ÿWPC  OžùžŒN}&~èõ׈5ÝMØÛ™ÉZ/î$FS¯+ ˜îma–Ý€ˆºÙŒ49Û~Ayíy4¼ AÂ7&ÀUéÏ›ïòÒæ»Å.„fÕòЪ¢™¾uXˆ=AlœV³çÙ÷‡ñÆ7 ÞK))ÄW‚üÍW‡ kœÄ%>¯“À•]é8W£~­^™Lt»Óy d¬Ñ¥év!„ø1à –×ìŽDÂGU>BÌ€ 0nL 0iº 0Y# 0_| 0&ÛU6 %7 = 0ÆM #Á UNÔ Ô M" (& NN ^ P w\ 4` t mv ô\  `‹&Times New Roman' United Nations Human Rights Website - Treaty Bodies Database - Document - Jurisprudence - 4nt - Jurisprudence - "Angie Dituri"0Angie Dituri .   <ÿÿ:Default ParaÔ€ôôôÔÔ€XXXÔ< ÿÿ:Normal (Web)Ô S ÔÓ =jSÓÓ =jSÓ6ÿÿ4HyperlinkóóòòÔ ÿ ÔóóÔ  Ô<ÿÿ:FollowedHypeóóòòÔ  ÔóóÔ  Ô<qyÿÿ:HTML TypewriÔ€ôôôÔÔK€<þ6X9`(‹Courier NewKÔÔ  ÔÔ€XXXÔÔS€ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔÔ  Ô<þ6X9`(‹Courier New X#|x(ž…#$¡¡ÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ XdXX XÔÔ€XdXX XdÔÔÔ˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - Standard,ä,,,,,ä0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularMô* Äpì* ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒ …#!ÝÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ XwXX XÔÔ€XwXX XwÔÔÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òHUMAN€RIGHTS€COMMITTEEÐ ° ÐÌòòVargas€Ô_Ôv.Ô_Ô€ChileóóÐ |Ì ÐÌCommunication€Nðð€718/1996**Ð H˜ ÐÌ26€July€1999Ð  d ÐÌÔ_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/66/D/718/1996/Rev.1€Ð à 0 ÐÌÌADMISSIBILITYó óÐ ’â  ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€Mrs.€Mara€Ô_ÔOtiliaÔ_Ô€Vargas€Ô_ÔVargasÔ_Ô(represented€by€Ô_ÔFundacið;ðnÔ_Ô€de€Ô_ÔAyudaÔ_ÔÐ D”  ÐSocial€de€Ô_ÔlasÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔIglesiasÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔCristianasÔ_Ô)€Ð *z  ÐÌòòAlleged€victimóó:€Mrs.€Mara€Ô_ÔOtiliaÔ_Ô€Vargas€and€her€son€Mr.€Ô_ÔDagobertoÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔPrezÔ_Ô€Vargas€Ð öF ÐÌòòState€partyóó:€Chile€Ð  ÐÌòòDate€of€communicationóó:€3€May€1996óó€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌÌòòÓ  ÓThe€Human€Rights€Committeeóó,€established€under€article€28€of€the€International€CovenantÐ @ Ðon€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€Ð &v ÐÌòòMeeting€onóó€26€July€1999€Ð òB ÐÌòòAdopts€óóthe€following:€Ð ¾ ÐÓÛÓÓ  ÓÌÌòòò òDecision€on€admissibility***ó óóóÐ p!À  ÐÓ  ÓÌÌÓ  Ó1.€The€author€of€the€communication€is€Maria€Ô_ÔOtiliaÔ_Ô€Vargas€Ô_ÔVargasÔ_Ô€acting€also€on€behalf€ofÐ "$r# Ðher€son,€Ô_ÔDagobertoÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔPrezÔ_Ô€Vargas,€a€Chilean€citizen€who€disappeared€in€1973,€and€was€laterÐ %X $ Ðconfirmed€to€have€been€killed€that€year.€It€is€alleged€that€Mr.€Ô_ÔDagobertoÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔPrezÔ_Ô€Vargas€wasÐ î%>!% Ða€victim€of€violations€by€Chile€of€articles€2;€5;€14,€paragraph€1;€15,€paragraphs€1€and€2;€16Ð Ô&$"& Ðand€26€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€and€that€the€rights€of€Mrs.Ð º' #' ÐVargas€Ô_ÔVargasÔ_Ô€have€been€violated€as€a€family€member.€The€alleged€victims€are€representedÐ  (ð#( Ðby€Nelson€Ô_ÔG.C.Ô_Ô€Pereira€of€the€Ô_ÔFundacið;ðnÔ_Ô€de€Ô_ÔAyudaÔ_Ô€Social€de€Ô_ÔlasÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔIglesiasÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔCristianasÔ_Ô.€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌòòThe€facts€as€submittedóó:€Ð R+¢&+ ÐÌ2.1€On€16€October€1973,€an€armed€confrontation€occurred€between€members€of€the€nowÐ -n(- Ðdefunct€Ô_ÔDINAÔ_Ô€(òòÔ_ÔDireccið;ðnÔ_Ô€de€Ô_ÔInteligenciaÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔNacionalÔ_Ôóó)and€members€of€the€rebel€group€MIRÐ ° Ð(òòÔ_ÔMovimientoÔ_Ô€de€Ô_ÔIzquierdaÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔRevolucionarioÔ_Ôóó)of€which€Ô_ÔDagobertoÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔPrezÔ_Ô€was€a€member.€It€wasÐ –æ Ðassumed€that€he€was€killed€in€the€encounter,€as€his€body€was€never€recovered,€but€the€onlyÐ |Ì Ðnews€about€his€fate€that€his€family€was€able€to€gather€was€unofficial.€None€of€the€victim'sÐ b² Ðrelatives€were€ever€notified€of€the€whereabouts€of€the€body,€the€circumstances€of€his€death,Ð H˜ Ðwhere€it€had€occurred€or€who€had€been€responsible.€Ð . ~ ÐÌ2.2€Proceedings€to€establish€the€circumstances€of€Mr.€Ô_ÔPrezÔ_Ô€Vargas'€death€were€initiated€inÐ ú J Ðthe€Metropolitan€Regional€Court€of€Santiago€(òòÔ_ÔJuzgadoÔ_Ô€de€Ô_ÔLetrasÔ_Ô€de€Ô_ÔTalaganteÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔRegið;ðnÔ_ÔÐ à 0 ÐÔ_ÔMetropolitanaÔ_Ôóó)€on€28€April€1991.€A€criminal€suit€on€charges€of€aggravated€Ô_ÔkidnappingÔ_ÔÐ Æ   Ðresulting€in€murder€and€illegal€association€were€filed€against€X.€On€24€August€1993,€theÐ ¬ ü  ÐMagistrate€on€the€Ô_ÔTalaganteÔ_Ô€Court€declared€that€he€had€no€competence€to€consider€the€caseÐ ’â  Ðand€transferred€the€case€to€a€military€jurisdiction,€as€two€military€officers€appeared€to€haveÐ xÈ  Ðinvestigated€the€site€of€the€incident.€Counsel€notes€that€the€Court€of€Appeal€of€San€MiguelÐ ^®  Ðsubsequently€remitted€the€appeal€to€a€military€jurisdiction.€Ð D”  ÐÌ2.3€On€24€August€1994,€the€2nd€Military€Tribunal€of€Santiago€(òòII€Ô_ÔJuzgadoÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔMilitarÔ_Ô€deÐ ` ÐSantiago)óó€decreed€that€the€case€be€formally€discontinued€(òòÔ_ÔSobreseimientoÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔdefinitivoÔ_Ôóó)Ð öF Ðpursuant€to€Law€2.191€of€1978,€without€going€into€further€investigations.€On€9€May€1995,Ð Ü, Ðthe€Military€Court€òò(Ô_ÔCorteÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔMarcialÔ_Ô)óó€endorsed€this€decision.€One€of€the€civilian€judges€on€theÐ Â Ðcourt€dissented,€arguing€that€the€proceedings€should€be€returned€to€the€investigating€phase.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ2.4€A€complaint€òò(Ô_ÔRecursoÔ_Ô€de€Ô_ÔQuejaÔ_Ôóó)€was€filed€with€the€Supreme€Court€on€grounds€of€abuseÐ tÄ Ðof€power€by€the€Military€Tribunal€and€the€Military€Court,€which€had€dismissed€the€caseÐ Zª Ðunder€the€provisions€of€the€1978€Amnesty€Decree.€On€2€October€1995,€the€Supreme€CourtÐ @ Ðdismissed€the€complaint,€without€giving€reasons.€With€this,€counsel€argues,€availableÐ &v Ðdomestic€remedies€have€been€exhausted.€Ð  \ ÐÌòòThe€complaint:óó€Ð Ø( ÐÌ3.1€Before€the€Supreme€Court,€the€case€was€based€on€violations€by€the€Chilean€authoritiesÐ ¤ô Ðboth€of€national€law€and€international€conventions.€Reference€was€made€in€this€context€toÐ Š Ú Ðthe€1949€Geneva€Conventions,€in€force€for€Chile€since€April€1951,€under€which€certain€illicitÐ p!À  Ðacts€committed€during€an€armed€conflict€without€international€dimensions,€are€not€subjectÐ V"¦! Ðto€an€amnesty.€In€this€respect,€it€was€alleged€that€the€events€under€investigation€had€takenÐ <#Œ" Ðplace€during€a€state€of€siege€("òòÔ_ÔEstadoÔ_Ô€de€Ô_ÔsitioÔ_Ô€en€Ô_ÔgradoÔ_Ô€de€'Ô_ÔDefensaÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔInternaÔ_Ôóó'")€in€Chile.Ð "$r# ÐCounsel€alleges€that€by€their€acts,€the€present€Chilean€authorities€are€condoning,€and€haveÐ %X $ Ðbecome€accessories€to,€the€acts€perpetrated€by€the€former€military€regime.€Ð î%>!% ÐÌ3.2€It€is€alleged€that,€regardless€of€how€the€events€in€question€may€be€defined,€i.e.€whetherÐ º' #' Ðunder€the€Geneva€Conventions€or€under€article€15,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Covenant,€theyÐ  (ð#( Ðconstitute€acts€or€omissions€which,€when€committed,€were€criminal€acts€according€to€generalÐ †)Ö$) Ðprinciples€of€law€Ô_ÔrecognisedÔ_Ô€by€the€community€of€nations,€and€which€may€not€be€statute„Ð l*¼%* Ðbarred€nor€unilaterally€pardoned€by€any€State.€Counsel€states€that€with€the€application€of€theÐ R+¢&+ Ðamnesty€law,€Decree€no.€2191€of€1978,€Chile€has€accepted€the€impunity€of€those€responsibleÐ 8,ˆ', Ðfor€these€acts.€It€is€alleged€that€the€State€is€renouncing€its€obligation€to€investigateÐ -n(- Ðinternational€crimes,€and€to€bring€those€responsible€for€them€to€justice€and€thus€determineÐ ° Ðwhat€happened€to€the€victims.€This€means€that€fundamental€rights€of€the€author€and€hisÐ –æ Ðfamily€have€been€violated.€Counsel€claims€a€violation€of€article€15,€paragraph€2,€of€theÐ |Ì ÐCovenant,€in€that€criminal€acts€have€been€unilaterally€and€unlawfully€pardoned€by€the€State.€Ð b² ÐÌ3.3€Counsel€alleges€that€the€application€of€the€amnesty€law€No.2.191€of€1978€deprived€theÐ . ~ Ðvictim€and€his€family€of€the€right€to€justice,€including€the€right€to€a€fair€trial€and€to€adequateÐ  d Ðcompensation€for€the€violations€of€the€Covenant.òò1óó€Counsel€further€alleges€a€violation€ofÐ ú J Ðarticle€14€of€the€Covenant,€in€that€the€victim€and€his€family€were€not€afforded€access€onÐ à 0 Ðequal€terms€to€the€courts,€nor€afforded€the€right€to€a€fair€and€impartial€hearing.€Since€the€caseÐ Æ   Ðwas€remitted€to€the€military€courts,€the€principle€of€equality€of€arms€was€violated.€Ð ¬ ü  ÐÌ3.4€To€counsel,€the€decision€of€the€military€tribunals€not€to€investigate€the€victim's€deathÐ xÈ  Ðamounts€to€a€violation€of€article€16€of€the€Covenant,€i.e.€failure€to€recognize€the€victim€asÐ ^®  Ða€person€before€the€law.€Ð D”  ÐÌ3.5€As€to€the€reservation€entered€by€Chile€upon€ratification€of€the€Optional€Protocol€in€1992,Ð ` Ðit€is€alleged€that€although€the€events€complained€of€occurred€prior€to€11€March€1990,€theÐ öF Ðdecision€challenged€by€the€present€communication€is€the€judgment€of€the€Supreme€Court€ofÐ Ü, ÐOctober€1995.€Ð  ÐÌòòState€party's€observations€and€counsel's€commentsóó:€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌ4.1€In€submissions€dated€6€December€1996,€12€February€1997€and€9€February€1998,€theÐ Zª ÐState€party€provides€a€detailed€account€of€the€history€of€the€cases€and€of€the€amnesty€law€ofÐ @ Ð1978,€including€information€on€the€details€of€the€death€of€Mr.€Ô_ÔPrezÔ_Ô€Vargas.€It€specificallyÐ &v Ðconcedes€that€the€facts€did€occur€as€described€by€the€author's€counsel.€It€was€indeed€inÐ  \ Ðreaction€to€the€serious€human€rights€violations€committed€by€the€former€military€regime€thatÐ òB Ðformer€President€Aylwin€instituted€the€National€Truth€and€Reconciliation€Commission€byÐ Ø( ÐDecree€of€25€April€1990.€For€its€report,€the€Commission€had€to€set€out€a€complete€record€ofÐ ¾ Ðthe€human€rights€violations€that€had€been€brought€to€its€attention;€among€these€was€theÐ ¤ô Ðauthor's€case.€It€is€noted€that€his€case€is€set€out€in€Part€II,€Vol.€I€of€the€Commission's€finalÐ Š Ú Ðreport;€the€conclusion€was€that€his€death€was€attributable€to€'political€violence'.€Ð p!À  ÐÌ4.2€The€State€party€submits€that€the€facts€at€the€basis€of€the€communication€cannot€beÐ <#Œ" Ðattributed€to€the€constitutionally€elected€government(s)€which€succeeded€the€military€regime.Ð "$r# ÐIt€provides€a€detailed€account€of€the€historical€context€in€which€large€numbers€of€ChileanÐ %X $ Ðcitizens€disappeared€and€were€summarily€and€extrajudicially€executed€during€the€period€ofÐ î%>!% Ðthe€military€regime.€Ð Ô&$"& ÐÌ4.3€The€State€party€notes€that€it€is€not€possible€to€abrogate€the€Amnesty€Decree€of€1978,€andÐ  (ð#( Ðadduces€reasons:€first,€legislative€initiatives€such€as€those€relating€to€amnesties€can€only€beÐ †)Ö$) Ðinitiated€in€the€Senate€(article€62€of€the€Constitution),€where€the€Government€is€in€aÐ l*¼%* Ðminority.€Second,€abrogation€of€the€law€would€not€necessarily€have€repercussions€underÐ R+¢&+ Ðcriminal€law€for€possible€culprits,€on€account€of€the€prohibition€of€retroactive€application€ofÐ 8,ˆ', Ðcriminal€laws.€This€principle€is€enshrined€in€article€19€lit.3€of€the€Chilean€Constitution€andÐ -n(- Ðarticle€15,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Covenant.€Three,€the€composition€of€the€Constitutional€Court.Ð ° ÐFour,€the€designation€of€the€Commanders€in€Chief€of€the€Armed€Forces;€the€President€of€theÐ –æ ÐRepublic€may€not€remove€the€present€officers,€including€General€Pinochet.€Lastly€theÐ |Ì Ðcomposition€and€attributions€of€the€National€Security€Council€(Ô_ÔConsejoÔ_Ô€de€Ô_ÔSeguridadÔ_ÔÐ b² ÐÔ_ÔNacionalÔ_Ô)€restrict€the€attributions€of€the€democratic€authorities€in€all€matters€pertaining€toÐ H˜ Ðinternal€or€external€national€security.€Ð . ~ ÐÌ4.4€The€State€party€further€observes€that€the€existence€of€the€amnesty€law€does€not€inhibitÐ ú J Ðthe€continuation€of€criminal€investigations€already€under€way€in€Chilean€tribunals.€In€thisÐ à 0 Ðsense,€the€amnesty€decree€of€1978€may€extinguish€the€criminal€responsibility€of€thoseÐ Æ   Ðaccused€of€crimes€under€the€military€regime,€but€it€cannot€in€any€way€suspend€theÐ ¬ ü  Ðcontinuation€of€investigations€that€seek€to€establish€what€happened€to€individuals€who€wereÐ ’â  Ðdetained€and€later€disappeared.€This€has€been€the€interpretation€of€the€decree€both€by€theÐ xÈ  ÐMilitary€Court€and€by€the€Supreme€Court.€Ð ^®  ÐÌ4.5€The€Government€emphasizes€that€the€Chilean€Constitution€(article€73)€protects€theÐ *z  Ðindependence€of€the€judiciary.€As€such,€the€Executive€cannot€interfere€with€the€applicationÐ ` Ðand€the€interpretation€of€domestic€laws€by€the€courts,€even€if€the€courts'€decisions€go€againstÐ öF Ðthe€interests€of€the€Government.€Ð Ü, ÐÌ4.6€With€respect€to€the€terms€of€the€amnesty€law,€the€State€party€points€to€the€necessity€toÐ ¨ø Ðreconcile€the€desire€for€national€reconciliation€and€pacification€of€society€with€the€need€toÐ ŽÞ Ðascertain€the€truth€of€past€human€rights€violations€and€to€seek€justice.€These€criteria€inspiredÐ tÄ Ðex„President€Aylwin€when€he€set€up€the€Truth€and€Reconciliation€Commission.€To€the€StateÐ Zª Ðparty,€the€composition€of€the€Commission€was€a€model€in€Ô_ÔrepresentativityÔ_Ô,€as€it€includedÐ @ Ðmembers€associated€with€the€former€military€regime,€former€judges€and€members€of€civilÐ &v Ðsociety,€including€the€founder€and€president€of€the€Chilean€Human€Rights€Commission.€Ð  \ ÐÌ4.7€The€State€party€distinguishes€between€an€amnesty€granted€de€facto€by€an€authoritarianÐ Ø( Ðregime,€by€virtue€of€its€failure€to€denounce€or€investigate€massive€human€rights€abuses€orÐ ¾ Ðby€adopting€measures€designed€to€ensure€the€impunity€of€its€members,€and€an€amnestyÐ ¤ô Ðadopted€by€a€constitutionally€elected€democratic€regime.€It€is€submitted€that€theÐ Š Ú Ðconstitutionally€elected€governments€of€Chile€have€not€adopted€any€amnesty€measures€orÐ p!À  Ðdecrees€which€could€be€considered€incompatible€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant;€norÐ V"¦! Ðhave€they€committed€any€acts€which€would€be€incompatible€with€Chile's€obligations€underÐ <#Œ" Ðthe€Covenant.€Ð "$r# ÐÌ4.8€The€State€party€recalls€that€after€the€end€of€the€mandate€of€the€Truth€and€ReconciliationÐ î%>!% ÐCommission,€another€body€„€the€so„called€"òòÔ_ÔCorporacið;ðnÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔNacionalÔ_Ô€de€la€Ô_ÔVerdadÔ_Ô€yÐ Ô&$"& ÐÔ_ÔReconciliacið;ðnÔ_Ô"€„€óócontinued€the€work€of€the€former,€thereby€underlining€the€Government'sÐ º' #' Ðdesire€to€investigate€the€massive€violations€of€the€former€military€regime.€The€"Ô_ÔCorporacið;ðnÔ_ÔÐ  (ð#( ÐÔ_ÔNacionalÔ_Ô"€presented€a€detailed€report€to€the€Government€in€August€of€1996,€in€which€itÐ †)Ö$) Ðadded€the€cases€of€899€further€victims€of€the€previous€regime.€This€body€also€oversees€theÐ l*¼%* Ðimplementation€of€a€policy€of€compensation€for€victims€which€had€been€recommended€byÐ R+¢&+ Ðthe€Truth€and€Reconciliation€Commission.€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- Ð4.9€The€legal€basis€for€the€compensation€to€victims€of€the€former€military€regime€is€LawÐ ° ÐNo.19.123€of€8€February€1992,€which€Ð –æ ÐÌ*€sets€up€the€Ô_ÔCorporacið;ðnÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔNacionalÔ_Ô€and€mandates€it€to€promote€the€compensation€to€theÐ b² Ðvictims€of€human€rights€violations,€as€identified€in€the€final€report€of€the€Truth€andÐ H˜ ÐReconciliation€Commission;€Ð . ~ ÐÌ*€mandates€the€Ô_ÔCorporacið;ðnÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔNacionalÔ_Ô€to€continue€investigations€into€situations€and€cases€inÐ ú J Ðrespect€of€which€the€Truth€and€Reconciliation€Commission€could€not€determine€whether€theyÐ à 0 Ðwere€the€result€of€political€violence;€Ð Æ   ÐÌ*€fixes€maximum€levels€for€the€award€of€compensation€pensions€in€every€case,€dependingÐ ’â  Ðon€the€number€of€beneficiaries;€Ð xÈ  ÐÌ*€establishes€that€the€compensation€pensions€are€Ô_ÔreadjustableÔ_Ô,€much€like€the€general€systemÐ D”  Ðof€pensions;€Ð *z  ÐÌ*€grants€a€"compensation€bonus"€equivalent€to€12€monthly€compensation€pension€payments;€Ð öF ÐÌ*€increases€the€pensions€by€the€amount€of€monthly€health€insurance€costs,€so€that€all€health„Ð Â Ðrelated€expenditures€will€be€borne€by€the€State;€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ*€decrees€that€the€education€of€children€of€victims€of€the€former€regime€will€be€borne€by€theÐ tÄ ÐState,€including€university€education;€Ð Zª ÐÌ*€lays€down€that€the€children€of€victims€of€the€former€regime€may€request€to€be€exemptedÐ &v Ðfrom€military€service.€Ð  \ ÐÌIn€accordance€with€the€above€guidelines,€the€relatives€of€Mr.€Ô_ÔPrezÔ_Ô€Vargas€have€received€andÐ Ø( Ðare€currently€receiving€monthly€pension€payments.€Ð ¾ ÐÌ4.10€In€the€light€of€the€above,€the€State€party€requests€the€Committee€to€find€that€it€cannotÐ Š Ú Ðbe€held€responsible€for€the€acts€which€are€at€the€basis€of€the€present€communication.€ItÐ p!À  Ðsolicits,€moreover,€a€finding€that€the€creation€of€the€National€Truth€and€ReconciliationÐ V"¦! ÐCommission€and€the€corrective€measures€provided€for€in€Law€No.19.123€constituteÐ <#Œ" Ðappropriate€remedies€within€the€meaning€of€article€2€of€the€Covenant.€Ð "$r# ÐÌ4.11€The€State€party€further€recalls€that€with€the€transition€to€democracy,€the€victims€of€theÐ î%>!% Ðformer€regime€have€been€able€to€count€on€the€full€cooperation€of€the€authorities,€with€a€viewÐ Ô&$"& Ðto€recovering,€within€the€limits€of€the€law€and€the€circumstances,€their€dignity€and€theirÐ º' #' Ðrights.€Reference€is€made€to€the€ongoing€work€of€the€Ô_ÔCorporacið;ðnÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔNacionalÔ_Ô€de€Ô_ÔReparacið;ðnÔ_ÔÐ  (ð#( Ðy€Ô_ÔReconciliacið;ðnÔ_Ô.€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ5.1€In€his€comments,€counsel€takes€issue€with€several€of€the€State€party's€observations.€HeÐ R+¢&+ Ðcontends€that€the€State€party's€Ô_ÔdefenceÔ_Ô€ignores€or€at€the€very€least€misconstrues€Chile'sÐ 8,ˆ', Ðobligations€under€international€law,€which€are€said€to€mandate€the€Government€to€takeÐ -n(- Ðmeasures€to€mitigate€or€eliminate€the€effects€of€the€Amnesty€Decree€of€1978.€Article€2€of€theÐ ° ÐAmerican€Convention€on€Human€Rights€and€article€2,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Covenant€imposeÐ –æ Ða€duty€on€the€State€party€to€take€the€necessary€measures€(by€legislation,€administrative€orÐ |Ì Ðjudicial€action)to€give€effect€to€the€rights€enshrined€in€these€instruments.€To€counsel,€it€isÐ b² Ðwrong€to€argue€that€there€is€no€other€way€than€to€abrogate€or€declare€null€and€void€the€1978Ð H˜ Ðamnesty€decree:€nothing€prevents€the€State€party€from€amnestying€those€who€committedÐ . ~ Ðwrongs,€except€where€the€wrongs€committed€constitute€international€crimes€or€crimesÐ  d Ðagainst€humanity.€For€counsel,€the€facts€at€the€basis€of€the€present€communication€fall€intoÐ ú J Ðthe€latter€category.€Ð à 0 ÐÌ5.2€To€counsel,€it€is€equally€wrong€to€argue€that€the€principle€of€non„retroactivity€of€criminalÐ ¬ ü  Ðlaws€operates€against€the€possibility€of€prosecuting€those€deemed€responsible€for€graveÐ ’â  Ðviolations€of€human€rights€under€the€former€military€regime.€This€principle€does€not€applyÐ xÈ  Ðto€crimes€against€humanity,€which€cannot€be€statute„barred.€Moreover,€if€the€application€ofÐ ^®  Ðthe€principle€of€non„retroactivity€of€criminal€legislation€operates€in€Ô_ÔfavourÔ_Ô€of€the€perpetratorÐ D”  Ðbut€collides€with€other€fundamental€rights€of€the€victims,€such€as€the€right€to€a€remedy,€theÐ *z  Ðconflict€must€be€solved€in€Ô_ÔfavourÔ_Ô€of€the€latter,€as€it€derives€from€violations€of€fundamentalÐ ` Ðrights,€such€as€the€right€to€life,€to€liberty€or€physical€integrity.€In€other€words,€the€perpetratorÐ öF Ðof€serious€crimes€cannot€be€deemed€to€benefit€from€more€rights€than€the€victims€of€theseÐ Ü, Ðcrimes.€Ð  ÐÌ5.3€Counsel€further€claims€that€from€a€strictly€legal€point€of€view,€the€State€party€has,€withÐ ŽÞ Ðthe€modification€of€Chile's€Constitution€in€1989€and€with€the€incorporation€into€the€domesticÐ tÄ Ðlegal€order€of€international€and€regional€human€rights€instruments€such€as€the€AmericanÐ Zª ÐConvention€on€Human€Rights€and€the€Covenant,€implicitly€abrogated€all€(domestic)€normsÐ @ Ðincompatible€with€these€instruments;€this€would€include€the€Amnesty€Decree€D.L.2.191€ofÐ &v Ð1978.€Ð  \ ÐÌ5.4€In€respect€of€the€State€party's€argument€relating€to€the€independence€of€the€judiciary,Ð Ø( Ðcounsel€concedes€that€the€application€of€the€amnesty€decree€and€consequently€the€denial€ofÐ ¾ Ðappropriate€remedies€to€the€victims€of€the€former€military€regime€derives€from€acts€ofÐ ¤ô ÐChilean€tribunals,€in€particular€the€military€jurisdictions€and€the€Supreme€Court.€However,Ð Š Ú Ðwhile€these€organs€are€independent,€they€remain€agents€of€the€State,€and€their€acts€mustÐ p!À  Ðtherefore€engage€State€responsibility€if€they€are€incompatible€with€the€State€party'sÐ V"¦! Ðobligations€under€international€law.€Counsel€therefore€considers€unacceptable€the€StateÐ <#Œ" Ðparty's€argument€that€it€cannot€interfere€with€the€acts€of€the€judiciary:€no€political€system€canÐ "$r# Ðjustify€the€violation€of€fundamental€rights€by€one€of€the€branches€of€Government,€and€itÐ %X $ Ðwould€be€absurd€to€conclude€that€while€the€executive€branch€of€government€seeks€toÐ î%>!% Ðpromote€adherence€to€international€human€rights€standards,€the€judiciary€may€act€in€waysÐ Ô&$"& Ðcontrary€to,€or€simply€ignore,€these€standards.€Ð º' #' ÐÌ5.5€Counsel€finally€argues€that€the€State€party€has€misleadingly€adduced€the€conclusions€ofÐ †)Ö$) Ðseveral€reports€and€resolutions€of€the€Inter„American€Commission€on€Human€Rights€inÐ l*¼%* Ðsupport€of€its€arguments.€To€counsel,€it€is€clear€that€the€Commission€would€hold€any€formÐ R+¢&+ Ðof€amnesty€which€obstructs€the€determination€of€the€truth€and€prevents€justice€from€beingÐ 8,ˆ', Ðdone,€in€areas€such€as€enforced€and€involuntary€disappearances€and€summary€executions,Ð -n(- Ðas€incompatible€with€and€in€violation€of€the€American€Convention€on€Human€Rights.€Ð ° ÐÌ5.6€In€additional€comments,€counsel€reiterates€his€allegations€as€summarized€in€paragraphsÐ |Ì Ð3.2€and€3.3€above.€What€is€at€issue€in€the€present€case€is€not€the€granting€of€some€form€ofÐ b² Ðcompensation€to€victims€of€the€former€regime,€but€the€denial€of€justice€to€them:€the€StateÐ H˜ Ðparty€resigns€itself€to€arguing€that€it€òòcannotóó€investigate€and€prosecute€the€crimes€committedÐ . ~ Ðby€the€military€regime,€thereby€foreclosing€the€possibility€of€any€judicial€remedy€for€theÐ  d Ðvictims.€To€counsel,€there€is€no€better€remedy€than€the€determination€of€the€truth,€by€way€ofÐ ú J Ðjudicial€proceedings,€and€the€prosecution€of€those€held€responsible€for€the€crimes.€In€theÐ à 0 Ðinstant€case,€this€would€imply€ascertaining€the€burial€sites€of€the€victim,€why€he€wasÐ Æ   Ðmurdered,€who€killed€him€or€ordered€him€to€be€killed,€and€thereafter€indicting€andÐ ¬ ü  Ðprosecuting€those€responsible.€Ð ’â  ÐÌ5.7€Counsel€adds€that€his€interpretation€of€the€invalidity€of€Amnesty€Decree€2.191€of€1978,Ð ^®  Ðin€the€light€of€international€law€and€the€Covenant,€has€been€endorsed€by€the€Inter„AmericanÐ D”  ÐCommission€on€Human€Rights€in€a€Resolution€adopted€in€March€1997.€In€this€resolution,Ð *z  Ðthe€Commission€held€the€amnesty€law€to€be€contrary€to€the€American€Convention€on€HumanÐ ` ÐRights,€and€admonished€the€State€party€to€amend€its€legislation€accordingly.€The€ChileanÐ öF ÐGovernment€was€requested€to€continue€investigations€into€disappearances€that€occurredÐ Ü, Ðunder€the€former€regime,€and€to€indict,€prosecute€and€try€those€held€responsible.€To€counsel,Ð Â Ðthe€Commission's€resolution€perfectly€sets€out€Chile's€responsibility€for€facts€and€acts€suchÐ ¨ø Ðas€those€at€the€basis€of€the€present€communications.€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌòòAdmissibility€considerations:óó€Ð Zª ÐÌ6.1€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Human€RightsÐ &v ÐCommittee€must,€in€accordance€with€rule€87€of€its€rules€of€procedure,€decide€whether€or€notÐ  \ Ðit€is€admissible€under€the€Optional€Protocol€to€the€Covenant.€Ð òB ÐÌ6.2€The€Committee€notes€that€the€State€party€does€not€explicitly€challenge€the€admissibilityÐ ¾ Ðof€the€communication,€although€it€does€point€out€that€the€events€complained€of€by€the€author,Ð ¤ô Ðincluding€the€Amnesty€Decree€of€1978,€occurred€prior€to€the€entry€into€force€of€the€OptionalÐ Š Ú ÐProtocol€for€Chile,€which€ratified€that€instrument€on€28€August€1992€with€the€followingÐ p!À  Ðdeclaration:€"In€ratifying€the€competence€of€the€Human€Rights€Committee€to€receive€andÐ V"¦! Ðconsider€communications€from€individuals,€it€is€the€understanding€of€the€Government€ofÐ <#Œ" ÐChile€that€this€competence€applies€in€respect€of€acts€occurring€after€the€entry€into€force€forÐ "$r# Ðthat€State€of€the€Optional€Protocol€or,€in€any€event,€to€acts€which€began€after€11€MarchÐ %X $ Ð1990".€Ð î%>!% ÐÌ6.3€The€Committee€notes€that€the€author€also€challenges€the€judgment€of€the€Supreme€CourtÐ º' #' Ðof€Chile€of€2€October€1995€denying€the€request€for€the€revision€of€earlier€adverse€decisionsÐ  (ð#( Ðrendered€in€respect€to€Mr.€Prez€Vargas'€application€by€military€courts.€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ6.4€The€Committee€notes€that€the€acts€giving€rise€to€the€claims€related€to€the€death€of€Mr.Ð R+¢&+ ÐÔ_ÔPrezÔ_Ô€Vargas€occurred€prior€to€the€international€entry€into€force€of€the€Covenant,€on€23Ð 8,ˆ', ÐMarch€1976,€hence,€these€claims€are€inadmissible€òòÔ_ÔrationeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔtemporisÔ_Ôóó.€The€Supreme€CourtÐ -n(- Ðjudgement€of€1995€cannot€be€regarded€as€a€new€event€that€could€affect€the€rights€of€a€personÐ ° Ðwho€was€killed€in€1973.€Consequently,€the€communication€is€inadmissible€in€respect€of€Mr.Ð –æ ÐÔ_ÔPrezÔ_Ô€Vargas,€under€article€1€of€the€Optional€Protocol,€and€the€Committee€does€not€need€toÐ |Ì Ðexamine€whether€the€declaration€made€by€Chile€upon€accession€to€the€Optional€Protocol€hasÐ b² Ðto€be€regarded€as€a€reservation€or€a€mere€declaration.€Ð H˜ ÐÌ6.5€The€Committee€notes€that€the€communication€has€been€submitted€by€Mrs.€Mara€Ô_ÔOtiliaÔ_ÔÐ  d ÐVargas€Ô_ÔVargasÔ_Ô,€the€mother€of€Mr.€Ô_ÔPrezÔ_Ô€Vargas€and€that€the€State€party€has€addressed€herÐ ú J Ðstatus€as€a€victim€of€alleged€violations€of€the€Covenant.€With€the€dismissal€of€the€author'sÐ à 0 Ðpetition€by€the€Supreme€Court€in€October€1995,€all€domestic€remedies€available€to€the€authorÐ Æ   Ðhave€been€exhausted.€The€State€party€itself€has€argued€that€Amnesty€Decree€2.191€of€1978Ð ¬ ü  Ðcannot€be€abrogated€or€declared€null€and€void,€which€must€be€understood€as€meaning€thatÐ ’â  Ðany€judicial€challenge€of€the€Decree,€constitutionally€or€otherwise,€would€inevitably€fail.€TheÐ xÈ  ÐCommittee€thus€concludes€that€the€requirements€of€article€5,€paragraph€2€(b),€of€the€OptionalÐ ^®  ÐProtocol€have€been€met€in€the€present€case€in€relation€to€Mrs.€Maria€Ô_ÔOtiliaÔ_Ô€Vargas€Ô_ÔVargasÔ_Ô.€Ð D”  ÐÌ6.6€The€Committee€notes€that€the€events€complained€of€by€Mrs.€Vargas€Ô_ÔVargasÔ_Ô€occurredÐ ` Ðprior€to€the€entry€into€force€of€the€Optional€Protocol€for€Chile.€However,€the€decisionÐ öF Ðchallenged€by€her€is€the€judgment€of€the€Supreme€Court€of€Chile€of€October€1995,€i.e.€actsÐ Ü, Ðwhich€occurred€òòafteróó€the€entry€into€force€of€the€Optional€Protocol€for€the€State€party.€Thus,Ð Â Ðthe€Committee€is€not€precluded€òòÔ_ÔrationeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔtemporisÔ_Ôóó€from€considering€the€communication€ofÐ ¨ø ÐMrs.€Vargas€Ô_ÔVargasÔ_Ô.€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌ6.7€The€Committee€notes€that€the€claims€made€on€behalf€of€Mrs.€Vargas€Ô_ÔVargasÔ_Ô€are€generalÐ Zª Ðin€character€and€have€merely€been€derived€from€the€claims€made€in€respect€of€Mr.€Ô_ÔPrezÔ_ÔÐ @ ÐVargas.€She€has€not€specified€which€of€her€rights€under€the€Covenant€have€been€violatedÐ &v Ðthrough€the€Supreme€Court€judgement€of€1995.€Consequently,€the€Committee€finds€that€theÐ  \ Ðclaims€made€in€respect€of€Mrs.€Mara€Ô_ÔOtiliaÔ_Ô€Vargas€Ô_ÔVargasÔ_Ô€have€not€been€sufficientlyÐ òB Ðsubstantiated€for€purposes€of€admissibility€and€the€communication€is€inadmissible€underÐ Ø( Ðarticle€2€of€the€Optional€Protocol.€Ð ¾ ÐÌ7.€The€Human€Rights€Committee€therefore€decides:€Ð Š Ú ÐÌ(a)€that€the€communication€is€inadmissible;€Ð V"¦! ÐÌ1.€(b)€that€the€decision€shall€be€communicated€to€the€State€party,€and€to€the€author€and€herÐ "$r# Ðcounsel.€Ð %X $ ÐÌÌ_____________€Ð º' #' ÐÌ*The€following€members€of€the€Committee€participated€in€the€examination€of€the€presentÐ †)Ö$) Ðcommunication:€Mr.€Abdelfattah€Amor,€Mr.€Nisuke€Ando,€Mr.€Prafullachandra€N.Ð l*¼%* ÐBhagwati,€Ms.€Christine€Chanet,€Lord€Colville,€Ms.€Elizabeth€Evatt,€Ms.€Pilar€Gaitn€deÐ R+¢&+ ÐPombo,€Mr.€Eckart€Klein,€Mr.€David€Kretzmer,€Mr.€Rajsoomer€Lallah,€Mr.€Fausto€Pocar,Ð 8,ˆ', ÐMr.€Martin€Scheinin,€Mr.€Hipð;ðlito€Solari€Yrigoyen,€Mr.€Roman€Wieruszewski,€and€Mr.Ð -n(- ÐAbdallah€Zakhia.€Ð ° ÐÔ_ÔÌ**Pursuant€to€rule€85€of€the€Committee's€rules€of€procedure,€Ms.€Cecilia€Medina€Ô_ÔQuirogaÔ_ÔÐ |Ì Ðdid€not€participate€in€the€examination€of€the€case.€Ð b² ÐÌ***The€text€of€an€individual€opinion€signed€by€two€Committee€members€is€appended€to€theÐ . ~ Ðpresent€document.€Ð  d ÐÌ1/€€In€this€respect,€reference€is€made€to€the€Inter„American€Commission's€decision€in€theÐ à 0 ÐòòÔ_ÔVelasquezÔ_Ô€Rodriguezóó€case.Ð Æ   ÐÌ[Adopted€in€English,€French€and€Spanish,€the€English€text€being€the€original€version.Ð ’â  ÐSubsequently€to€be€issued€also€in€Arabic,€Chinese€and€Russian€as€part€of€the€Committee'sÐ xÈ  Ðannual€report€to€the€General€Assembly.]€Ð ^®  ÐÌÌÓXÓò òÓ  ÓòòAppendixóóó óÐ ` ÐÓ„ÓÓÓÌÌòòIndividual€opinion€by€Committee€member€Christine€Ô_ÔChanetÔ_Ô,€concerning€communicationsÐ Â ÐNos.€717/1996€and€718/1996€and€co„signed€by€Mr.€Fausto€Ô_ÔPocarÔ_Ô€concerning€Ð ¨ø Ðcommunication€No.€718/1996óóÐ ŽÞ ÐÌI€challenge€the€decision€taken€by€the€Committee,€which,€in€dealing€with€the€twoÐ Zª Ðcommunications,€dismissed€the€applicants€on€the€grounds€of€the€òòÔ_ÔrationeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔtemporisÔ_Ôóó€reservationÐ @ Ðlodged€by€CHILE€at€the€time€of€its€accession€to€the€Optional€Protocol.€Ð &v ÐÌIn€my€view€the€question€could€not€be€addressed€in€this€manner,€in€view€of€the€fact€thatÐ òB Ðjudicial€decisions€taken€by€the€State€party€were€adopted€after€the€date€it€had€specified€in€itsÐ Ø( Ðreservation€and€that€the€problem€raised€in€connection€with€article€16€of€the€Covenant€relatesÐ ¾ Ðto€a€situation€which,€as€long€as€it€is€not€permanently€ended,€has€long„term€consequences.€Ð ¤ô ÐÌIn€the€case€in€question,€even€if€the€actual€circumstances€referred€to€in€the€twoÐ p!À  Ðcommunications€diverge,€the€attitude€of€the€State€regarding€the€consequences€to€be€drawnÐ V"¦! Ðfrom€the€disappearances€necessarily€raised€a€question€as€regards€article€16€of€the€Covenant.€Ð <#Œ" ÐÌUnder€article€16,€everyone€has€the€right€to€recognition€as€a€person€before€the€law.€Ð %X $ ÐÌWhile€this€right€is€extinguished€on€the€death€of€the€individual,€it€has€effects€which€lastÐ Ô&$"& Ðbeyond€his€or€her€death;€this€applies€in€particular€to€wills,€or€the€thorny€issue€of€organÐ º' #' Ðdonation;€Ð  (ð#( ÐÌThis€right€survives€òòa€fortiorióó€when€the€absence€of€the€person€is€surrounded€by€uncertainty;Ð l*¼%* Ðhe€or€she€may€reappear,€and€even€if€not€present,€does€not€cease€to€exist€under€the€law;€it€isÐ R+¢&+ Ðnot€possible€to€substitute€civil€death€for€confirmed€natural€death;€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- ÐThese€observations€do€not€imply€that€this€right€is€of€unlimited€duration:€either€theÐ ° Ðidentification€of€the€body€is€incontestable€and€a€declaration€of€death€can€be€made,€orÐ –æ Ðuncertainty€remains€concerning€the€absence€or€the€identification€of€the€person€and€the€StateÐ |Ì Ðmust€lay€down€rules€applicable€to€all€these€cases;€it€may,€for€example,€specify€a€period€afterÐ b² Ðwhich€the€disappeared€person€is€regarded€as€dead.€Ð H˜ ÐÌThis€is€what€the€Committee€should€have€sought€to€find€out€in€this€particular€case€byÐ  d Ðexamining€the€matters€in€depth.€Ð ú J ÐÌCh.€Ô_ÔChanetÔ_Ô€(signed)€Ð Æ   ÐÌFausto€Ô_ÔPocarÔ_Ô€(signed)€Ð ’â  ÐÌ[Done€in€English,€French€and€Spanish,€the€French€text€being€the€original€version.Ð ^®  ÐSubsequently€to€be€translated€also€into€Arabic,€Chinese€and€Russian€as€part€of€theÐ D”  ÐCommittee's€annual€report€to€the€General€Assembly.]€Ð *z  ÐÓß„Ó