ÿWPC  öd´¢Ç^÷À´¸T œÕ¿Ë¶”Ä2³< kðRLü°4ÈŽ¯ ¨^Ð*bä8W0ñâ¿ ðyÄÂï»X[eœ»×½Á`ýµ-Ï3üyðÚ¬ÜÈ/xš^cBÒMBOÎÒ‹§ÔþŒ…ñN ÚD ÏVæ›ÄcÃ$‹ð™o¹‡ma<"T„pŽ,#6m…Ûn¶Sd¨Á®w0ú¢xåLñÍÓÛæ¹æÎ(R€µ…ŽãKÓ£“ ¦÷¢ÀÔ\¾Ê‡ˆ¨  @ =c”&¨Pô }¥è uò~ &ã®YíPFÂ4N$¾RLjK©oÑâkØŸ0ìô©ÞÎ…EyØ;òt”ˆH0\žªÂ¢{WõDÌUyÎ=>[äÆ ›^1•žØæ4¯Þ(¾ØΚÊí8ø[{äÊǶ£Í@FÁXYSÁ/$px'öOË{µæ½ÍGÛcãØK/Šáã}üÏ®ôU½&¹…MkKU*vn <¹ ¯?¸¦Ü×] ¥­I—FÌvJÇ%ˆFÞ3wÝÝ0‡îè{C¯ò.ãõf>™Ž¬–1Ûý˜Ë.Òu n «ñMJ÷«`¡¬ì ØÃ6¸rî †€7$Ñr›æçîæU>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€ Xh8XX XÔÔ€Xh8XX Xh8ÔÔÔ˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - Standard,ä,,,,,ä0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman Regularô* Äpì*lÚŸ ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒ ?!ÝÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ XkøXX XÔÔ€XkøXX XkøÔÔÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òHUMAN€RIGHTS€COMMITTEEÐ ° ÐÌòòÔ_ÔMenanteauÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔCarrascoÔ_Ô€v.€ChileóóÐ |Ì ÐÌCommunication€Nðð€746/1997Ð H˜ ÐÌ26€July€1999Ð  d ÐÌÔ_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/66/D/746/1997Ð à 0 ÐÐ ÐòòóóÌADMISSIBILITYó óÐ ’â  ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€Humberto€Ô_ÔMenanteauÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔAceitunoÔ_Ô€and€Mr.€Ô_ÔJosÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔCarrascoÔ_Ô€VasquezÐ D”  Ð(represented€by€counsel€Mr.€Nelson€Ô_ÔCaucotoÔ_Ô€Pereira€of€the€Ô_ÔFundacið;ðnÔ_Ô€de€Ô_ÔAyudaÔ_Ô€SocialÐ *z  Ðde€Ô_ÔlasÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔIglesiasÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔCristianasÔ_Ô)€Ð ` ÐÌòòAlleged€victimóó:€The€authors€Ð Ü, ÐÌòòState€partyóó:€Chile€Ð ¨ø ÐÌòòDate€of€communicationóó:€21€August€1996€óóÐ tÄ ÐÌÌòòÓ  ÓThe€Human€Rights€Committeeóó,€established€under€article€28€of€the€International€CovenantÐ &v Ðon€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€Ð  \ ÐÌòòMeeting€onóó€26€July€1999€Ð Ø( ÐÌòòAdopts€the€followingóó:€Ð ¤ô ÐÓ>ÓÌÌÓ  Óòòò òDecision€on€admissibilityó óóóÐ V"¦! ÐÓ  ÓÌÌÓ  Ó1.€It€is€alleged€that€Mr.€Humberto€Ô_ÔMenanteauÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔAceitunoÔ_Ô€and€Mr.€Ô_ÔJosÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔCarrascoÔ_Ô€Vasquez,€areÐ %X $ Ðvictims€of€violations€by€Chile€of€articles€2,€5,€14€paragraph€1,€15€paragraphs€1€and€2,€16€andÐ î%>!% Ð26€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights.€They€are€represented€byÐ Ô&$"& Ðcounsel,€Mr.€Nelson€Ô_ÔCaucotoÔ_Ô€Pereira€of€the€Ô_ÔFundacið;ðnÔ_Ô€de€Ô_ÔAyudaÔ_Ô€Social€de€Ô_ÔlasÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔIglesiasÔ_ÔÐ º' #' ÐÔ_ÔCristianasÔ_Ô.€The€Covenant€entered€into€force€for€Chile€on€23€March€1976,€the€OptionalÐ  (ð#( ÐProtocol€on€28€August€1992.òò€1óóÐ †)Ö$) ÐÌòòThe€facts€as€submitted€by€the€authoróó€Ð R+¢&+ ÐÌ2.1€On€19€November€1975,€Humberto€Ô_ÔMenanteauÔ_Ô€was€detained€at€his€parents'€house.€TheÐ -n(- Ðday€after€Jose€Ô_ÔCarrascoÔ_Ô€was€detained€at€a€friend's€house.€It€is€believed€they€were€both€killedÐ ° Ðon€1€December€of€the€same€year.€Their€relatives€Ô_ÔrecognisedÔ_Ô€their€bodies€on€10€DecemberÐ –æ Ð1975€at€the€morgue.€The€bodies€which€were€found€by€a€farmer,€were€mutilated€and€presentedÐ |Ì Ðsigns€of€torture.€Ð b² ÐÌ2.2€Humberto€Ô_ÔMenanteauÔ_Ô€and€Jose€Ô_ÔCarrascoÔ_Ô€were€members€of€the€armed€group€MIRÐ . ~ Ð(òòÔ_ÔMovimientoÔ_Ô€de€Ô_ÔIzquierdaÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔRevolucionarioÔ_Ôóó)€when€at€the€end€of€1974€they€were€detained€byÐ  d Ðthe€police,€the€then€Ô_ÔDINAÔ_Ô€(òòÔ_ÔDireccið;ðnÔ_Ô€de€Ô_ÔInteligenciaÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔNacionalÔ_Ôóó).€While€detained,€both€menÐ ú J Ðand€two€other€members€of€the€MIR,€took€part€in€a€televised€meeting€in€which€they€tried€toÐ à 0 Ðconvince€the€rest€of€the€armed€group€to€put€an€end€to€the€armed€conflict.€They€were€releasedÐ Æ   Ðin€September€of€1975.€Ð ¬ ü  ÐÌ2.3€They€were€re„detained€in€November€1975,€by€armed€civilians€whom€the€ChileanÐ xÈ  ÐAuthorities€alleged€were€members€of€the€MIR.€During€their€prior€detention,€the€press€hadÐ ^®  Ðpublished€that€the€MIR€had€threatened€the€lives€of€those€that€had€called€for€an€end€to€theÐ D”  Ðarmed€conflict.€Moreover,€after€the€deaths€of€Humberto€Ô_ÔMenanteauÔ_Ô€and€Jose€Ô_ÔCarrascoÔ_Ô,€theirÐ *z  Ðrelatives€received€letters€in€which€the€MIR€allegedly€assumed€responsibility€for€their€deaths.€Ð ` ÐÌ2.4€Counsel€states€that€Ô_ÔDINAÔ_Ô€members€were€responsible€for€these€murders,€allegedly€toÐ Ü, Ðprevent€both€men€from€rejoining€the€MIR.€Counsel€also€points€out€that€there€were€witnessesÐ Â Ðwho€saw€both€men€at€the€Ô_ÔDINAÔ_Ô's€headquarters,€Villa€Ô_ÔGrimaldiÔ_Ô,€during€their€secondÐ ¨ø Ðdetention,€in€November€1975.€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌ2.5€Proceedings€to€ascertain€the€circumstances€of€the€deaths€of€Humberto€Ô_ÔMenanteauÔ_Ô€andÐ Zª ÐJose€Ô_ÔCarrascoÔ_Ô€were€initiated,€on€2€December€1975,€before€the€Ô_ÔBuinÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔMaipoÔ_Ô€Court€(òòÔ_ÔJuzgadoÔ_ÔÐ @ Ðde€Ô_ÔLetrasÔ_Ô€de€Ô_ÔBuinÔ_Ô„Ô_ÔMaipoÔ_Ôóó).€The€Ô_ÔBuinÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔMaipoÔ_Ô€Court€decreed€on€6€October€1976,€a€provisionalÐ &v Ðdiscontinuance€(òòÔ_ÔsobreseimientoÔ_Ô€provisionalóó)€of€the€case.€Ð  \ ÐÌ2.6€In€1991€the€case€was€reopened€both€on€the€basis€of€new€information€and€a€new€witness.Ð Ø( ÐThe€witness,€Luz€Ô_ÔArceÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔSandovalÔ_Ô,€had€been€detained€by€the€Ô_ÔDINAÔ_Ô€which€she€had€later€joined.Ð ¾ ÐShe€identified€the€Ô_ÔDINAÔ_Ô€members€who€had€allegedly€taken€part€in€the€Ô_ÔkidnappingsÔ_Ô€andÐ ¤ô Ðmurders.€While€the€civil€courts€were€investigating€the€case,€the€military€jurisdiction€initiatedÐ Š Ú Ða€conflict€of€jurisdiction€which€was€resolved€by€the€Supreme€Court,€on€23€March€Ô_Ô1993,inÔ_ÔÐ p!À  ÐÔ_ÔfavourÔ_Ô€of€the€Military€Jurisdiction.€The€II€Military€Court€of€Santiago€(òòII€Ô_ÔJuzgadoÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔMilitarÔ_Ô€deÐ V"¦! ÐSantiagoóó)€decreed€the€formal€discontinuance€(òòÔ_ÔsobreseimientoÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔdefinitivoÔ_Ôóó)€of€the€case,€inÐ <#Œ" Ðaccordance€with€law€2.191€of€1978,€without€going€into€further€investigations.€On€14Ð "$r# ÐDecember€1994€the€Military€Court€(òòÔ_ÔCorteÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔMarcialÔ_Ôóó)òò€2óó€ratified€this€decision.€Ð %X $ ÐÌ2.7€A€complaint€(òòÔ_ÔRecursoÔ_Ô€de€Ô_ÔQuejaÔ_Ôóó)€was€then€filed€with€the€Supreme€Court€(òòÔ_ÔCorteÔ_ÔÐ Ô&$"& ÐÔ_ÔSupremaÔ_Ôóó),€on€grounds€of€abuse€of€power€on€the€part€of€the€II€Military€Court€of€Santiago€andÐ º' #' Ðthe€Military€Court,€for€dismissing€a€case€under€the€provisions€of€the€Amnesty€decree€ofÐ  (ð#( Ð1978.€On€16€May€1996,€the€Supreme€Court€dismissed€the€complaint.€Two€of€the€civilianÐ †)Ö$) Ðjudges€concurred€with€the€decision,€but€stated€that€the€case€should€have€been€dismissedÐ l*¼%* Ðbecause€the€criminal€action€was€statute„barred€and€not€on€the€basis€of€an€amnesty.€Ð R+¢&+ ÐÌòòThe€complaintóó€Ð -n(- Ї3.1òò€óóThe€complaint€is€based€on€violations€by€the€Chilean€authorities€both€of€national€law€andÐ ° Ðinternational€conventions.€Counsel€alleges€that€the€events€narrated€constitute€acts€orÐ –æ Ðomissions€which,€when€committed,€were€criminal€acts€under€general€principles€of€lawÐ |Ì ÐÔ_ÔrecognisedÔ_Ô€by€the€community€of€nations,€and€which€may€not€be€statute„barred€norÐ b² Ðunilaterally€pardoned€by€a€State,€and€are€in€violation€of€article€15,€paragraph€2,€of€theÐ H˜ ÐCovenant.€Counsel€claims€that€by€applying€the€amnesty€law€of€1978€Chile€accepted€theÐ . ~ Ðimpunity€of€those€held€responsible€for€these€acts.€It€is€alleged€that€the€State€has€renouncedÐ  d Ðits€obligation€to€investigate€international€crimes€and€to€bring€to€justice€those€responsible€forÐ ú J Ðthe€crimes.€This€means€that€fundamental€rights€of€the€victims€and€their€families€have€beenÐ à 0 Ðviolated.€Ð Æ   ÐÌ3.2€Counsel€alleges€that€application€of€the€1978€amnesty€law,€decree€no€2191,€deprived€theÐ ’â  Ðvictims€and€their€families€of€the€right€to€justice€including€the€right€to€a€fair€trial€and€toÐ xÈ  Ðadequate€compensation€for€the€violations€of€the€Covenantòò€3óó.€Counsel€further€alleges€aÐ ^®  Ðviolation€of€article€14€of€the€Covenant,€in€that€neither€the€authors€nor€their€families€wereÐ D”  Ðafforded€the€right€to€a€fair€and€an€impartial€hearing:€as€the€case€was€placed€before€theÐ *z  Ðmilitary€courts,€the€principle€of€equality€of€arms€was€not€respected.€Ð ` ÐÌ3.3€The€decisions€of€the€military€courts€not€to€investigate€the€victims'€deaths€are€said€toÐ Ü, Ðconstitute€a€violation€of€the€Ô_ÔlattersÔ_Ô'€right€to€be€Ô_ÔrecognisedÔ_Ô€as€a€person€before€the€law,€inÐ Â Ðviolation€of€article€16€of€the€Covenant.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ3.4€Counsel€contends€that€with€the€Supreme€Court's€judgement€of€May€1996,€all€availableÐ tÄ Ðdomestic€remedies€have€been€exhausted.€Ð Zª ÐÌ3.5€With€respect€to€the€reservation€entered€by€Chile€upon€ratification€of€the€OptionalÐ &v ÐProtocol,€it€is€alleged€that€although€the€events€occurred€prior€to€11€March€1990,€theÐ  \ Ðcontested€decision€is€the€Supreme€Court's€judgement€of€May€1996.€Ð òB ÐÌòòState€party's€observations€and€counsel's€commentsóó€Ð ¾ ÐÌ4.1€In€submission€dated€26€August€1997,€the€State€party€provides€a€detailed€account€of€theÐ Š Ú Ðhistory€of€the€case€and€of€the€amnesty€law€of€1978.€It€specifically€concedes€that€the€facts€didÐ p!À  Ðoccur€as€described€by€the€authors.€It€was€indeed€in€reaction€to€the€serious€human€rightsÐ V"¦! Ðviolations€committed€by€the€former€military€regime€that€former€President€Aylwin€institutedÐ <#Œ" Ðthe€National€Truth€and€Reconciliation€Commission€by€Decree€of€25€April€1990.€For€itsÐ "$r# Ðreport,€the€Commission€had€to€set€out€a€complete€record€of€the€human€rights€violations€thatÐ %X $ Ðhad€been€brought€to€its€attention;€among€these€were€the€authors'€case.€The€State€party€givesÐ î%>!% Ða€detailed€account€of€investigations€into€the€incident.€It€is€noted€that€the€case€is€set€out€inÐ Ô&$"& Ðpage€534€of€the€Commission's€final€report;€the€conclusion€was€that€the€deaths€did€notÐ º' #' Ðoccurred€as€reflected€in€the€official€version€published€at€the€time€but€rather€were€theÐ  (ð#( Ðresponsibility€of€the€Ô_ÔDINAÔ_Ô.€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ4.2€The€State€party€submits€that€the€facts€at€the€basis€of€the€communication€cannot€beÐ R+¢&+ Ðattributed€to€the€constitutionally€elected€government(s)€which€succeeded€the€military€regime.Ð 8,ˆ', ÐIt€provides€a€detailed€account€of€the€historical€context€in€which€large€numbers€of€ChileanÐ -n(- Ðcitizens€disappeared€and€were€summarily€and€extrajudicially€executed€during€the€period€ofÐ ° Ðthe€military€regime.€Ð –æ ÐÌ4.3€The€State€party€notes€that€it€is€not€possible€to€abrogate€the€Amnesty€Decree€of€1978,€andÐ b² Ðadduces€reasons:€first,€legislative€initiatives€such€as€those€relating€to€amnesties€can€only€beÐ H˜ Ðinitiated€in€the€Senate€(article€62€of€the€Constitution),€where€the€Government€is€in€aÐ . ~ Ðminority.€Second,€abrogation€of€the€law€would€not€necessarily€have€repercussions€underÐ  d Ðcriminal€law€for€possible€culprits,€on€account€of€the€prohibition€of€retroactive€application€ofÐ ú J Ðcriminal€laws.€This€principle€is€enshrined€in€article€19€lit.3€of€the€Chilean€Constitution€andÐ à 0 Ðarticle€15,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Covenant.€Three,€the€composition€of€the€Constitutional€Court.Ð Æ   ÐFour,€the€designation€of€the€Commanders€in€Chief€of€the€Armed€Forces;€the€President€of€theÐ ¬ ü  ÐRepublic€may€not€remove€the€present€officers,€including€General€Pinochet.€Lastly€theÐ ’â  Ðcomposition€and€attributions€of€the€National€Security€Council€(Ô_ÔConsejoÔ_Ô€de€Ô_ÔSeguridadÔ_ÔÐ xÈ  ÐÔ_ÔNacionalÔ_Ô)€restrict€the€attributions€of€the€democratic€authorities€in€all€matters€pertaining€toÐ ^®  Ðinternal€or€external€national€security.€Ð D”  ÐÌ4.4€The€State€party€further€observes€that€the€existence€of€the€amnesty€law€does€not€inhibitÐ ` Ðthe€continuation€of€criminal€investigations€already€under€way€in€Chilean€tribunals.€In€thisÐ öF Ðsense,€the€amnesty€decree€of€1978€may€extinguish€the€criminal€responsibility€of€thoseÐ Ü, Ðaccused€of€crimes€under€the€military€regime,€but€it€cannot€in€any€way€suspend€theÐ Â Ðcontinuation€of€investigations€that€seek€to€establish€what€happened€to€individuals€who€wereÐ ¨ø Ðdetained€and€later€disappeared.€This€has€been€the€interpretation€of€the€decree€both€by€theÐ ŽÞ ÐMilitary€Court€and€by€the€Supreme€Court.€Ð tÄ ÐÌ4.5€The€Government€emphasizes€that€the€Chilean€Constitution€(article€73)€protects€theÐ @ Ðindependence€of€the€judiciary.€As€such,€the€Executive€cannot€interfere€with€the€applicationÐ &v Ðand€the€interpretation€of€domestic€laws€by€the€courts,€even€if€the€courts'€decisions€go€againstÐ  \ Ðthe€interests€of€the€Government.€Ð òB ÐÌ4.6€With€respect€to€the€terms€of€the€amnesty€law,€the€State€party€points€to€the€necessity€toÐ ¾ Ðreconcile€the€desire€for€national€reconciliation€and€pacification€of€society€with€the€need€toÐ ¤ô Ðascertain€the€truth€of€past€human€rights€violations€and€to€seek€justice.€These€criteria€inspiredÐ Š Ú Ðex„President€Aylwin€when€he€set€up€the€Truth€and€Reconciliation€Commission.€To€the€StateÐ p!À  Ðparty,€the€composition€of€the€Commission€was€a€model€in€Ô_ÔrepresentativityÔ_Ô,€as€it€includedÐ V"¦! Ðmembers€associated€with€the€former€military€regime,€former€judges€and€members€of€civilÐ <#Œ" Ðsociety,€including€the€founder€and€president€of€the€Chilean€Human€Rights€Commission.€Ð "$r# ÐÌ4.7€The€State€party€distinguishes€between€an€amnesty€granted€de€facto€by€an€authoritarianÐ î%>!% Ðregime,€by€virtue€of€its€failure€to€denounce€or€investigate€massive€human€rights€abuses€orÐ Ô&$"& Ðby€adopting€measures€designed€to€ensure€the€impunity€of€its€members,€and€an€amnestyÐ º' #' Ðadopted€by€a€constitutionally€elected€democratic€regime.€It€is€submitted€that€theÐ  (ð#( Ðconstitutionally€elected€governments€of€Chile€have€not€adopted€any€amnesty€measures€orÐ †)Ö$) Ðdecrees€which€could€be€considered€incompatible€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant;€norÐ l*¼%* Ðhave€they€committed€any€acts€which€would€be€incompatible€with€Chile's€obligations€underÐ R+¢&+ Ðthe€Covenant.€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- Ð4.8€The€State€party€recalls€that€after€the€end€of€the€mandate€of€the€Truth€and€ReconciliationÐ ° ÐCommission,€another€body€„€the€so„called€"òòÔ_ÔCorporacið;ðnÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔNacionalÔ_Ô€de€la€Ô_ÔVerdadÔ_Ô€yÐ –æ ÐÔ_ÔReconciliacið;ðnÔ_Ô"€„€cóóontinued€the€work€of€the€former,€thereby€underlining€the€Government'sÐ |Ì Ðdesire€to€investigate€the€massive€violations€of€the€former€military€regime.€The€"Ô_ÔCorporacið;ðnÔ_ÔÐ b² ÐÔ_ÔNacionalÔ_Ô"€presented€a€detailed€report€to€the€Government€in€August€of€1996,€in€which€itÐ H˜ Ðadded€the€cases€of€899€further€victims€of€the€previous€regime.€This€body€also€oversees€theÐ . ~ Ðimplementation€of€a€policy€of€compensation€for€victims€which€had€been€recommended€byÐ  d Ðthe€Truth€and€Reconciliation€Commission.€Ð ú J ÐÌ4.9€The€legal€basis€for€the€compensation€of€victims€to€the€former€military€regime€is€LawÐ Æ   ÐNo.19.123€of€8€February€1992,€which€Ð ¬ ü  ÐÌ*€sets€up€the€Ô_ÔCorporacið;ðnÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔNacionalÔ_Ô€and€mandates€it€to€promote€the€compensation€to€theÐ xÈ  Ðvictims€of€human€rights€violations,€as€identified€in€the€final€report€of€the€Truth€andÐ ^®  ÐReconciliation€Commission;€Ð D”  ÐÌ*€mandates€the€Ô_ÔCorporacið;ðnÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔNacionalÔ_Ô€to€continue€investigations€into€situations€and€cases€inÐ ` Ðrespect€of€which€the€Truth€and€Reconciliation€Commission€could€not€determine€whether€theyÐ öF Ðwere€the€result€of€political€violence;€Ð Ü, ÐÌ*€fixes€maximum€levels€for€the€award€of€compensation€pensions€in€every€case,€dependingÐ ¨ø Ðon€the€number€of€beneficiaries;€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌ*€establishes€that€the€compensation€pensions€are€Ô_ÔreadjustableÔ_Ô,€much€like€the€general€systemÐ Zª Ðof€pensions;€Ð @ ÐÌ*€grants€a€"compensation€bonus"€equivalent€to€12€monthly€compensation€pension€payments;€Ð  \ ÐÌ*€increases€the€pensions€by€the€amount€of€monthly€health€insurance€costs,€so€that€all€health„Ð Ø( Ðrelated€expenditures€will€be€borne€by€the€State;€Ð ¾ ÐÌ*€decrees€that€the€education€of€children€of€victims€of€the€former€regime€will€be€borne€by€theÐ Š Ú ÐState,€including€university€education;€Ð p!À  ÐÌ*€lays€down€that€the€children€of€victims€of€the€former€regime€may€request€to€be€exemptedÐ <#Œ" Ðfrom€military€service.€Ð "$r# ÐÌIn€accordance€with€the€above€guidelines,€the€relatives€of€both€Mr.€Ô_ÔMenanteauÔ_Ô€and€Mr.Ð î%>!% ÐÔ_ÔVsquezÔ_Ô€have€received€and€are€currently€receiving€monthly€pension€payments.€Ð Ô&$"& ÐÌ4.10€In€the€light€of€the€above,€the€State€party€requests€the€Committee€to€find€that€it€cannotÐ  (ð#( Ðbe€held€responsible€for€the€acts€which€are€at€the€basis€of€the€present€communications.€ItÐ †)Ö$) Ðsolicits,€moreover,€a€finding€that€the€creation€of€the€National€Truth€and€ReconciliationÐ l*¼%* ÐCommission€and€the€corrective€measures€provided€for€in€Law€No.19.123€constituteÐ R+¢&+ Ðappropriate€remedies€within€the€meaning€of€articles€2€and€3€of€the€Covenant.€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- Ð4.11€The€State€party€reaffirms€that€the€real€obstacle€to€the€conclusion€of€investigations€intoÐ ° Ðdisappearances€and€summary€executions€such€as€in€the€authors'€cases€remains€the€amnestyÐ –æ Ðdecree€of€1978€adopted€by€the€former€military€government.€The€current€Government€cannotÐ |Ì Ðbe€held€responsible€internationally€for€the€serious€human€rights€violations€which€are€at€theÐ b² Ðbasis€of€the€present€complaints.€Everything€possible€to€ensure€that€the€truth€be€established,Ð H˜ Ðthat€justice€be€done€and€that€compensation€be€awarded€to€the€victims€or€their€relatives€hasÐ . ~ Ðbeen€undertaken€by€the€present€Government,€as€noted€in€the€submission.€The€desire€of€theÐ  d ÐGovernment€to€promote€respect€for€human€rights€is€reflected€in€the€ratification€of€severalÐ ú J Ðinternational€human€rights€instruments€since€1990,€as€well€as€the€withdrawal€of€reservationsÐ à 0 Ðto€some€international€and€regional€human€rights€instruments€which€had€been€made€by€theÐ Æ   Ðmilitary€regime.€Ð ¬ ü  ÐÌ4.12€The€State€party€further€recalls€that€with€the€transition€to€democracy,€the€victims€of€theÐ xÈ  Ðformer€regime€have€been€able€to€count€on€the€full€cooperation€of€the€authorities,€with€a€viewÐ ^®  Ðto€recovering,€within€the€limits€of€the€law€and€the€circumstances,€their€dignity€and€theirÐ D”  Ðrights.€Reference€is€made€to€the€ongoing€work€of€the€Ô_ÔCorporacið;ðnÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔNacionalÔ_Ô€de€Ô_ÔReparacið;ðnÔ_ÔÐ *z  Ðy€Ô_ÔReconciliacið;ðnÔ_Ô.€Ð ` ÐÌ5.1€In€his€comments,€counsel€takes€issue€with€several€of€the€State€party's€observations.€HeÐ Ü, Ðcontends€that€the€State€party's€Ô_ÔdefenceÔ_Ô€ignores€or€at€the€very€least€misconstrues€Chile'sÐ Â Ðobligations€under€international€law,€which€are€said€to€mandate€the€Government€to€takeÐ ¨ø Ðmeasures€to€mitigate€or€eliminate€the€effects€of€the€amnesty€decree€of€1978.€Article€2€of€theÐ ŽÞ ÐAmerican€Convention€on€Human€Rights€and€article€2,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Covenant€imposeÐ tÄ Ða€duty€on€the€State€party€to€take€the€necessary€measures€(by€legislation,€administrative€orÐ Zª Ðjudicial€action)to€give€effect€to€the€rights€enshrined€in€these€instruments.€To€counsel,€it€isÐ @ Ðwrong€to€argue€that€there€is€no€other€way€than€to€abrogate€or€declare€null€and€void€the€1978Ð &v Ðamnesty€decree:€nothing€prevents€the€State€party€from€amnestying€those€who€committedÐ  \ Ðwrongs,€except€where€the€wrongs€committed€constitute€international€crimes€or€crimesÐ òB Ðagainst€humanity.€For€counsel,€the€facts€at€the€basis€of€the€present€communications€fall€intoÐ Ø( Ðthe€latter€category.€Ð ¾ ÐÌ5.2€To€counsel,€it€is€equally€wrong€to€argue€that€the€principle€of€non„retroactivity€of€criminalÐ Š Ú Ðlaws€operates€against€the€possibility€of€prosecuting€those€deemed€responsible€for€graveÐ p!À  Ðviolations€of€human€rights€under€the€former€military€regime.€This€principle€does€not€applyÐ V"¦! Ðto€crimes€against€humanity,€which€cannot€be€statute„barred.€Moreover,€if€the€application€ofÐ <#Œ" Ðthe€principle€of€non„retroactivity€of€criminal€legislation€operates€in€Ô_ÔfavourÔ_Ô€of€the€perpetratorÐ "$r# Ðbut€collides€with€other€fundamental€rights€of€the€victims,€such€as€the€right€to€a€remedy,€theÐ %X $ Ðconflict€must€be€solved€in€Ô_ÔfavourÔ_Ô€of€the€latter,€as€it€derives€from€violations€of€fundamentalÐ î%>!% Ðrights,€such€as€the€right€to€life,€to€liberty€or€physical€integrity.€In€other€words,€the€perpetratorÐ Ô&$"& Ðof€serious€crimes€cannot€be€deemed€to€benefit€from€more€rights€than€the€victims€of€theseÐ º' #' Ðcrimes.€Ð  (ð#( ÐÌ5.3€Counsel€further€claims€that€from€a€strictly€legal€point€of€view,€the€State€party€has,€withÐ l*¼%* Ðthe€modification€of€Chile's€Constitution€in€1989€and€with€the€incorporation€into€the€domesticÐ R+¢&+ Ðlegal€order€of€international€and€regional€human€rights€instruments€such€as€the€AmericanÐ 8,ˆ', ÐConvention€on€Human€Rights€and€the€Covenant,€implicitly€abrogated€all€(domestic)€normsÐ -n(- Ðincompatible€with€these€instruments;€this€would€include€the€Amnesty€Decree€D.L.2.191€ofÐ ° Ð1978.€Ð –æ ÐÌ5.4€In€respect€of€the€State€party's€argument€relating€to€the€independence€of€the€judiciary,Ð b² Ðcounsel€concedes€that€the€application€of€the€amnesty€decree€and€consequently€the€denial€ofÐ H˜ Ðappropriate€remedies€to€the€victims€of€the€former€military€regime€derives€from€acts€ofÐ . ~ ÐChilean€tribunals,€in€particular€the€military€jurisdictions€and€the€Supreme€Court.€However,Ð  d Ðwhile€these€organs€are€independent,€they€remain€agents€of€the€State,€and€their€acts€mustÐ ú J Ðtherefore€engage€State€responsibility€if€they€are€incompatible€with€the€State€party'sÐ à 0 Ðobligations€under€international€law.€Counsel€therefore€considers€unacceptable€the€StateÐ Æ   Ðparty's€argument€that€it€cannot€interfere€with€the€acts€of€the€judiciary:€no€political€system€canÐ ¬ ü  Ðjustify€the€violation€of€fundamental€rights€by€one€of€the€branches€of€Government,€and€itÐ ’â  Ðwould€be€absurd€to€conclude€that€while€the€executive€branch€of€government€seeks€toÐ xÈ  Ðpromote€adherence€to€international€human€rights€standards,€the€judiciary€may€act€in€waysÐ ^®  Ðcontrary€to,€or€simply€ignore,€these€standards.€Ð D”  ÐÌ5.5€Counsel€finally€argues€that€the€State€party€has€misleadingly€adduced€the€conclusions€ofÐ ` Ðseveral€reports€and€resolutions€of€the€Inter„American€Commission€on€Human€Rights€inÐ öF Ðsupport€of€its€arguments.€To€counsel,€it€is€clear€that€the€Commission€would€hold€any€formÐ Ü, Ðof€amnesty€which€obstructs€the€determination€of€the€truth€and€prevents€justice€from€beingÐ Â Ðdone,€in€areas€such€as€enforced€and€involuntary€disappearances€and€summary€executions,Ð ¨ø Ðas€incompatible€with€and€in€violation€of€the€American€Convention€on€Human€Rights.€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌ5.6€Counsel€reiterates€his€allegations€as€summarized€in€paragraphs€3.1€and€3.2€above.€WhatÐ Zª Ðis€at€issue€in€the€present€cases€is€not€the€granting€of€some€form€of€compensation€to€victimsÐ @ Ðof€the€former€regime,€but€the€denial€of€justice€to€them:€the€State€party€resigns€itself€toÐ &v Ðarguing€that€it€òòcannotóó€investigate€and€prosecute€the€crimes€committed€by€the€military€regime,Ð  \ Ðthereby€foreclosing€the€possibility€of€any€judicial€remedy€for€the€victims.€To€counsel,€thereÐ òB Ðis€no€better€remedy€than€the€determination€of€the€truth,€by€way€of€judicial€proceedings,€andÐ Ø( Ðthe€prosecution€of€those€held€responsible€for€the€crimes.€In€the€instant€cases,€this€wouldÐ ¾ Ðimply€ascertaining€the€burial€sites€of€the€victims,€why€they€were€murdered,€who€killed€themÐ ¤ô Ðor€ordered€them€to€be€killed,€and€thereafter€indicting€and€prosecuting€those€responsible.€Ð Š Ú ÐÌ5.7€Counsel€adds€that€his€interpretation€of€the€invalidity€of€Amnesty€Decree€2.191€of€1978,Ð V"¦! Ðin€the€light€of€international€law€and€the€Covenant,€has€been€endorsed€by€the€Inter„AmericanÐ <#Œ" ÐCommission€on€Human€Rights€in€a€Resolution€adopted€in€March€1997.€In€this€resolution,Ð "$r# Ðthe€Commission€held€the€amnesty€law€to€be€contrary€to€the€American€Convention€on€HumanÐ %X $ ÐRights,€and€admonished€the€State€party€to€amend€its€legislation€accordingly.€The€ChileanÐ î%>!% ÐGovernment€was€requested€to€continue€investigations€into€disappearances€that€occurredÐ Ô&$"& Ðunder€the€former€regime,€and€to€indict,€prosecute€and€try€those€held€responsible.€To€counsel,Ð º' #' Ðthe€Commission's€resolution€perfectly€sets€out€Chile's€responsibility€for€facts€and€acts€suchÐ  (ð#( Ðas€those€at€the€basis€of€the€present€communications.€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌòòAdmissibility€considerationsóó€Ð R+¢&+ ÐÌ6.1€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Human€RightsÐ -n(- 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 –æ ÐÌ6.2€The€Committee€notes€that€the€State€party€does€not€explicitly€challenge€the€admissibilityÐ b² Ðof€the€communication,€although€it€does€point€out€that€the€events€complained€of€by€theÐ H˜ Ðauthors,€including€the€Amnesty€Decree€of€1978,€occurred€prior€to€the€entry€into€force€of€theÐ . ~ ÐOptional€Protocol€for€Chile,€which€ratified€that€instrument€on€28€August€1992€with€theÐ  d Ðfollowing€declaration:€"In€ratifying€the€competence€of€the€Human€Rights€Committee€toÐ ú J Ðreceive€and€consider€communications€from€individuals,€it€is€the€understanding€of€theÐ à 0 ÐGovernment€of€Chile€that€this€competence€applies€in€respect€of€acts€occurringòò€óóafter€the€entryÐ Æ   Ðinto€force€for€that€State€of€the€Optional€Protocol€or,€in€any€event,€to€acts€which€began€afterÐ ¬ ü  Ð11€March€1990".€Ð ’â  ÐÌ6.3€The€Committee€notes€that€the€authors€also€challenge€the€judgments€of€the€Supreme€CourtÐ ^®  Ðof€Chile€of€16€May€1996€denying€their€request€for€the€revision€of€earlier€adverse€decisionsÐ D”  Ðrendered€on€their€applications€by€military€courts.€Ð *z  ÐÌ6.4€The€Committee€notes€that€the€acts€giving€rise€to€the€claims€related€to€the€deaths€of€theÐ öF Ðauthors€occurred€prior€to€the€internationl€entry€into€force€of€the€Covenant,€on€23€MarchÐ Ü, Ð1976.€Hence,€these€claims€are€inadmissible€òòratione€temporisóó.€The€Supreme€Court€judgementÐ Â Ðof€1996€cannot€be€regarded€as€a€new€event€that€could€affect€the€rights€of€a€person€who€wasÐ ¨ø Ðkilled€in€1975.€Consequently,€the€communication€is€inadmissible€under€article€1€of€theÐ ŽÞ ÐOptional€Protocol,€and€the€Committee€does€not€need€to€examine€whether€the€declarationÐ tÄ Ðmade€by€Chile€upon€accession€to€the€Optional€Protocol€has€to€be€regarded€as€a€reservationÐ Zª Ðor€a€mere€declaration.€Ð @ ÐÌ6.5€The€question€of€whether€the€next€of€kin€of€the€executed€victims€might€have€a€valid€claimÐ  \ Ðunder€the€Covenant€notwithstanding€the€inadmissibility€of€the€instant€communication€is€notÐ òB Ðbefore€the€Committee€and€need€not€be€addressed€in€these€proceedings.€Ð Ø( ÐÌ7.€The€Human€Rights€Committee€therefore€decides:€Ð ¤ô ÐÌ(a)€that€the€communication€is€inadmissible;€Ð p!À  ÐÌ(b)€that€this€decision€shall€be€communicated€to€the€State€party,€and€to€the€authors'€counsel.€Ð <#Œ" ÐÌÌ___________Ð î%>!% Ð*The€following€members€of€the€Committee€participated€in€the€examination€of€the€presentÐ Ô&$"& Ðcommunication:€Mr.€Abdelfattah€Amor,€Mr.€Nisuke€Ando,€Mr.€Prafullachandra€N.Ð º' #' ÐBhagwati,€Lord€Colville,€Ms.€Elizabeth€Evatt,€Ms.€Pilar€Gaitn€de€Pombo,€Mr.€Eckart€Klein,Ð  (ð#( ÐMr.€David€Kretzmer,€Mr.€Rajsoomer€Lallah,€Mr.€Fausto€Pocar,€Mr.€Martin€Scheinin,€Mr.Ð †)Ö$) ÐHipð;ðlito€Solari€Yrigoyen,€Mr.€Roman€Wieruszewski€and€Mr.€Abdallah€Zakhia.€Ð l*¼%* ÐÌ**Pursuant€to€rule€85€of€the€Committee's€rules€of€procedure,€Ms.€Cecilia€Medina€QuirogaÐ 8,ˆ', Ðdid€not€participate€in€the€examination€of€the€case.€Ð -n(- Ї1/€€Chile€entered€a€declaration,€recognizing€the€competence€of€the€Human€Rights€CommitteeÐ ° Ðto€receive€and€consider€communications€from€individuals,€on€the€understanding€of€theÐ –æ ÐGovernment€of€Chile€that€this€competence€applies€in€respect€of€acts€occurring€after€the€entryÐ |Ì Ðinto€force€for€that€State€of€the€Optional€Protocol,€or€in€any€event€to€acts€which€began€afterÐ b² Ð11€March€1990.€Ð H˜ ÐÌ2/€€Counsel€explains€that€this€Court€is€made€up€of€five€judges,€three€are€officers,€one€eachÐ  d Ðfrom€the€army,€the€air€force€and€the€Ô_ÔCarabinerosÔ_Ô,€the€other€two€are€civil€judges€from€the€IÐ ú J ÐSantiago€Court€of€Appeal.Ð à 0 ÐÌ3/€€In€this€respect,€reference€is€made€to€the€Inter„American€Commission's€decision€in€theÐ ¬ ü  ÐòòÔ_ÔVelazquezÔ_Ô€Rodriguezóó€case.Ð ’â  ÐÌ[Adopted€in€English,€French€and€Spanish,€the€English€text€being€the€original€version.Ð ^®  ÐSubsequently€to€be€translated€also€in€Arabic,€Chinese€and€Russian€as€part€of€the€Committee'sÐ D”  Ðannual€report€to€the€General€Assembly.]€Ð *z  ÐÓ¸Ó