô_ÔEtrainÔ_Ô€Morales€and€Jose€Sanchez€were€concerned€in€the€criminalÐ Æ   Ðproceedings;€(d)€the€trial€had€not€yet€been€completed.€Consequently,€the€State€partyÐ ¬ ü  Ðsubmitted,€domestic€remedies€of€the€local€jurisdiction€had€not€yet€been€exhausted.€Ð ’â  ÐÌ4.1€In€his€comments€dated€2€June€1980,€the€author€stated€that€"the€new€ground€included€inÐ ^®  ÐDecree€No.€0070€of€1978€does€indeed€establish€'a€statutory€presumption€of€justification€ofÐ D”  Ðthe€act',€because€it€is€left€to€the€police€authorities€themselves€to€determine€what€is€justified,Ð *z  Ðthrough€the€so„called€'military€criminal€judges'€and€the€Higher€Military€Court,€even€if€theÐ ` Ðvictim€or€victims€are€civilians.€Up€to€now€all€extrajudicial€deaths€caused€by€the€police€forceÐ öF Ðhave€been€justified€by€the€police€force€itself,€without€any€intervention€of€the€ordinaryÐ Ü, Ðcourts".€Ð  ÐÌ4.2€As€regards€the€events€which€took€place€in€the€"Ô_ÔContadorÔ_Ô"€district€of€Bogota€on€13€AprilÐ ŽÞ Ð1978,€the€author€maintained€that€it€was€the€police€themselves€who€entrusted€the€criminalÐ tÄ Ðinvestigation€to€the€judge€of€the€77th€Military€Criminal€Court€and€he,€after.€more€than€twoÐ Zª Ðyears,€had€not€summoned€those€involved€to€appear€in€court:€"There€is€no€question€of€genuineÐ @ Ðcriminal€proceedings€for,€contrary€to€the€principle€that€no€one€may€be€judge€in€his€ownÐ &v Ðcause,€it€is€the€police€who€have€carried€out€the€investigation€with€respect€to€themselves,€andÐ  \ Ðthe€military€criminal€procedure€does€not€permit€the€civilian€victims€to€be€represented.Ð òB ÐOrdinary€criminal€procedure€provides€both€for€a€criminal€action€and€for€a€civil€action€forÐ Ø( Ðdamages."€The€author€further€maintained€that€the€Government€of€Colombia€had€notÐ ¾ Ðpermitted€the€institution€of€civil€proceedings€on€behalf€of€the€victims€in€the€military€criminalÐ ¤ô Ðcase€against€the€accused€and€he€claimed€that€the€application€of€domestic€remedies€wasÐ Š Ú Ðunreasonably€prolonged.€Ð p!À  ÐÌ5.€On€25€July€1980€the€Human€Rights€Committee€decided€to€request€the€State€party€toÐ <#Œ" Ðfurnish€detailed€information€as€to:€Ð "$r# ÐÌ(a)€How,€if€at€all,€the€state€of€siege€proclaimed€in€Colombia€affected€the€present€case;€Ð î%>!% ÐÌ(b)€Whether€the€institution€of€civil€proceedings€for€damages€had€been€permitted€on€behalfÐ º' #' Ðof€the€victims€of€the€police€operation€on€13€April€1978€in€the€"Ô_ÔContadorÔ_Ô"€district€of€Bogota,Ð  (ð#( Ðand,€if€not,€the€reasons€for€any€refusal€to€permit€such€proceedings;€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ(c)€The€reasons€for€the€delay,€for€more€than€two€years,€in€the€adjudication€of€the€HigherÐ R+¢&+ ÐMilitary€Court€in€the€matter.€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- Ð6.1€By€letters€dated€9€September€and€1€October€1980€the€State€party€submitted€furtherÐ ° Ðinformation.€Ð –æ ÐÌ6.2€The€State€party€maintained€that€the€state€of€siege€might€affect€this€case€if€the€followingÐ b² Ðconditions€were€met:€Ð H˜ ÐÌ"(a)€If€those€responsible€for€the€violent€death€of€various€persons€in€the€'Ô_ÔContadorÔ_Ô'€districtÐ  d Ðpolice€operation€invoke€in€justification€of€the€act€the€new€ground€provided€in€Decree€0070Ð ú J Ðof€1978€promulgated€in€exercise€of€the€powers€conferred€by€article€121€of€the€NationalÐ à 0 ÐConstitution;€and€Ð Æ   ÐÌ(b)€If€the€Military€Tribunal€(Oral€Proceedings)€òò(Ô_ÔConsejoÔ_Ô€de€Ô_ÔGuerraÔ_Ô€Verbal)€óówhich€is€to€tryÐ ’â  Ðthose€responsible€for€the€acts€in€question€agrees€that€the€ground€mentioned€is€applicableÐ xÈ  Ðthereto.€If€it€should€consider€that€the€ground€is€not€applicable,€no€effect€would€derive€fromÐ ^®  Ðthe€state€of€siege.€Only€when€the€decision€of€the€Military€Tribunal€is€delivered€will€it€beÐ D”  Ðpossible€to€establish€whether,€by€virtue€of€Decree€0070€Of€1978,€the€state€of€siege€does€inÐ *z  Ðfact€affect€this€case."€Ð ` ÐÌThe€State€party€added:€Ð Ü, ÐÌ"As€regards€the€questions€of€trial€formalities,€jurisdiction€and€competence,€the€state€of€siegeÐ ¨ø Ðhas€no€effect€on€either€the€criminal€or€the€civil€proceedings€or€the€action€underÐ ŽÞ Ðadministrative€law€that€could€be€brought€if€the€injured€parties€claimed€compensation€for€theÐ tÄ Ðdamage€suffered."€Ð Zª ÐÌ6.3€As€regards€the€question€whether€the€institution€of€civil€proceedings€for€damages€hadÐ &v Ðbeen€permitted€on€behalf€of€the€victims€of€the€police€operation,€the€State€party€affirmed€thatÐ  \ Ðthe€institution€of€a€civil€action€in€conjunction€with€military€proceedings€was€restricted€toÐ òB Ðproceedings€dealing€with€ordinary€offences€and€that,€since€the€present€case€was€a€militaryÐ Ø( Ðoffence,€no€civil€action€could€be€instituted€in€conjunction€with€the€military€proceedings.Ð ¾ ÐMilitary€offences€are€"those€covered€by€the€Code€of€Military€Criminal€Justice,€committedÐ ¤ô Ðby€soldiers€on€active€service€and€in€relation€to€their€service".€However,€the€State€partyÐ Š Ú Ðsubmitted€that€persons€who€have€suffered€loss€or€injury€may€apply€to€an€administrativeÐ p!À  Ðtribunal€to€obtain€the€appropriate€damages€on€the€ground€of€the€Ô_ÔextracontractualÔ_ÔÐ V"¦! Ðresponsibility€of€the€State.€Such€a€claim€may€be€made€independently€of€the€outcome€of€theÐ <#Œ" Ðcriminal€trial€and€even€if€it€has€not€begun€or€been€concluded.€This€is€because€the€State€mustÐ "$r# Ðbear€responsibility€for€the€abuses€and€negligence€of€its€agents€when€they€unjustifiably€resultÐ %X $ Ðin€damage.€Thus€the€institution€of€a€civil€action€in€conjunction€with€military€criminalÐ î%>!% Ðproceedings€is€completely€unimportant€for€this€purpose,€since€another€remedy€is€availableÐ Ô&$"& Ðto€those€suffering€loss€or€injury.€In€addition,€the€State€party€explained€that€the€Code€ofÐ º' #' ÐMilitary€Criminal€Justice€contains€the€following€provisions€on€compensation:€Ð  (ð#( ÐÌ"Article€76.€On€any€conviction€for€offences€that€result€in€loss€or€injury€to€any€person,€eitherÐ l*¼%* Ðnatural€or€legal,€those€responsible€shall€be€jointly€sentenced€to€compensate€for€all€suchÐ R+¢&+ Ðdamage€as€has€been€caused.€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- Ð6.4€As€regards€the€reasons€for€the€delay,€for€more€than€two€years,€in€the€adjudication€of€theÐ ° ÐHigher€Military€Court€in€the€matter,€the€State€party€submitted€that€this€was€due€to€the€heavyÐ –æ Ðworkload€of€all€the€judges€and€prosecutors.€The€Office€of€the€State€Counsel€for€the€NationalÐ |Ì ÐPolice,€which€is€responsible€for€exercising€judicial€supervision€over€the€system€of€militaryÐ b² Ðcriminal€justice€with€regard€to€proceedings€against€national€police€personnel€(Decree„LawÐ H˜ Ð521€of€1971)€through€general€and€special€inspections€(Decree„Law€2500€of€1970),€found€thatÐ . ~ Ðthe€delay€in€handling€the€case€concerning€the€events€in€the€"Ô_ÔContadorÔ_Ô"€district€was€justified,Ð  d Ðsince€it€was€due€to€the€heavy€workload€and€not€to€negligence,€it€having€been€established€thatÐ ú J Ðthe€judges€produce€a€high€monthly€average€of€decisions.€Ð à 0 ÐÌ6.5€As€regards€the€administrative€inquiry€instituted€by€the€Office€of€the€State€Counsel€for€theÐ ¬ ü  Ðnational€police€into€the€incident€in€the€"Ô_ÔContadorÔ_Ô"€district,€the€State€party€in€its€letter€of€1Ð ’â  ÐOctober€1980€informed€the€Committee€that€this€had€been€completed.€The€Office€of€the€StateÐ xÈ  ÐCounsel€had€requested€the€dismissal€of€all€the€members€of€the€patrol€involved€in€theÐ ^®  Ðoperation.€This€dismissal€was€ordered€on€16€June€1980€and€had€been€carried€out.€Ð D”  ÐÌ6.6€Nevertheless,€the€State€party€reiterated€that€domestic€remedies€bad€not€been€exhausted.€Ð ` ÐÌ7.1€In€further€letters€dated€3€and€31€October€1980€the€author€submitted€the€followingÐ Ü, Ðadditional€information:€"...€the€investigation€into€the€massacre€on€13€April€1978€wasÐ Â Ðconducted€by€the€very€police€officer€who€had€led€the€raid,€namely€Captain€Carlos€JulioÐ ¨ø ÐÔ_ÔCastanoÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔRozoÔ_Ô,€the€Ô_ÔSIPECÔ_Ô€Chief€of€the€Bogota€Police€Department".€He€further€stated€in€JulyÐ ŽÞ Ð'1980,€the€Inspector€General€of€Police,€General€Ô_ÔFabioÔ_Ô€Arturo€Ô_ÔLondonoÔ_Ô€Cardenas,€acting€asÐ tÄ Ðjudge€of€first€instance,€issued€an€order€for€all€criminal€proceedings€against€those€chargedÐ Zª Ðwith€the€massacre€to€be€discontinued,€on€the€basis€of€article€417€of€the€Code€of€MilitaryÐ @ ÐCriminal€Justice,€which€states:€Ð &v ÐÌ"Article€417.€If,€at€any€stage€of€the€proceedings,€it€becomes€fully€established€that€the€act€forÐ òB Ðwhich€charges€have€been€laid€or€which€is€under€investigation€did€not€take€place,€or€that€itÐ Ø( Ðwas€not€committed€by€the€accused,€or€that€the€law€does€not€consider€it€a€criminal€offence,Ð ¾ Ðor€that€there€were€no€grounds€for€instituting€or€continuing€the€criminal€proceedings,€theÐ ¤ô Ðjudge€of€first€instance€or€the€investigating€official€shall,€with€the€approval€of€the€PublicÐ Š Ú ÐProsecutor~s€department,€issue€an€official€ruling€to€that€effect€and€shall€order€all€proceedingsÐ p!À  Ðagainst€the€accused€to€be€discontinued."€Ð V"¦! ÐÌThe€author€alleged€that€the€Inspector€General€of€Police€invoked€the€ground€of€justificationÐ "$r# Ðof€the€criminal€act€provided€for€in€article€1€of€Decree€No.€0076,€of€20€January€1978.€ThisÐ %X $ Ðruling€went€to€the€Higher€Military€Court€for€òòex€officio€óóreview.€The€Higher€Military€Court,Ð î%>!% Ðthrough€its€Fourth€Chamber,€annulled€the€decision€of€the€Inspector€General€of€Police:€TheÐ Ô&$"& Ðdossier€then€retained€in€the€hands€of€the€judge€of€first€instance€and€the€author€stated€that€upÐ º' #' Ðto€the€date€of€his€letter€(3€October€1980)€no€order€had€been€issued€convening€a€military€courtÐ  (ð#( Ðto€try€the€accused€òò(Ô_ÔConsejoÔ_Ô€Verbal€de€Ô_ÔGuerraÔ_Ô).óó€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ7.2€However,€in€his€letter€of€2€January€1981,€the€author€informed€the€Committee€that€on€30Ð R+¢&+ ÐDecember€1980€a€military€court€acquitted€the€11€members€of€the€Police€Department.€HeÐ 8,ˆ', Ðstated€that€Dr.€Martinez€Zapata,€the€lawyer€for€the€"Ô_ÔContadorÔ_Ô"€victims,€was€not€allowed€toÐ -n(- Ðattend€the€trial,€submit€appeals€or€make€objections.€He€affirmed€that€the€acquittal€was€basedÐ ° Ðon€Decree€Law€No.€0070€of€1978.€Ð –æ ÐÌ7.3€The€author€further€stated€that€as€a€result€of€the€acquittal€no€administrative€suit€forÐ b² Ðcompensation€could€be€filed€and€the€police€officers€and€agents,.€who€were€dismissed€on€theÐ H˜ Ðrecommendation€of€the€Deputy€Procurator€General€for€Police€Affairs,€would€be€reinstatedÐ . ~ Ðin€their€functions.€The€author€had€earlier€stated:€Ð  d ÐÌ"...€in€principle,€an€action€for€compensation€may€be€brought€before€an€administrativeÐ à 0 Ðtribunal.€However,€if€the€accused€are€acquitted€and€the€State€turns€out€not€to€be€responsible,Ð Æ   Ðhow€could€such€an€action€be€brought€before€an€administrative€tribunal?€It€is€quite€clear,Ð ¬ ü  Ðmoreover,€that€the€lawyers€for€the€victims€are€not€Simply€seeking€compensation;€above€allÐ ’â  Ðthey€want€justice€to€be€done€and€a€declaration€that€Legislative€Decree€No.€0070€of€1978€isÐ xÈ  ÐÔ_ÔmanisfestlyÔ_Ô€a€breach€of€articles€6,€7,€14€and€17€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€andÐ ^®  ÐPolitical€Rights."€Ð D”  ÐÌ7.4€The€author€claimed€that€this€was€a€serious€case€of€a€denial€of€justice€which€definitivelyÐ ` Ðconfirmed€that€murders€of€civilians€by€the€police€would€go€unpunished.€Ð öF ÐÌ8.1€The€Committee€found,€on€the€basis€of€the€information€before€it,€that€it€was€not€precludedÐ Â Ðby€article€5€(2)€(a)€of€the€Optional€Protocol€from€considering€the€communication€since€thereÐ ¨ø Ðwas€no€indication€that€[he€same€matter€had€been€submitted€under€another€procedure€ofÐ ŽÞ Ðinternational€investigation€or€settlement.€Ð tÄ ÐÌ8.2€As€to€the€question€of€exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies,€the€Committee,€having€beenÐ @ Ðinformed€by€the€author€of€the€communication€that€on€30€December€1980€the€military€tribunalÐ &v Ðacquitted€the€11€members€of€the€Police€Department€who€were€on€trial€and€this€informationÐ  \ Ðnot€having€been€refuted€by€the€State€party,€understood€that€the€military€tribunal€found€theÐ òB Ðmeasures€taken€by€the€police€which€resulted€in€the€death€of€Maria€Fanny€Suarez€de€Ô_ÔGuerreroÔ_ÔÐ Ø( Ðto€have€been€justified.€It€appeared€from€the€information€before€the€Committee€that€there€wasÐ ¾ Ðno€further€possibility€of€an€effective€domestic€remedy€in€regard€to€the€matters€complainedÐ ¤ô Ðof.€The€Committee€was€therefore€unable€to€conclude€on€the€basis€of€the€informationÐ Š Ú Ðsubmitted€by€the€State€party€and€the€author,€that€there€were€still€effective€remedies€availableÐ p!À  Ðwhich€could€be€invoked€on€behalf€of€the€alleged€victim.€Accordingly€the€Committee€foundÐ V"¦! Ðthat€the€communication€was€not€inadmissable€under€article€5€(2)€(b)€of€the€Optional€Protocol.Ð <#Œ" ÐThe€Committee€stated,€however,€that€this€decision€could€be€reviewed€in€the€light€of€anyÐ "$r# Ðfurther€explanations€which€the€State€party€might€submit€under€article€4€(2)€of€the€OptionalÐ %X $ ÐProtocol.€Ð î%>!% ÐÌ9.€On€9€April€1981,€the€Human€Rights€Committee€therefore€decided:€Ð º' #' ÐÌ(a)€That€the€communication€was€admissible;€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ(b)€That,€in€accordance€with€article€4€(2)€of€the€Optional€Protocol,€the€State€party€beÐ R+¢&+ Ðrequested€to€submit€to€the€Committee,€within€six€months€of€the€date€of€the€transmittal€to€itÐ 8,ˆ', Ðof€this€decision,€written€explanations€or€statements€clarifying€the€matter€and€the€remedy,€ifÐ -n(- Ðany,€that€may€have€been€taken€by€it.€These€should€include€a€copy€of€the€judgement€of€theÐ ° Ðmilitary€tribunal€acquitting€the€members€of€the€Police€Department€who€were€on€trial.€Ð –æ ÐÌ10.€The€time€limit€for€the€State€party's€submission€under€article€4€(2)€of€the€OptionalÐ b² ÐProtocol€expired€on€26€November€1981.€To€date,€no€submission€has€been€received€from€theÐ H˜ ÐState€party€in€addition€to€those€received€prior€to€the€decisions€on€admissibility.€Ð . ~ ÐÌ11.1€The€Human€Rights€Committee€has€considered€the€present€communication€in€the€lightÐ ú J Ðof€all€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€parties,€as€provided€in€article€5€(1)€of€theÐ à 0 ÐOptional€Protocol.€The€Committee€bases€its€views€on€the€following€facts,€which€are€not€inÐ Æ   Ðdispute€or€which€are€Ô_ÔunrefutedÔ_Ô€by€the€State€party.€Ð ¬ ü  ÐÌ11.2€Legislative€Decree€No.€0070€of€20€January€1978€amended€article€25€of€the€Penal€CodeÐ xÈ  Ð"for€so€long€as€the€public€order€remains€disturbed€and€the€national€territory€is€in€a€state€ofÐ ^®  ÐÔ_ÔseigeÔ_Ô"€(see€text€of€Decree€in€appendix€below).€The€Decree€established€a€new€ground€ofÐ D”  ÐÔ_ÔdefenceÔ_Ô€that€may€be€pleaded€by€members€of€the€police€force€to€exonerate€them€if€anÐ *z  Ðotherwise€punishable€act€was€committed€"in€the€course€of€operations€planned€with€the€objectÐ ` Ðof€preventing€and€curbing€the€offences€of€extortion€and€Ô_ÔkidnappingÔ_Ô,€and€the€production€andÐ öF Ðprocessing€of€and€trafficking€in€narcotic€drugs".€Ð Ü, ÐÌ11.3€On€13€April€1978,€the€judge€of€the€77th€Military€Criminal€Court€of€Investigation,Ð ¨ø Ðhimself€a€member€of€the€police€ordered€a€raid€to€be€carried€out€at€the€house€at€No.€136„67Ð ŽÞ ÐÔ_ÔTransversalÔ_Ô€31€in€the€"Ô_ÔContadorÔ_Ô"€district€of€Bogota.€The€order€for€the€raid€was€issued€toÐ tÄ ÐMajor€Carlos€Julio€Ô_ÔCastanoÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔRozoÔ_Ô,€the€Ô_ÔSIPECÔ_Ô€Chief€of€the€F„2€Police,€Bogota€PoliceÐ Zª ÐDepartment.€The€raid€was€ordered€in€the€belief€that€Miguel€de€German€Ô_ÔRibonÔ_Ô,€formerÐ @ ÐAmbassador€of€Colombia€to€France,€who€had€been€Ô_ÔkidnappedÔ_Ô€some€days€earlier€by€aÐ &v Ðguerrilla€organization,€was€being€held€prisoner€in€the€house€in€question.€Ð  \ ÐÌ11.4€In€spite€of€the€fact€that€Miguel€de€German€Ô_ÔRibonÔ_Ô€was€not€found,€the€police€patrolÐ Ø( Ðdecided€to€hide€in€the€house€to€await€the€arrival€of€the€"suspected€kidnappers".€SevenÐ ¾ Ðpersons€who€subsequently€entered€the€house€were€shot€by€the€police€and€died.€These€personsÐ ¤ô Ðwere:€Maria€Fanny€Suarez€de€Ô_ÔGuerreroÔ_Ô,€Alvaro€Enrique€Vallejo,€Eduardo€Ô_ÔSabinoÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔLloredoÔ_Ô,Ð Š Ú ÐBlanca€Ô_ÔF1orezÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔVanegasÔ_Ô,€Juan€Bautista€Ortiz€Ruiz,€Omar€Ô_ÔF16rezÔ_Ô€and€Jorge€Enrique€Ô_ÔSalcedoÔ_Ô.€Ð p!À  ÐÌ11.5€Although€the€police€initially€stated€that€the€victims€had€died€while€resisting€arrest,Ð <#Œ" Ðbrandishing€and€even€firing€various€weapons,€the€report€of€the€Institute€of€Forensic€MedicineÐ "$r# Ð(Report€No.€8683,€of€17€April€1978),€together€with€the€ballistics€reports€and€the€results€ofÐ %X $ Ðthe€paraffin€test,€showed€that€none€of€the€victims€had€fired€a€shot€and€that€they€had€all€beenÐ î%>!% Ðkilled€at€point„blank€range,€some€of€them€shot€in€the€back€or€in€the€head.€It€was€alsoÐ Ô&$"& Ðestablished€that€the€victims€were€not€all€killed€at€the€same€time,€but€at€intervals,€as€theyÐ º' #' Ðarrived€at€the€house,€and€that€most€of€them€had€been€shot€while€trying€to€save€themselvesÐ  (ð#( Ðfrom€the€unexpected€attack.€In€the€case€of€Mrs.€Maria€Fanny€Suarez€de€Ô_ÔGuerreroÔ_Ô,€theÐ †)Ö$) Ðforensic€report€showed€that€she€had€been€shot€several€times€after€she€already€died€from€aÐ l*¼%* Ðheart€attack.€Ð R+¢&+ ÐÌ11.6€The€Office€of€the€State€Counsel€for€the€national€police€instituted€an€administrativeÐ -n(- Ðinquiry€into€the€case.€The€administrative€inquiry€was€completed€and€the€Office€of€the€StateÐ ° ÐCounsel€for€the€national€police€requested€the€dismissal€of€all€the€members€of€the€patrolÐ –æ Ðinvolved€in€the€operation.€This€dismissal€was€ordered€on€16€June€1980.€Ð |Ì ÐÌ11.7€In€addition,€the€judge€of€the€77th€Military€Criminal€Court€was€ordered€to€hold€aÐ H˜ Ðcriminal€investigation€into€the€case.€The€preliminary€investigation€of€the€case€was€conductedÐ . ~ Ðby€Major€Carlos€Julio€Ô_ÔCastanoÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔRozoÔ_Ô.€This€investigation€did€not€prove€that€the€victims€of€theÐ  d Ðpolice€action€were€kidnappers.€In€July€1980,€the€Inspector€General€of€Police,€acting€as€judgeÐ ú J Ðof€first€instance,€issued€an€order€for€all€criminal€proceedings€against€those€charged€with€theÐ à 0 Ðviolent€death€of€these€seven€persons€during€the€police€operation€on€13€April€1978€in€theÐ Æ   Ð"Ô_ÔContadorÔ_Ô"€district€of€Bogota€to€be€discontinued.€This€order€was€grounded€on€article€7€ofÐ ¬ ü  ÐDecree€No.€0070.€A€Higher€Military€Court€as€a€result€of€an€òòex€officio€óóreview,€annulled€theÐ ’â  Ðdecision€of€the€Inspector€General€of€Police.€On€31€December€1980€a€military€tribunalÐ xÈ  Ðòò(Ô_ÔConsojoÔ_Ô€de€Ô_ÔGuerraÔ_Ô€Verbal),€óóto€which€the€case€had€been€referred€for€retrial,€again€acquittedÐ ^®  Ðthe€11€members€of€the€Police€Department€who€had€been€involved€in€the€police€operation.Ð D”  ÐThe€acquittal€was€again€based€on€Decree„Law€No.€0070€of€1978.€Ð *z  ÐÌ11.8€At€no€moment€could€a€civil€action€for€damages€be€instituted€in€conjunction€with€theÐ öF Ðmilitary€criminal€proceedings.€An€action€for€compensation€for€the€persons€injured€by€theÐ Ü, Ðpolice€operation€in€the€"Ô_ÔContadorÔ_Ô"€district€depended€first€on€determining€the€criminalÐ Â Ðliability€of€the€accused.€The€accused€having€been€acquitted,€no€civil€or€administrative€suitÐ ¨ø Ðcould€be€filed€to€obtain€compensation.€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌ12.1€In€formulating€its€views,€the€Human€Rights€Committee€also€takes€into€account€theÐ Zª Ðfollowing€considerations:€Ð @ ÐÌ12.2€The€Committee€notes€that€Decree€No.€0070€of€1978€refers€to€a€situation€of€disturbedÐ  \ Ðpublic€order€in€Colombia.€The€Committee€also€notes€that€the€Government€of€Colombia€inÐ òB Ðits€note€of€18€July€1980€to€the€Secretary„General€of€the€United€Nations€(reproduced€inÐ Ø( Ðdocument€Ô_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/2/Add.4),€which€was€designed€to€comply€with€the€formal€requirementsÐ ¾ Ðlaid€down€in€article€4€(3)€of€the€Covenant,€made€reference€to€the€existence€of€a€state€of€siegeÐ ¤ô Ðin€all€the€national€territory€since€1976€and€to€the€necessity€to€adopt€extraordinary€measuresÐ Š Ú Ðwithin€the€framework€of€the€legal€regime€provided€for€in€the€National€Constitution€for€suchÐ p!À  Ðsituations.€With€regard€to€the€rights€guaranteed€by€the€Covenant,€the€Government€ofÐ V"¦! ÐColombia€declared€that€"temporary€measures€have€been€adopted€that€have€the€effect€ofÐ <#Œ" Ðlimiting€the€application€of€article€19,€paragraph€2,€and€article€21€of€that€Covenant".€TheÐ "$r# ÐCommittee€observes€that€the€present€case€is€not€concerned€with€articles€19€and€Ô_Ô21ofÔ_Ô€theÐ %X $ ÐCovenant.€It€further€observes€that€according€to€article€4€(2)€of€the€Covenant€there€are€severalÐ î%>!% Ðrights€recognized€by€the€Covenant€which€cannot€be€derogated€from€by€a€State€party.€TheseÐ Ô&$"& Ðinclude€articles€6€and€7€which€have€been€invoked€in€the€present€case.€Ð º' #' ÐÌ13.1€Article€6€(1)€of€the€Covenant€provides:€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ"Every€human€being€has€the€inherent€right€to€life.€This€right€shall€be€protected€by€law.€NoÐ R+¢&+ Ðone€shall€be€arbitrarily€deprived€of€his€life."€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- ÐThe€right€enshrined€in€this€article€is€the€supreme€right€of€the€human€being.€It€follows€that€theÐ ° Ðdeprivation€of€life€by€the€authorities€of€the€State€is€a€matter€of€the€utmost€gravity.€ThisÐ –æ Ðfollows€from€the€article€as€a€whole€and€in€particular€is€the€reason€why€paragraph€2€of€theÐ |Ì Ðarticle€lays€down€that€the€death€penalty€may€be€imposed€only€for€the€most€serious€crimes.Ð b² ÐThe€requirements€that€the€right€shall€be€protected€by€law€and€that€no€one€shall€be€arbitrarilyÐ H˜ Ðdeprived€of€his€life€mean€that€the€law€must€strictly€control€and€limit€the€circumstances€inÐ . ~ Ðwhich€a€person€may€be€deprived€of€his€life€by€the€authorities€of€a€State.€Ð  d ÐÌ13.2€In€the€present€case€it€is€evident€from€the€fact€that€seven€persons€lost€their€lives€as€aÐ à 0 Ðresult€of€the€deliberate€action€of€the€police€that€the€deprivation€of€life€was€intentional.Ð Æ   ÐMoreover,€the€police€action€was€apparently€taken€without€warning€to€the€victims€and€withoutÐ ¬ ü  Ðgiving€them€any€opportunity€to€surrender€to€the€police€patrol€or€to€offer€any€explanation€ofÐ ’â  Ðtheir€presence€or€intentions.€There€is€no€evidence€that€the€action€of€the€police€was€necessaryÐ xÈ  Ðin€their€own€Ô_ÔdefenceÔ_Ô€or€that€of€others,€or€that€it€was€necessary€to€effect€the€arrest€or€preventÐ ^®  Ðthe€escape€of€the€persons€concerned.€Moreover,€the€victims€were€no€more€than€suspects€ofÐ D”  Ðthe€Ô_ÔkidnappingÔ_Ô€which€had€occurred€some€days€earlier€and€their€killing€by€the€police€deprivedÐ *z  Ðthem€of€all€the€protections€of€due€process€of€law€laid€down€by€the€Covenant.€In€the€case€ofÐ ` ÐMrs.€Maria€Fanny€Suarez€de€Ô_ÔGuerreroÔ_Ô,€the€forensic€report€showed€that€she€had€been€shotÐ öF Ðseveral€times€after€she€had€already€died€from€a€heart€attack.€There€can€be€no€reasonableÐ Ü, Ðdoubt€that€her€death€was€caused€by€the€police€patrol.€Ð  ÐÌ13.3€For€these€reasons€it€is€the€Committee's€view€that€the€action€of€the€police€resulting€in€theÐ ŽÞ Ðdeath€of€Mrs.€Maria€Fanny€Suarez€d€Ô_ÔGuerreroÔ_Ô€was€disproportionate€to€the€requirements€ofÐ tÄ Ðlaw€enforcement€in€the€circumstances€of€the€case€and€that€she€was€arbitrarily€deprived€of€herÐ Zª Ðlife€contrary€to€article€6€(1)€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights.Ð @ ÐInasmuch€as€the€police€action€was€made€justifiable€as€a€matter€of€Colombian€law€byÐ &v ÐLegislative€Decree€No.€0070€of€20€January€1978,€the€right€to€life€was€not€adequatelyÐ  \ Ðprotected€by€the€law€of€Colombia€as€required€by€article€6€(1).€Ð òB ÐÌ14.€It€is€not€necessary€to€consider€further€alleged€violations,€arising€from€the€same€facts,€ofÐ ¾ Ðother€articles€of€the€Covenant.€Any€such€violations€are€subsumed€by€the€even€more€seriousÐ ¤ô Ðviolations€of€article€6.€Ð Š Ú ÐÌ15.€The€Committee€is€accordingly€of€the€view€that€the€State€party€should€take€the€necessaryÐ V"¦! Ðmeasures€to€compensate€the€husband€of€Mrs.€Maria€Fanny€Suarez€de€Ô_ÔGuerreroÔ_Ô€for€the€deathÐ <#Œ" Ðof€his€wife€and€to€ensure€that€the€right€to€life€is€duly€protected€by€amending€the€law.€Ð "$r# ÐÌ__________Ð î%>!% ÐÌ*€See€the€text€of€Legislative€Decree€No.€0070€in€the€appendix€below.€Ð º' #' ÐÌÌÓ«ÓÓ  Óòòò òAPPENDIXó óóó€Ð l*¼%* ÐÓ~³ÓÓÓÌÌòòDecree€No.€0070€of€20€January€1978€óóÐ -n(- Їintroducing€measures€for€the€restoration€of€public€order€Ð ° ÐÌThe€President€of€the€Republic€of€Colombia€Ð |Ì ÐÌin€the€exercise€of€the€authority€vested€in€him€by€article€121€of€the€National€Constitution,€and€Ð H˜ ÐÌConsidering:€Ð  d ÐÌThat,€by€Decree€No.€2131€of€1976,€the€public€order€was€declared€to€be€disturbed€and€a€stateÐ à 0 Ðof€siege€was€proclaimed€throughout€the€national€territory;€Ð Æ   ÐÌThat€the€disturbance€of€the€public€order€has€increased€with€the€intensification€of€organizedÐ ’â  Ðcrime,€particularly€as€a€result€of€the€commission€of€offences€against€individual€freedom,Ð xÈ  Ðagainst€the€life€and€integrity€of€the€person€and€against€the€health€and€integrity€of€society;€Ð ^®  ÐÌThat€it€is€the€duty€of€the€Government€to€take€whatever€measures€are€conducive€to€theÐ *z  Ðrestoration€of€a€normal€situation;€Ð ` ÐÌDecrees:€Ð Ü, ÐÌòòArticle€1.€óóFor€so€long€as€the€public€order€remains€disturbed€and€the€national€territory€is€inÐ ¨ø Ða€state€of€siege,€article€25€of€the€Penal€Code€shall€read€as€follows:€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌ"Article€25.€The€act€is€justified€if€committed:€Ð Zª ÐÌ"(1)€Pursuant€to€a€legislative€provision€or€to€a€mandatory€order€given€by€a€competentÐ &v Ðauthority;€Ð  \ ÐÌ"(2)€By€a€person€who€is€constrained€to€defend€himself€or€another€against€a€direct€or€wrongfulÐ Ø( Ðact€of€violence€against€the€person,€his€Ô_ÔhonourÔ_Ô€or€his€property,€provided€that€the€Ô_ÔdefenceÔ_Ô€isÐ ¾ Ðproportionate€to€the€attack;€Ð ¤ô ÐÌ"The€circumstances€referred€to€in€this€subparagraph€are€presumed€to€exist€in€any€case€whereÐ p!À  Ða€person€during€the€night€repels€any€person€who€climbs€or€forcibly€enters€the€enclosure,Ð V"¦! Ðwalls,€Coors€or€windows€of€his€dwelling€or€outbuildings,€whatever€the€harm€done€to€theÐ <#Œ" Ðattacker,€or€where€a€person€finds€a€stranger€in€his€dwelling,€provided€that€in€the€latter€caseÐ "$r# Ðthere€is€no€justification€for€the€stranger's€presence€in€the€premises€and€that€the€stranger€offersÐ %X $ Ðresistance;€Ð î%>!% ÐÌ"(3)€By€a€person€who€has€to€save€himself€or€another€from€a€serious€and€imminent€danger€toÐ º' #' Ðthe€person€which€cannot€be€avoided€in€any€other€way,€which€is€not€the€result€of€his€ownÐ  (ð#( Ðaction€and€to€which€be€is€not€exposed€in€the€course€of€the€exercise€of€his€profession€orÐ †)Ö$) Ðoccupation;€Ð l*¼%* ÐÌ"(4)€By€the€members€of€the€police€force€in€the€course€of€operations€planned€with€the€objectÐ 8,ˆ', Ðof€preventing€and€curbing€the€offences€of€extortion€and€Ô_ÔkidnappingÔ_Ô,€and€the€production€andÐ -n(- Ðprocessing€of€and€trafficking€in€narcotic€drugs".€Ð ° ÐÌòòArticle€2óó€Ð |Ì ÐÌThis€decree€shall€enter€into€force€on€the€date€of€its€enactment€and€shall€suspend€anyÐ H˜ Ðprovisions€inconsistent€therewith.€Ð . ~ ÐÌFor€transmittal€and€enforcement€Ð ú J ÐÌDone€in€Bogota,€Ô_ÔD.E.Ô_Ô,€on€20€January€1978.€Ð Æ   ÐÌòò(Signed)€Alfonso€Lopez€Ô_ÔMichelsenÔ_Ô€óóÐ ’â  ÐÌòòMinister€of€the€Interior€óóÐ ^®  ÐÌòò(Signed)€Alfredo€Ô_ÔAraujoÔ_Ô„Ô_ÔGrauÔ_Ô€óóÐ *z  ÐÌòòMinister€for€Foreign€Affairs€óóÐ öF ÐÌòò(Signed)€Ô_ÔIndalecioÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔLievanoÔ_Ô€Aguirre€óóÐ Â ÐÌòòMinister€of€Justice€óóÐ ŽÞ ÐÌòò(Signed)€Cesar€Gomez€Ô_ÔEstradaÔ_Ô€óóÐ Zª ÐÌòòMinister€of€Finance€óóÐ &v ÐÌòò(Signed)€Alfonso€Ô_ÔPalacioÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔRudasÔ_ÔóóÐ òB ÐÌÓijÓ