ÿWPCû ƒ“?§\ÿeƒ çê‘ôBaæa· ûwu*&Ó>\àñتs+Éì៪¬b²»t6FoEs(ÑoF­G1CÌüGC’Ô@Û4,îofŸþÜÝZxèῳ+‡ÌÍ8™üÿl†s IÀÀTn>íñ+]ÖnsMp›‡cC:Àìýb@½7»5¥Â ›Ñðé¦{Âß,P'Ì 4RèѨï–α¯–½ZR8ó³A¬p!%l'îú7ŸÏ0´²o¨q/µ"‡´*OQ¦ÃÀ‹øQGð@Í!A*ºý÷p1›¬¥MmªÃ'2wºû½^¤w´^Oœ¿P/Ú&š ´ù̧Ÿ¦ž‹yzÛä*l øƒd$pH×ö‡BÝ4!àÁpt…ìŸI­yêºd@þm$ «\ÙÕnÍÀu«Üîzéu©¹„‰‘û†Œß‘J’ tûøï¸gCA 9[‚ìÊúc¬ñ ܃è;ÙãK¥Õì„ r´zoö8™ŠPÁ òâÆ páý¿ÖÖÛ±ñ,·$BRSØgd¨iV(®Œ•©€`ìO‹ Å›X½8ì±¼ò…R°5ÍîV\5»ðÅ¡‹2¦,ç@vË „ëªL#+3ÓÓÃ_Ö U>¤Ìâ 0µ® 0<c 0YŸ 0_ø 0iW 0PÀÆ 0áÖ 0(· D+ß AM W 0Ng 0Ƶ #Á{ UN< %ŠM(”N¼^ ¾wÊ4Îâ mäô\  `‹&Times New Roman' Herrera Rubio v. Colombia, Communication No. 161/1983 (2 November 1987), U.N. Doc. Supp. N47), U.N. Doc. Supp. N"Angie Dituri"0Angie Dituri .   6F , ÿÿ4Heading 3Ô S ÔÓ p^SÓÔ€£££Ôò òÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÔ€XXXÔó óÓ p^SÓ<ÿÿ:Default Para6ÿÿ4HyperlinkóóòòÔ ÿ ÔóóÔ  Ô<ÿÿ:FollowedHypeóóòòÔ  ÔóóÔ  Ô< ÿÿ:Normal (Web)Ô S ÔÓ =jSÓÓ =jSÓ0ÿÿ.Strongò òÔ  Ôó óÔ  Ô Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5(¹2Ñ$££Ý ƒeÓ!ÝÒܰÒÒܰÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X0îXXXÔÔ€X0îXXX0îÔÔÔÝ  Ý(ÿÿ$’’'dxd A<< cÿÿ#|x(ÍO$——ÔÿÔòòóóÔÿÔ(žeÓ$¡¡ÒܰÒÒܰÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X:&XXXÔÔ€X:&XXX:&ÔÔÔ˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - Standard,ä,,,,,ä0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX„ô* Äpì*c(„³Corel ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒeÓ!ÝÒܰÒÒܰÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X0îXXXÔÔ€X0îXXX0îÔÔÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÓ   Óò òHUMAN€RIGHTS€COMMITTEEÐ ° ÐÌòòÔ_ÔHerreraÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_Ôv.Ô_Ô€ColombiaóóÐ |Ì ÐÌCommunication€No.€161/1983€Ð H˜ ÐÌ2€November€1987Ð  d ÐÌÌVIEWSó óÐ Æ   ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€by:€óóJoaquin€Herrera€Rubio€Ð xÈ  ÐÌòòAlleged€victim:óó€The€author€and€his€deceased€parents,€Jose€Herrera€and€Emma€Rubio€deÐ D”  ÐÔ_ÔHerreraÔ_ԀР*z  ÐÌòòState€party€concerned:€óóColombia€Ð öF ÐÌòòDate€of€communication:€óó1€December€1983€(date€of€initial€letter)€Ð  ÐÌòòDate€of€decision€on€admissibility:€óó25€March€1985€óóÐ ŽÞ ÐÌÌòòÓ  ÓThe€Human€Rights€Committee,€óóestablished€under€article€28€of€the€International€CovenantÐ @ Ðon€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€Ð &v ÐÌòòMeeting€óóon€2€November€1987,€Ð òB ÐÌòòHaving€concluded€óóits€consideration€of€communication€No.€161/1983,€submitted€to€theÐ ¾ ÐCommittee€by€Joaquin€Herrera€Rubio€under€the€Optional€Protocol€to€the€InternationalÐ ¤ô ÐCovenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€Ð Š Ú ÐÌòòHaving€taken€into€account€óóall€written€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€theÐ V"¦! Ðcommunication€and€by€the€State€party€concerned,€Ð <#Œ" ÐÌòòAdopts€óóthe€following:€Ð %X $ ÐÓðÓÌÌòòÓ  Óò òViews€under€article€5,€paragraph€4,€of€the€Optional€Protocoló óóó€Ð º' #' ÐÓìÓÌÌÓ  Ó1.1€The€author€of€the€communication€(initial€letter€dated€1€December€1983€and€subsequentÐ l*¼%* Ðletter€dated€4€October€1986)€is€Jaoquin€David€Herrera€Rubio,€born€on€3€December€1958,€aÐ R+¢&+ Ðâ âColombian€citizen,€living€in€Bogota,€Colombia.€He€submits€the€communication€on€his€ownÐ 8,ˆ', Ðbehalf€and€in€respect€of€his€deceased€parents,€Jose€Joaqin€Herrera€and€Emma€Rubio€deÐ ° ÐHerrera.€Ð –æ Ðâ âÌ1.2€The€author€alleges€that€on€17€March€1981€he€was€arrested€in€Cartagena€del€Chaira,Ð b² ÐColombia,€by€members€of€the€armed€forces,€taken€to€a€military€camp€and€subjected€to€tortureÐ H˜ Ðin€an€attempt€to€extract€from€him€information€about€a€guerrilla„movement.€The€authorÐ . ~ Ðdescribes€in€detail€the€tortures€to€which€he€was€allegedly€subjected,€including€being€hangedÐ  d Ðby€his€arms€and€beaten€until€he€lost€consciousness€and€being€thrown€into€the€river€CaguanÐ ú J Ðinside€a€sack€until€he€nearly€drowned.€He€states€that€he€did€not€have€any€informationÐ à 0 Ðconcerning€the€movement,€but€that€his€interrogators€kept€on€insisting€and€he€was€severelyÐ Æ   Ðbeaten.€After€three€days€he€was€transferred€to€the€military€barracks€of€Doncello€and€againÐ ¬ ü  Ðsubjected€to€torture€("submarine",€"hanging"€and€beatings).€In€addition,€he€was€told€that€hisÐ ’â  Ðparents€would€be€killed€if€he€refused€to€sign€a€confession€prepared€by€his€captors.€AfterÐ xÈ  Ðseveral€days€he€was€moved€to€the€military€barracks€of€Juananbu€in€the€city€of€Florencia.€HeÐ ^®  Ðwas€again€beaten€(the€name€of€the€responsible€officer€is€given)€and€threatened€with€hisÐ D”  Ðparents'€possible€death.€He€was€then€taken€before€Military€Tribunal€No.€35€and€allegedlyÐ *z  Ðforced€to€sign€a€confession,€pleading€guilty,€òòinter€aliaóó,€of€having€kidnapped€a€man€calledÐ ` ÐVicente€Baquero€who€later€declared€that€he€had€never€been€kidnapped.€Ð öF ÐÌ1.3€On€5€April€1981,€the€author€was€taken€to€the€prison€in€Florencia€and€informed€that€hisÐ Â Ðparents€had€been€killed.€At€his€request,€he€was€immediately€brought€again€before€the€militaryÐ ¨ø Ðjudge,€before€whom€he€retracted€his€"confession"€and€denounced€the€death€threats€receivedÐ ŽÞ Ðearlier€concerning€his€parents.€His€new€declaration€allegedly€disappeared€from€his€dossier.€Ð tÄ ÐÌ1.4€The€author€states€that€on€13€December€1982€he€was€released€from€prison€due€to€AmnestyÐ @ ÐLaw€No.€35€of€1982€concerning€political€detainees.€Ð &v ÐÌ1.5€With€regard€to€his€parents'€deaths,€the€author€states€the€following:€Ð òB ÐÌHis€father,€Jose€Joaquin€Herrera,€54€years€old,€was€treasurer€of€the€Council€of€CommunityÐ ¾ ÐAction€òò(Junta€de€Accion€Comunal)€óóin€the€village€of€Gallineta€belonging€to€the€municipalityÐ ¤ô Ðof€Doncello~€his€mother,€Emma€Rubio€de€Herrera,€52€years€old,€had€been€elected€townÐ Š Ú ÐCouncillor€for€the€òòFrente€Democratico;€óóthey€were€both€farmers.€In€February€1981,€hisÐ p!À  Ðparents'€home€was€searched€by€approximately€20€members€of€the€armed€forces€and€theÐ V"¦! Ðauthor's€father€was€ordered€to€follow€them.€He€returned€one€hour€later€bearing€signs€ofÐ <#Œ" Ðbeatings.€Ð "$r# ÐÌOne€week€later€the€same€group,€part€of€the€òòBattalion€Colombia,€óóled€by€a€captain,€a€lieutenantÐ î%>!% Ðand€a€corporal€(their€names€are€given),€detained€his€father€for€several€hours€during€which€heÐ Ô&$"& Ðwas€subjected€to€torture.€The€same€happened€the€following€day.€Ð º' #' ÐÌOn€27€March€1981,€at€3€a.m.,€a€group€of€individuals€in€military€uniforms,€identified€asÐ †)Ö$) Ðmembers€of€the€"counter„guerrilla",€arrived€at€the€home€of€the€author's€parents€and€Ô_ÔorderedÐ l*¼%* Ðhis€father€to€follow€them.€When€his€mother€objected,€she€was€also€obliged€to€follow€them.€Ð R+¢&+ Ðâ âÐ 8,ˆ', ÐThe€author's€brothers€reported€the€disappearance€of€their€parents€immediately€afterwards€toÐ ° Ðâ âthe€Tribunal€of€Doncello.€One€week€later€they€were€called€by€the€authorities€of€Doncello€toÐ –æ Ðidentify€the€bodies€of€their€parents;€their€father's€body€was€decapitated€and€his€hands€tiedÐ |Ì Ðwith€a€rope.€Ð b² ÐÌ1.6€With€regard€to€the€question€of€exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies,€the€author€states€thatÐ . ~ Ðfrom€prison€he€wrote€to€the€President€of€Colombia,€to€the€Office€of€the€Attorney„General€andÐ  d Ðto€the€responsible€military€authorities,€but€never€received€a€reply.€He€further€states€that€theÐ ú J Ðcopies€which€he€had€kept€of€these€letters€were€removed€from€his€cell€by€the€prisonÐ à 0 Ðauthorities€during€a€search.€He€adds€that€all€incidents€complained€of€occurred€in€a€regionÐ Æ   Ðunder€military€control€where€violations€of€the€rights€of€the€civilian€population€have€allegedlyÐ ¬ ü  Ðbecome€general€practice.€Ð ’â  ÐÌ1.7€The€author€claims€that€his€communication€reveals€violations€of€articles€6,€7,€9,€10€andÐ ^®  Ð17€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights.€He€indicates€that€the€presentÐ D”  Ðcase€is€not€being€examined€under€another€procedure€of€international€investigation€orÐ *z  Ðsettlement.€Ð ` ÐÌ2.€By€its€decision€of€22€March€1984,€the€Working€Group€of€the€Human€Rights€CommitteeÐ Ü, Ðtransmitted€the€communication€under€rule€91€of€the€provisional€rules€of€procedure€to€theÐ Â ÐState€party€concerned,€requesting€information€and€observations€relevant€to€the€question€ofÐ ¨ø Ðadmissibility€of€the€communication.€The€Working€Group€also€requested€the€State€party€toÐ ŽÞ Ðprovide€the€Committee€with€(a)€copies€of€any€court€orders€or€decisions€relevant€to€the€caseÐ tÄ Ðof€Joaquin€David€Herrera€Rubio€and€(b)€copies€of€the€death€certificates€and€medical€reportsÐ Zª Ðand€of€the€reports€of€whatever€inquiry€was€held€in€connection€with€the€deaths€of€Jose€JoaquinÐ @ ÐHerrera€and€Emma€Rubio€de€Herrera.€Ð &v ÐÌ3.€No€reply€was€received€from€the€State€party€in€this€connection.€The€time„limit€establishedÐ òB Ðby€the€Working€Group's€decision€expired€on€15€July€1984.€Ð Ø( ÐÌ4.€The€Committee€found,€on€the€basis€of€the€information€before€it,€that€is€was€not€precludedÐ ¤ô Ðby€article€5,€paragraph€2€(a),€of€the€Optional€Protocol€from€considering€the€communication.Ð Š Ú ÐThe€Committee€was€also€unable€to€conclude€that,€in€the€circumstances€of€the€case,€thereÐ p!À  Ðwere€effective€domestic€remedies€which€had€not€been€exhausted.€Accordingly€theÐ V"¦! ÐCommittee€found€that€the€communication€was€not€inadmissible€under€article€5,€paragraphÐ <#Œ" Ð(b),€of€the€Optional€Protocol.€Ð "$r# ÐÌ5.€On€26€March€1985€the€Human€Rights€Committee€therefore€decided:€Ð î%>!% ÐÌ(a)€That,€in€addition€to€acting€on€his€own€behalf,€the€author€was€justified€in€raising€the€caseÐ º' #' Ðof€his€deceased€parents,€Jose€Joaquin€Herrera€and€Emma€Rubio€de€Herrera;€Ð  (ð#( ÐÌ(b)€That€the€communication€was€admissible;€Ð l*¼%* ÐÌ(c)€That€in€accordance€with€article€4,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Optional€Protocol,€the€State€partyÐ 8,ˆ', Ðshould€be€requested€to€submit€to€the€Committee,€within€six€months€of€the€date€of€theÐ -n(- Ðtransmittal€to€it€of€the€current€decision,€written€explanations€or€statements€clarifying€theÐ ° Ðmatter€and€the€remedy,€if€any,€that€might€have€been€taken€by€it;€Ð –æ ÐÌ(d)€That€the€State€party€again€be€requested€to€furnish€the€Committee€with€(i)€copies€of€anyÐ b² Ðcourt€orders€or€decisions€taken€against€Joaquin€David€Herrera€Rubio€and€(ii)€copies€of€theÐ H˜ Ðdeath€certificates€and€autopsy€reports€and€of€the€reports€of€whatever€inquiry€was€held€inÐ . ~ Ðconnection€with€the€deaths€of€Jose€Joaquin€Herrera€and€Emma€Rubio€de€Herrera.€Ð  d ÐÌ6.1€In€its€submission€under€article€4,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Optional€Protocol,€dated€11€AugustÐ à 0 Ð1986,€the€State€party€indicates€that€the€killings€of€Jose€Herrera€and€Emma€Rubio€de€HerreraÐ Æ   Ðwere€duly€investigated€and€that€no€evidence€was€found€to€support€charges€against€militaryÐ ¬ ü  Ðpersonnel.€The€investigation€was€therefore€closed€by€order€of€the€Attorney„General€delegateÐ ’â  Ðfor€the€Armed€Forces,€dated€15€August€1984.€In€a€subsequent€letter€of€the€Attorney„GeneralÐ xÈ  Ðdelegate€for€the€Armed€Forces€to€the€Colombian€Attorney„General,€dated€20€October€1985,Ð ^®  Ðit€is€stated€that€the€dossier€was€closed:€Ð D”  ÐÌ"...€because€it€was€established€that€no€member€of€the€armed€forces€took€part€in€those€events.Ð ` ÐThe€report€includes€telegram€No.€5047,€dated€24€May€1984,€signed€by€the€commandingÐ öF Ðofficer€of€the€Ninth€Brigade€with€headquarters€in€Neiva,€stating€that€the€HonourableÐ Ü, ÐDisciplinary€Court€had€on€29€March€1984€ascribed€jurisdiction€to€investigate€these€murdersÐ Â Ðto€the€Third€High€Court€of€Florencia€(Caqueta)€which,€by€telegram€No.€157€of€18€SeptemberÐ ¨ø Ð1986€addressed€to€this€office,€reported€that€proceedings€to€date€had€revealed€no€involvementÐ ŽÞ Ðof€any€member€of€the€armed€forces€and€that€the€dossier€had€been€temporarily€closed€inÐ tÄ Ðconformity€with€article€473€of€the€Code€of€Criminal€Procedure."€Ð Zª ÐÌ6.2€The€State€party€also€forwarded€the€text€of€a€decision€of€the€Penal€Chamber€of€theÐ &v ÐSuperior€Court€of€Florencia,€dated€18€February€1983,€finding,€after€a€judicial€investigationÐ  \ Ðlasting€from€24€September€1982€to€25€January€1983,€that€the€killings€had€been€perpetratedÐ òB Ðby€armed€persons,€without,€however,€being€able€to€determine€to€which€group€they€belonged.Ð Ø( ÐThis€decision€also€quotes€the€testimony€of€the€author's€brother€Luis€Herrera€Rubio,€whoÐ ¾ Ðstated€that€his€parents€had€no€enemies€in€the€community€and€that€they€had€only€had€problemsÐ ¤ô Ðwith€members€of€the€Colombian€army,€who€had€repeatedly€searched€their€home€and€detainedÐ Š Ú Ðhis€father€on€a€previous€occasion.€Ð p!À  ÐÌ6.3€With€respect€to€the€criminal€proceedings€instituted€against€the€author€and€to€the€author'sÐ <#Œ" Ðallegations€that€he€had€been€subjected€to€torture,€the€Attorney„General€Delegate€for€theÐ "$r# ÐArmed€Forces€stated€that:€Ð %X $ ÐÌ"The€Military€Court€of€Criminal€Investigation€No.€37€[hereinafter:€Court€No.€37]€attachedÐ Ô&$"& Ðto€the€Juanabu€Battalion€(Florencia),€acting€on€a€report€dated€17€February€1981,€signed€byÐ º' #' Ðthe€officer€commanding€the€Colombia€Airborne€Battalion,€opened€on€18€February€1981€aÐ  (ð#( Ðcriminal€investigation€against€Alvaro€Hurtatiz€and€others€on€the€charge€of€rebellionÐ †)Ö$) Ð(involvement€in€the€FARC€(Fuerzas€Armadas€Revolucionarias€de€Colombia)€rebel€group),Ð l*¼%* Ðin€connection€with€events€that€occurred€in€Caqueta€in€the€years€1979,€1980€and€1981.€DuringÐ R+¢&+ Ðthis€investigation,€the€accused's€statement€given€on€3€April€1981€implicated€Joaquin€HerreraÐ 8,ˆ', ÐRubio€(alias€El€Guara),€who€was€arrested€by€a€patrol€of€the€Colombia€Battalion€on€17€MarchÐ -n(- Ð1981€in€Cartagena€del€Chiara€(Caqueta).€By€decision€dated€8€April€1981,€Court€No.€37Ð ° Ðordered€the€pre„trial€detention€of€Joaquin€Herrera€Rubio€on€the€charge€of€rebellion.€InÐ –æ Ðapplications€dated€7€May€and€11€June€1981,€Joaquin€Herrera€Rubio€requested€the€permissionÐ |Ì Ðof€Court€No.€37€to€make€an€addition€to€his€unsworn€statement.€In€this€statement€to€the€CourtÐ b² Ðon€15€June€1981€he€gave€an€account€of€the€tortures€to€which€he€had€been€subjected€byÐ H˜ Ðmembers€of€the€Colombia€Battalion.€The€charges€of€torture€were€also€made€on€oath€duringÐ . ~ Ðthe€inquiry€and€Court€No.€37€also€received€a€sworn€statement€about€them€during€itsÐ  d Ðproceedings.€Joaquin€Herrera€Rubio€stated€that€the€torture€described€in€the€reports€of€theÐ ú J ÐOffice€of€the€Attorney„General€of€the€nation€and€in€those€in€the€possession€of€the€UnitedÐ à 0 ÐNations€Human€Rights€Committee€were€inflicted€on€him€in€the€Colombia€Battalion,€that€heÐ Æ   Ðdid€not€know€the€names€of€the€soldiers€who€tortured€him€since€they€blindfolded€him€first,Ð ¬ ü  Ðthat€he€brought€no€charges€against€the€Military€Court€but€that€he€did€bring€charges€againstÐ ’â  Ðmilitary€personnel,€namely,€Captain€Perez€and€Lieutenant€Moncaleano.€Ð xÈ  ÐÌ"By€decision€dated€24€June€1982,€the€Command€of€the€Ninth€Brigade€„€the€Court€of€FirstÐ D”  ÐInstance€„€referred€the€proceedings€to€the€Florencia€High€Court€(Allocation€Division)€asÐ *z  Ðhaving€jurisdiction.€By€prior€decision€No.€44€dated€20€April€1981,€issued€by€the€CommandÐ ` Ðof€the€Ninth€Brigade,€Joaquin€Herrera€Rubio€had€been€sentenced€to€three€years'Ð öF Ðimprisonment€for€breach€of€article€10,€paragraph€2,€of€Decree€1923/78.€Ð Ü, ÐÌ"The€Ô_ÔFlorenciaÔ_Ô€High€Court,€according€to€the€photocopy€of€the€register€annexed,€by€courtÐ ¨ø Ðorder€dated€23€June€1983,*€declared€the€amnesty€applicable€to€the€investigation€by€virtue€ofÐ ŽÞ Ðthe€provisions€of€Act€35/82€and€consequently€ordered€that€all€proceedings€against€JoaquinÐ tÄ ÐHerrera€Rubio€and€others€on€the€charges€of€rebellion,€extortion€and€aggravated€theft€shouldÐ Zª Ðbe€stayed.€The€court€decision€...€made€no€reference€to€and€did€not€investigate€the€torturingÐ @ Ðof€Joaquin€David€Herrera€Rubio."€Ð &v ÐÌ6.4€On€21€March€1986,€the€Attorney„General€Delegate€for€the€Armed€Forces€decided€not€toÐ òB Ðopen€a€formal€investigation€with€regard€to€the€allegations€of€torture€in€the€author's€case.€TheÐ Ø( Ðdecision€reads€in€part:€Ð ¾ ÐÌ"Mr.€Ô_ÔHerreraÔ_Ô€Rubio€complained€of€the€alleged€tortures€to€Court€No.€37€in€additions,€madeÐ Š Ú Ðon€15€June€1981€and€28€October€1981,€to€his€statement€as€an€accused€person.€TheseÐ p!À  Ðstatements€assert€that,€when€he€was€arrested€on€17€March€1981,€army€personnel€from€theÐ V"¦! ÐDoncello€Military€Base€and€the€Cartagena€del€Chiara€Military€Base€tortured€him,€but€as€theyÐ <#Œ" Ðblindfolded€him€before€doing€so,€he€could€not€identify€them.€Ð "$r# ÐÌ"The€Ô_ÔFlorenciaÔ_Ô€regional€office€of€the€Attorney„General€was€instructed€to€take€a€furtherÐ î%>!% Ðstatement€from€the€complainant€but€it€was€not€possible€to€discover€his€whereabouts€in€theÐ Ô&$"& ÐDepartment€of€Caqueta;€it€was€stated€that€he€was€possibly€living€in€Puerto€Lleras.€Ð º' #' ÐÌ"Inquiries€were€ordered€to€be€made€at€the€Municipal€Prison€into€the€physical€condition€of€theÐ †)Ö$) Ðcomplainant€on€his€arrival€there.€The€medical€officer€in€charge€of€prisons€under€theÐ l*¼%* ÐHighjCourt€states€that,€since€medical€records€for€each€inmate€had€begun€to€be€kept€only€fromÐ R+¢&+ Ðthe€last€three€months€of€1983,€he€cannot€substantiate€the€allegation.€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- Ð"On€the€index€card€kept€by€the€legal€counsel's€office,€relating€to€Herrera€Rubio€held€on€aÐ ° Ðcharge€of€rebellion,€there€is€no€record€that€he€entered€the€prison€with€marks€of€torture€orÐ –æ Ðinjuries.€It€states€that€he€entered€the€prison€of€the€judicial€district€on€11€August€1981.€Ð |Ì ÐÌ"In€view€of€the€difficulties€of€obtaining€evidence€about€events€which€happened€five€yearsÐ H˜ Ðago,€this€office€can€take€a€decision€only€on€the€basis€of€the€account€given€by€the€allegedÐ . ~ Ðvictim€to€Court€No.€37€in€1981.€Ð  d ÐÌ"His€statement€on€the€alleged€acts€of€torture€are€not€credible€in€view€of€the€fact€that€threeÐ à 0 Ðmonths€elapsed€from€the€time€of€the€alleged€ill„treatment€before€the€complainant€reportedÐ Æ   Ðit€to€the€Court.€On€witnessing€his€statement€as€an€accused€person€made€on€3€April€1981,€thisÐ ¬ ü  Ðoffice€put€on€record€that€'the€accused€appeared€normal€physically€and€mentally€...';€the€personÐ ’â  Ðin€question€under€investigation€for€rebellion€had€been€sentenced€for€illegally€carryingÐ xÈ  Ðweapons.€Finally,€his€charges€contain€no€specific€details."€Ð ^®  ÐÌ7.1€In€his€comments,€dated€4€October€1986,€the€author€dismisses€the€State€party's€responseÐ *z  Ðas€"a€prime€example€of€the€various€legal€subterfuges€used€by€the€armed€forces,€with€theÐ ` Ðcollusion€of€the€other€branches€of€government,€to€safeguard€their€impunity".€Ð öF ÐÌ7.2€The€author€refutes€the€State€party's€arguments€in€the€following€way:€Ð  ÐÌ"In€its€reply€concerning€the€murder€of€my€parents,€the€Colombian€Government€totallyÐ ŽÞ Ðabsolves€the€armed€forces€from€blame,€claiming€that€the€fact€of€wearing€military€uniform€isÐ tÄ Ðin€no€way€proof€of€the€presence€of€members€of€the€armed€forces€and€insinuating€that€theÐ Zª Ðcrime€might€have€been€committed€by€the€FARC€guerrilla€group.€Ð @ ÐÌ"This€reply€is€completely€at€odds€with€the€facts€of€the€case,€as€reported€to€the€committee;Ð  \ Ðmembers€of€the€armed€forces€repeatedly€searched€the€home€of€my€parents,€tortured€my€fatherÐ òB Ðand€repeatedly€told€me,€while€I€was€in€prison,€that€they€would€kill€my€parents,€as€indeed€theyÐ Ø( Ðdid.€Ð ¾ ÐÌ"The€complaint€submitted€to€the€committee€gives€the€names€of€various€serving€members€ofÐ Š Ú Ðthe€armed€forces€responsible€for€the€searches,€torture€and€threats,€yet€the€Attorney„GeneralÐ p!À  Ðhas€nothing€to€say€on€the€subject.€Ð V"¦! ÐÌ"...€Ð "$r# ÐÌ"The€insinuation€that€a€guerrilla€group€such€as€FARC€carried€out€these€killings€is€absolutelyÐ î%>!% Ðinconsistent€with€other€information€in€the€case.€One€of€the€documents€attached€by€theÐ Ô&$"& ÐAttorney„General€states€that€I€was€charged€with€rebellion€because€of€my€alleged€links€withÐ º' #' ÐFARC.€It€also€notes€that€my€mother€was€a€councillor€for€the€Democratic€Front,€a€politicalÐ  (ð#( Ðorganization€enjoying€FARC€support€in€the€region.€It€would€therefore€be€absurd€to€imagineÐ †)Ö$) Ðthat€FARC€could€have€committed€this€crime,€when€it€thereby€have€been€killing€its€ownÐ l*¼%* Ðsympathizers.€Ð R+¢&+ Ðâ âÐ 8,ˆ', Ð"Regarding€the€torture€of€which€I€was€a€victim,€the€Attorney„General€states€that€theÐ ° Ðâ âinvestigation€into€this€matter€was€also€closed€because,€òòInter€aliaóó:€Ð –æ ÐÌ"At€the€time,€prisoners€were€not€given€a€medical€examination;€Ð b² ÐÌ"There€are€difficulties€in€obtaining€evidence€about€events€which€happened€five€years€ago;€Ð . ~ ÐÌ"It€was€only€three€months€after€the€ill„treatment€that€the€injured€party€decided€to€report€it.€Ð ú J ÐÌ"The€Attorney„General€fails€to€explain€why€the€petitions€written€by€me€in€prison€andÐ Æ   Ðaddressed€to€the€Office€of€the€President€of€the€Republic,€the€office€of€the€Attorney„GeneralÐ ¬ ü  Ðand€the€Ninth€Army€Brigade€went€unanswered.€Ð ’â  ÐÌ"...Ð ^®  ÐÌ"The€Attorney„General€would€also€appear€to€be€unaware€of€the€psychological€prosure€on€aÐ *z  Ðprisoner€who€has€been€subjected€to€cruelty€and€harassment€and€lacks€any€means€of€defence.Ð ` ÐSuch€prisoners€often€decide€not€to€file€a€complaint€so€as€to€save€themselves€or€their€familiesÐ öF Ðfrom€further€and€even€more€cruel€acts€in€retaliation.€So€it€was€with€me,€in€deciding€to€reportÐ Ü, Ðthe€torture€and€threats€which€I€had€suffered€only€when€I€learned€that€my€parents€had€beenÐ Â Ðkilled€by€the€armed€forces€and€could€not€therefore€be€subjected€to€further€criminal€reprisals.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ"Lastly,€in€order€to€understand€the€nature€of€this€crime,€the€Committee€needs€to€have€someÐ tÄ Ðidea€of€its€context.€Ð Zª ÐÌ"In€1981,€the€Department€of€Caqueta€was€the€scene€of€a€military€counter„insurgencyÐ &v Ðoperation€under€cover€of€which€all€kinds€of€crimes€were€committed.€Ð  \ ÐÌ"Since€this€is€a€semi„forest€area€somewhat€isolated€from€the€centre€of€the€country€and€withÐ Ø( Ðpoor€communications,€this€operation€was€largely€passed€over€in€silence€by€the€media.€Ð ¾ ÐÌ"Most€villages€in€the€area€were€subjected€to€stringent€controls€by€the€armed€forces€on€theÐ Š Ú Ðsupposition€that€every€peasant€was€'collaborating€with€the€guerrillas'.€Most€of€the€populationÐ p!À  Ðsuffered€searches,€intimidation,€plunder€of€their€household€goods,€crops€and€cattle,€and€cruel,Ð V"¦! Ðinhuman€and€degrading€treatment;€torture€was€widely€and€systematically€practised€and€thereÐ <#Œ" Ðwere€numerous€disappearances€and€killings.€Many€peasants€were€arrested€and€then€taken€byÐ "$r# Ðmilitary€helicopter€to€villages€where€they€were€not€known;€there€they€were€killed€and€theirÐ %X $ Ðbodies€thrown€on€to€a€road€or€into€a€river€(the€number€of€persons€killed€may€approachÐ î%>!% Ð1,000).€Ð Ô&$"& ÐÌ"This€array€of€premeditated€crimes€had€the€full€backing€of€the€various€branches€ofÐ  (ð#( ÐGovernment.€That€is€why€domestic€complaints€were€useless€and€all€these€crimes€have€so€farÐ †)Ö$) Ðgone€absolutely€unpunished."€Ð l*¼%* ÐÌ8.1€The€author's€comments€were€transmitted€to€the€State€party€on€27€November€1986.€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- Ð8.2€In€view€of€the€conflicting€statements€by€the€parties,€the€Working€Group€of€the€HumanÐ ° ÐRights€Committee,€at€a€special€session€in€December€1986,€decided€to€request€more€detailedÐ –æ Ðinformation€from€the€State€party.€By€note€verbale€of€18€December€1986,€the€followingÐ |Ì Ðspecific€questions€were€formulated:€Ð b² ÐÌ(a)€What€investigations€have€been€undertaken€with€regard€to€those€military€officers€whoÐ . ~ Ðhave€been€specifically€named€by€the€author€and€accused€of€having€committed€torture,€carriedÐ  d Ðout€raids€and€made€threats?€Ð ú J ÐÌ(b)€What€investigations€are€now€being€carried€out€with€regard€to€the€deaths€of€the€parentsÐ Æ   Ðof€Mr.€Herrera€Rubio€and€with€regard€to€his€allegations€of€torture?€Ð ¬ ü  ÐÌ(c)€Have€charges€been€brought€against€anyone?€Ð xÈ  ÐÌ9.1€Under€cover€of€a€note€dated€22€January€1987,€the€State€party€forwarded€copies€of€variousÐ D”  Ðdocuments€relating€to€the€investigation€of€the€author's€case,€but€did€not€provide€specificÐ *z  Ðanswers€to€the€questions€posed€by€the€Working€Group.€No€reference€was€made€to€theÐ ` Ðspecific€issues€raised€by€the€author€in€his€comments€of€4€October€1986.€Ð öF ÐÌ9.2€The€documents€forwarded€by€the€State€party€appear€to€confirm€that€no€furtherÐ Â Ðinvestigations€have€been€undertaken€or€are€pending€in€the€Herrera€case.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ9.3€By€a€further€letter,€dated€8€July€1987,€the€Ministry€of€Foreign€Affairs€of€ColombiaÐ tÄ Ðconfirmed€that€the€investigations€in€the€author's€case€have€been€concluded€and€that€no€legalÐ Zª Ðproceedings€against€military€personnel€could€be€initiated€because€of€lack€of€sufficientÐ @ Ðevidence.€The€State€party€therefore€requests€the€committee€to€consider€the€explanations€andÐ &v Ðstatements€already€submitted€in€adopting€its€views€in€the€case.€Ð  \ ÐÌ10.1€The€Human€Rights€Committee,€having€examined€the€present€communication€in€the€lightÐ Ø( Ðof€all€the€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€parties€as€provided€in€article€5,€paragraphÐ ¾ Ð1,€of€the€Optional€Protocol,€hereby€decides€to€base€its€views€on€the€following€facts€andÐ ¤ô Ðconsiderations.€Ð Š Ú ÐÌ10.2€Joaquin€Herrera€Rubio€was€arrested€on€17€March€1981€by€members€of€the€ColombianÐ V"¦! Ðarmed€forces€on€suspicion€of€being€a€"guerrillero".€He€claims€that€he€was€torturedÐ <#Œ" Ð("submarine",€"hanging"€and€beatings)€by€Colombian€military€authorities€who€alsoÐ "$r# Ðthreatened€him€that€unless€he€signed€a€confession€his€parents€would€be€killed.€On€27€MarchÐ %X $ Ð1981,€persons€in€civilian€clothes€and€others.€wearing€military€uniforms,€identifyingÐ î%>!% Ðthemselves€as€members€of€the€counter„guerrilla,€came€to€the€home€of€the€author's€parents€andÐ Ô&$"& Ðled€them€away€by€force.€One€week€later€the€bodies€of€Jose€Herrera€and€Emma€Rubio€deÐ º' #' ÐHerrera€were€found€in€the€vicinity.€At€that€time€the€District€of€Caqueta€is€reported€to€haveÐ  (ð#( Ðbeen€the€scene€of€a€military€counter„insurgency€operation,€during€which€most€villages€in€theÐ †)Ö$) Ðarea€were€subjected€to€stringent€controls€by€the€armed€forces.€The€State€party€has€shown€thatÐ l*¼%* Ða€judicial€investigation€of€the€killings€was€carried€out€from€24€September€1982€to€25€JanuaryÐ R+¢&+ Ð1983,€and€claims€that€is€was€established€that€no€member€of€the€armed€forces€had€taken€partÐ 8,ˆ', Ðin€the€killings.€With€respect€to€the€author's€allegations€of€torture,€the€State€party€contendsÐ -n(- Ðthat€they€are€not€credible€in€view€of€the€fact€that€three€months€elapsed€from€the€time€of€theÐ ° Ðalleged€ill„treatment€before€the€author's€complaint€was€brought€to€the€attention€of€the€Court.€Ð –æ ÐÌ10.3€Whereas€the€Committee€considers€that€there€is€reason€to€believe,€in€the€light€of€theÐ b² Ðauthor's€allegations,€that€Colombian€military€persons€bear€responsibility€for€the€deaths€ofÐ H˜ ÐJos6€Herrera€and€Emma€Rubio€de€Herrera,€no€conclusive€evidence€has€been€produced€toÐ . ~ Ðestablish€the€identity€of€the€murderers.€In€this€connection€the€Committee€refers€to€its€generalÐ  d Ðcomment€No.€6€(16)€concerning€article€6€of€the€Covenant,€which€provides,€òòinter€alia,€óóthatÐ ú J ÐStates€parties€should€take€specific€and€effective€measures€to€prevent€the€disappearance€ofÐ à 0 Ðindividuals€and€establish€effective€facilities€and€procedures€to€ivestigate€thoroughly,€by€anÐ Æ   Ðappropriate€impartial€body,€cases€of€missing€and€disappeared€persons€in€circumstancesÐ ¬ ü  Ðwhich€may€involve€a€violation€of€the€right€to€life.€The€Committee€has€duly€noted€the€StateÐ ’â  Ðparty's€submissions€concerning€the€investigations€carried€out€in€this€case,€which,€however,Ð xÈ  Ðappear€to€have€been€inadequate€in€the€light€of€the€State€party's€obligations€under€article€2€ofÐ ^®  Ðthe€Covenant.€Ð D”  ÐÌ10.4€With€regard€to€the€author's€allegations€of€torture,€the€Committee€notes€that€the€authorÐ ` Ðhas€given€a€very€detailed€description€of€the€ill„treatment€to€which€he€was€subjected€and€hasÐ öF Ðprovided€the€names€of€members€of€the€armed€forces€allegedly€responsible.€In€thisÐ Ü, Ðconnection,€the€Committee€observes€that€the€initial€investigations€conducted€by€the€StateÐ Â Ðparty€may€have€been€concluded€prematurely€and€that€further€investigations€were€called€forÐ ¨ø Ðin€the€light€of€the€author's€submission€of€4€October€1986€and€the€Working€Group's€requestÐ ŽÞ Ðof€18€December€1986€for€more€precise€information.€Ð tÄ ÐÌ10.5€With€regard€to€the€burden€of€proof,€the€Committee€has€already€established€in€otherÐ @ Ðcases€(for€example,€Nos.€30/1978€and€85/1981)€a/that€this€cannot€rest€alone€on€the€author€ofÐ &v Ðthe€communications,€especially€considering€that€the€author€and€the€State€party€do€not€alwaysÐ  \ Ðhave€equal€access€to€the€evidence€and€that€frequently€the€State€party€alone€has€access€toÐ òB Ðrelevant€information.€In€the€circumstances,€due€weight€must€be€given€to€the€authors'Ð Ø( Ðallegations.€It€is€implicit€in€article€4,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Optional€Protocol€that€the€StateÐ ¾ Ðparty€has€the€duty€to€investigate€in€good€faith€all€allegations€of€violation€of€the€CovenantÐ ¤ô Ðmade€against€it€and€its€authorities,€and€to€furnish€to€the€Committee€the€information€availableÐ Š Ú Ðto€it.€In€no€circumstances€should€a€State€party€fall€to€investigate€fully€allegations€of€ill„Ð p!À  Ðtreatment€when€the€person€or€persons€allegedly€responsible€for€the€ill„treatment€areÐ V"¦! Ðidentified€by€the€author€of€a€communication.€The€State€party€has€in€this€matter€provided€noÐ <#Œ" Ðprecise€information€and€reports,€òòinter€aliaóó,€on€the€questioning€of€military€officials€accusedÐ "$r# Ðof€maltreatment€of€prisoners,€or€on€the€questioning€of€their€superiors.€Ð %X $ ÐÌ11.€The€Human€Rights€Committee,€acting€under€article€5,€paragraph€4,€of€the€OptionalÐ Ô&$"& ÐProtocol€to€the€International€Covenant€of€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€is€of€the€view€that€theÐ º' #' Ðfacts€as€found€by€the€Committee€disclose€violations€of€the€Covenant€with€respect€to:€Ð  (ð#( ÐÌArticle€6,€because€the€State€party€failed€to€take€appropriate€measures€to€prevent€theÐ l*¼%* Ðdisappearance€and€subsequent€killings€of€Jose€Herrera€and€Emma€Rubio€de€Herrera€and€toÐ R+¢&+ Ðinvestigate€effectively€the€responsibility€for€their€murders;€and€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- ÐArticle€7€and€article€10,€paragraph€1,€because€Joaquin€Herrera€Rubio€was€subjected€to€tortureÐ ° Ðand€ill„treatment€during€his€detention.€Ð –æ ÐÌ12.€The€Committee,€accordingly,€is€of€the€view€that€the€State€party€is€under€an€obligation,Ð b² Ðin€accordance€with€the€provisions€of€article€2€of€the€Covenant,€to€take€effective€measures€toÐ H˜ Ðremedy€the€violations€that€Mr.€Herrera€Rubio€has€suffered€and€further€to€investigate€saidÐ . ~ Ðviolations,€to€take€action€thereon€as€appropriate€and€to€take€steps€to€ensure€that€similarÐ  d Ðviolations€do€not€occur€in€the€future.€Ð ú J ÐÌÌ__________Ð ¬ ü  ÐÌ*€The€author€states€in€paragraph€1.4€above€that€he€had€already€been€released€fromÐ xÈ  Ðimprisonment€on€13€December€1982.€Ð ^®  ÐÌÓeÓ