ÿWPC  ÍuÉþÏD±ãeíœbàKÿíBßâ¹OØ•‰, è›— ti/"ߨ2‡<6Qƒ®óªNs¬E Žêîq²Áúëw¸S)x.®'é ÷Ã<@?Ú‚¨`yÁ.\ÒÀÍd1 R垆p”ßR!|䦆ÔHü†”3_&sù[môGØ ?Û6[qçm» œåß[æüª­©0Ú¦½ìôExí PyÑO*ˆ¾Ðb¶¿ý^Á5ÎaTî³ðrÔ¿¸ÜOÇÑ&Lƒs û|¸<ø &5ü©šE—Ü0o“Ö0e,£QšEøìSžâ<ïߧ…mü„òÙÄêç`¶eõŒõx¡ð·Ï/—ìW¢üh¨j$쯭j\ÇDÕYç@$Sd!‡ù³àWË9%Ÿ'!bƵ»Ù½Uê°f1¦Í˜=›»s\\<¼§96ØÞì':œt±¤YÉBb%¬uÃœgòEf 2t"{…p×Ïp%àQ]}6°súbT¸1àz¼Sü®‚p)ç^±Ï‹ {™ó87Hš7‰’2q×fž3²ŒXÚq9‚GÜþÙã›ãœüÚ¬&0¹ýD_½BMšÐŸ®ö’ÀCåû!¬bEˆjJã•„™MrU>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(žÅ $¡¡ÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ XdXX XÔÔ€XdXX XdÔÔÔ˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - Standard,ä,,,,,ä0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman Regularœ”ô* Äpì*à- ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒ Å !ÝÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ XppXX XÔÔ€XppXX XppÔÔÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òHUMAN€RIGHTS€COMMITTEEÐ ° ÐÌÔ_ÔòòÔ_ÔÔ_ÔMalikÔ_Ô€v.€Czech€RepublicóóÐ |Ì ÐÌCommunication€No€669/1995**Ð H˜ ÐÌ21€October€1998Ð  d ÐÌÔ_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/64/D/669/1995*Ð à 0 ÐÌÌADMISSIBILITYó óÐ ’â  ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€Gerhard€Malik€(represented€by€Ô_ÔLeewogÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔGronesÔ_Ô,€a€law€firm€in€Ô_ÔMayenÔ_Ô,Ð D”  ÐGermany)€Ð *z  ÐÌòòVictimóó:€The€author€Ð öF ÐÌòòState€partyóó:€Czech€Republic€Ð  ÐÌòòDate€of€communicationóó:€6€October€1995€óóÐ ŽÞ ÐÌÌòòÓ  ÓThe€Human€Rights€Committeeóó,€established€under€article€28€of€the€International€CovenantÐ @ Ðon€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€Ð &v ÐÌòòMeeting€onóó€21€October€1998€Ð òB ÐÌòòAdopts€the€followingóó:Ð ¾ ÐÓÔÓÌÌÓ  Óòòò òDecision€on€admissibilityó óóóÐ p!À  ÐÌÌÓ  ÓÓ  Ó1.€The€author€of€the€communication€is€Gerhard€Malik,€a€German€citizen€residing€inÐ "$r# ÐÔ_ÔDossenheimÔ_Ô,€Germany.€Mr.€Malik€claims€to€be€a€victim€of€violations€of€articles€12,€14,€26Ð %X $ Ðand€27€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€by€the€Czech€Republic.Ð î%>!% ÐHe€is€represented€by€Ô_ÔLeewogÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔGronesÔ_Ô,€a€law€firm€in€Mayen,€Germany.€The€CovenantÐ Ô&$"& Ðentered€into€force€for€Czechoslovakia€on€23€March€1976,€the€Optional€Protocol€on€12€JuneÐ º' #' Ð1991òò€1óó.€Ð  (ð#( ÐÌòòThe€facts€as€presented€by€the€authoróó€Ð l*¼%* ÐÌ2.1€Mr.€Malik€was€born€a€citizen€of€Czechoslovakia€on€3€July€1932€in€Ô_ÔSchoenbrunnÔ_Ô/Oder,Ð 8,ˆ', Ðin€what€was€then€known€as€Eastern€Ô_ÔSudetenlandÔ_Ô.€This€territory€had€been€part€of€the€AustrianÐ -n(- ÐEmpire€until€November€1918,€when€it€became€part€of€the€new€State€of€Czechoslovakia.€InÐ ° ÐOctober€1938,€the€territory€became€part€of€Germany€by€virtue€of€the€Munich€Agreement,€andÐ –æ Ðat€the€end€of€the€Second€World€War€in€May€1945€it€was€restored€to€Czechoslovakia.€SinceÐ |Ì Ð1€January€1993€it€forms€part€of€the€Czech€Republic.€Ð b² ÐÌ2.2€The€author€states€that€in€1945€he€himself,€his€parents€and€grandparents€were€deprived€ofÐ . ~ ÐCzechoslovak€citizenship€by€virtue€of€the€Ô_ÔBenesÔ_Ô€Decree€No.€33€of€2€August€1945€on€theÐ  d ÐDetermination€of€Czechoslovak€citizenship€of€persons€belonging€to€the€German€andÐ ú J ÐHungarian€Ethnic€Groups.€Ð à 0 ÐÌ2.3€Mr.€Malik€and€his€family€were€subjected€to€collective€exile,€together€with€other€membersÐ ¬ ü  Ðof€the€German€ethnic€group€of€Ô_ÔSchoenbrunnÔ_Ô,€who€were€expelled€to€the€United€StatesÐ ’â  Ðoccupation€zone€of€Germany€on€21€July€1946.€According€to€the€author,€he€and€his€family€didÐ xÈ  Ðnot€have€any€real€or€legal€opportunity€to€oppose€this€measure.€Their€property€wasÐ ^®  Ðconfiscated€by€virtue€of€Ô_ÔBenesÔ_Ô€Decree€No.€108/1945€of€25€October€1945.€The€author€submitsÐ D”  Ðthe€text€of€the€decree€and€a€copy€of€the€relevant€page€from€the€registry€book€in€Ô_ÔNovyÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔJicinÔ_ÔÐ *z  Ð(Ô_ÔSchoenbrunnÔ_Ô),€which€shows€that€his€family's€property€was€confiscated€pursuant€to€DecreeÐ ` ÐNo.€108/1945.€Ð öF ÐÌòòThe€complaintóó€Ð  ÐÌ3.1€The€author€complains€of€a€continued€violation€of€his€rights€to€enter€his€own€country,€toÐ ŽÞ Ðequality€before€the€courts,€to€non„discrimination€and€to€the€enjoyment€of€minority€rights.Ð tÄ ÐThe€continuing€violation€has€been€allegedly€renewed€by€the€judgement€of€8€March€1995€ofÐ Zª Ðthe€Constitutional€Court€of€the€Czech€Republic€(text€enclosed),€which€reaffirms€theÐ @ Ðcontinued€validity€of€the€Ô_ÔBenesÔ_Ô€Decrees.€The€validity€of€the€Ô_ÔBenesÔ_Ô€Decrees€has€beenÐ &v Ðrepeatedly€confirmed€by€Czech€authorities,€including€the€Czech€Prime€Minister,€Ô_ÔVaclavÔ_ÔÐ  \ ÐKlaus,€on€23€August€1995.€Ð òB ÐÌ3.2€Mr.€Malik€claims€that€over€the€past€decades€he€has€been€deprived€of€the€right€enunciatedÐ ¾ Ðin€article€12,€paragraph€4,€of€the€Covenant,€that€is€to€return€to€his€homeland,€where€hisÐ ¤ô Ðparents€and€grandparents€were€born€and€where€his€ancestors€are€buried.€Moreover,€he€hasÐ Š Ú Ðbeen€deprived€of€the€right€to€exercise€his€cultural€rights,€in€community€with€other€membersÐ p!À  Ðof€the€German€ethnic€group,€to€worship€in€the€churches€of€his€ancestors€and€to€live€in€theÐ V"¦! Ðland€where€he€was€born€and€where€he€grew€up.€Ð <#Œ" ÐÌ3.3€Mr.€Malik€specifically€complains€of€the€denial€of€equality€before€the€courts,€in€violationÐ %X $ Ðof€article€14,€and€of€discrimination,€in€violation€of€article€26.€He€points€out€that€the€enforcedÐ î%>!% Ðexpatriation€in€1945,€the€expropriations€and€the€expulsions€were€carried€out€in€a€collectiveÐ Ô&$"& Ðway,€and€were€not€based€on€conduct€but€rather€on€status.€All€members€of€the€GermanÐ º' #' Ðminority,€including€Social€Democrats€and€other€antifascists€were€expelled€and€their€propertyÐ  (ð#( Ðwas€confiscated,€just€because€they€were€German.€In€this€context€he€refers€to€the€policy€ofÐ †)Ö$) Ðethnic€cleansing€in€the€former€Yugoslavia,€which€has€been€recognized€to€be€in€violation€ofÐ l*¼%* Ðinternational€law.€He€also€refers€to€the€Nazi€expatriation€and€expropriation€of€German€Jews,Ð R+¢&+ Ðwhich€were€arbitrary€and€discriminatory.€He€points€out€that€while€Nazi€laws€have€beenÐ 8,ˆ', Ðabrogated€and€restitution€or€compensation€has€been€effected€for€Nazi€confiscations,€neitherÐ -n(- ÐÔ_ÔCzechoslovakia€nor€the€Czech€Republic€has€offered€restitution€or€compensation€to€theÐ ° Ðexpatriated,€expropriated€and€expelled€German€minority.€Ð –æ ÐÌ3.4€Mr.€Malik€notes€that€by€virtue€of€Law€No.€87/1991€Czech€citizens€with€Czech€residenceÐ b² Ðmay€obtain€restitution€or€compensation€for€properties€that€were€confiscated€by€theÐ H˜ ÐGovernment€of€Czechoslovakia€in€the€period€from€1948€to€1989.€Mr.€Malik€and€his€familyÐ . ~ Ðdo€not€qualify€for€compensation€under€this€law,€because€their€properties€were€confiscatedÐ  d Ðin€1945,€and€because€they€lost€their€Czech€citizenship€as€a€result€of€Ô_ÔBenesÔ_Ô€Decree€No.€33€andÐ ú J Ðtheir€residence€because€of€their€expulsion.€Moreover,€he€points€out€that€whereas€there€is€aÐ à 0 Ðrestitution€and€compensation€law€for€Czechs,€none€has€been€enacted€to€allow€any€form€ofÐ Æ   Ðrestitution€or€compensation€for€the€German€minority.€This€is€said€to€constitute€a€violationÐ ¬ ü  Ðof€article€26€of€the€Covenant.€Ð ’â  ÐÌ3.5€With€regard€to€the€application€of€the€Covenant€to€the€facts€of€his€case,€Mr.€Malik€pointsÐ ^®  Ðout€that€although€the€Ô_ÔBenesÔ_Ô€Decrees€date€back€to€1945€and€1946,€they€have€continuingÐ D”  Ðeffects€which€themselves€constitute€violations€of€the€Covenant.€Moreover,€the€Decrees€wereÐ *z  Ðreaffirmed€in€the€Judgment€of€the€Czech€Constitutional€Court€of€8€March€1995.€TheÐ ` Ðdiscriminatory€law€on€restitution€of€1991€also€falls€within€the€period€of€application€of€theÐ öF ÐCovenant€and€the€Optional€Protocol€to€the€Czech€Republic.€Ð Ü, ÐÌ3.6€As€to€the€requirement€of€exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies,€the€author€states€that€not€onlyÐ ¨ø Ðdoes€Czech€legislation€not€establish€a€recourse€for€persons€in€his€situation,€but,€moreover,Ð ŽÞ Ðas€long€as€the€discriminatory€Ô_ÔBenesÔ_Ô€Decrees€are€held€to€be€valid€and€constitutional,€anyÐ tÄ Ðappeal€against€them€is€futile.€In€this€context€the€author€refers€to€a€recent€challenge€of€theÐ Zª ÐÔ_ÔBenesÔ_Ô€Decrees,€which€an€ethnic€German€resident€in€the€Czech€Republic,€brought€before€theÐ @ ÐSupreme€Constitutional€Court€of€the€Czech€Republic.€On€8€March€1995€the€Court€held€thatÐ &v Ðthe€Ô_ÔBenesÔ_Ô€Decrees€were€valid€and€constitutional.€Therefore,€no€available€and€effectiveÐ  \ Ðremedies€exist€in€the€Czech€Republic.€Ð òB ÐÌòòState€party's€observations€on€admissibilityóó€Ð ¾ ÐÌ4.1€By€submission€of€15€February€1996,€the€State€party€notes€that€the€author€is€a€GermanÐ Š Ú Ðcitizen€residing€in€Germany.€At€the€time€of€submission€of€the€communication,€he€was€notÐ p!À  Ða€citizen€nor€a€resident€of€the€Czech€Republic€and€thus€did€not€hold€any€legally€relevantÐ V"¦! Ðstatus€in€the€territory€of€the€Czech€republic.€Ð <#Œ" ÐÌ4.2€The€State€party€recalls€that€Decree€No.€33€of€2€August€1945,€through€which€the€authorÐ %X $ Ðwas€deprived€of€his€Czechoslovak€citizenship,€contained€provisions€enabling€restoration€ofÐ î%>!% ÐCzechoslovak€citizenship.€Applications€for€restoration€of€citizenship€were€to€be€lodged€withÐ Ô&$"& Ðthe€appropriate€authority€within€six€months€of€the€decree€being€issued.€Since€the€author€andÐ º' #' Ðhis€family€did€not€avail€themselves€of€this€opportunity€to€have€their€citizenship€restored€toÐ  (ð#( Ðthem,€the€State€party€submits€that€domestic€remedies€have€not€been€exhausted.€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ4.3€The€State€party€challenges€the€author's€argument€that€he€and€his€family€did€not€have€anyÐ R+¢&+ Ðreal€opportunity€to€oppose€their€removal€from€Czechoslovakia.€The€State€party€argues€thatÐ 8,ˆ', Ðthey€were€removed€because€they€failed€to€exhaust€domestic€remedies€against€the€deprivationÐ -n(- Ðof€their€citizenship.€With€reference€to€the€principle€òòÔ_ÔignoratiaÔ_Ô€legis€Ô_ÔneminemÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔexcusatÔ_Ôóó,€theÐ ° ÐState€party€maintains€that€the€legal€status€of€the€author€and€his€family€changed€due€toÐ –æ Ðomission€on€their€part€and€that€the€possible€objection€that€they€were€not€informed€about€theÐ |Ì Ðappropriate€legislation€is€irrelevant.€Ð b² ÐÌ4.4€With€regard€to€the€expropriation€of€his€family's€property,€and€the€ensuing€allegedÐ . ~ Ðviolation€of€his€Covenant€rights,€the€State€party€points€out€that€it€has€only€been€bound€by€theÐ  d ÐCovenant€since€its€entry€into€force€in€1976,€and€argues€that€the€Covenant€can€thus€not€beÐ ú J Ðapplied€to€events€that€occurred€in€1945„1946.€With€regard€to€the€author's€argument€that€theÐ à 0 ÐConstitutional€Court's€judgement€of€8€March€1995€reaffirms€the€violations€of€the€past,€andÐ Æ   Ðmakes€any€appeal€to€the€Courts€futile,€the€State€party€points€out€that€following€the€saidÐ ¬ ü  Ðjudgement€decree€No.€108/1945€no€longer€operates€as€a€constitutional€regulation€and€that€theÐ ’â  Ðcompatibility€of€the€decree€with€higher€laws€(such€as€the€Constitution€and€the€Covenant)€canÐ xÈ  Ðthus€be€challenged€before€the€courts.€In€this€context,€the€State€party€points€out€thatÐ ^®  ÐConstitutional€Law€No.2/1993€(Charter€of€Fundamental€Rights€and€Freedoms)€contains€aÐ D”  Ðprohibition€of€any€form€of€discrimination.€The€State€party€therefore€challenges€the€author'sÐ *z  Ðstatement€that€exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies€would€be€futile.€According€to€the€State€party,Ð ` Ðthe€author's€statement€demonstrates€ignorance€of€Czech€law€and€is€incorrect.€Ð öF ÐÌ4.5€The€State€party€submits€that€international€treaties€on€human€rights€and€fundamentalÐ Â Ðfreedoms€binding€on€the€Czech€Republic€are€immediately€applicable€and€superior€to€law.Ð ¨ø ÐThe€State€party€explains€that€its€Constitutional€Court€has€the€power€to€nullify€laws€orÐ ŽÞ Ðregulations€if€it€determines€that€they€are€unconstitutional.€Anyone€who€claims€that€his€or€herÐ tÄ Ðrights€have€been€violated€by€a€decision€of€a€public€authority€may€submit€a€motion€for€reviewÐ Zª Ðof€the€legality€of€such€decision.€Ð @ ÐÌ4.6€With€regard€to€the€author's€argument€that€the€violation€of€his€rights€continues€under€theÐ  \ Ðexisting€Czech€legislation,€the€State€party€claims€that€the€author€could€have,€on€the€basis€ofÐ òB Ðthe€direct€applicability€of€the€Covenant€in€Czech€legislation,€brought€action€before€the€CzechÐ Ø( Ðcourts.€Moreover,€the€State€party€denies€that€the€author's€rights€were€ever€violated€andÐ ¾ Ðconsequently€the€alleged€violations€cannot€continue€at€present€either.€Ð ¤ô ÐÌ4.7€In€conclusion,€the€State€party€requests€the€Committee€to€declare€the€communicationÐ p!À  Ðinadmissible€on€the€grounds€that€the€author€has€failed€to€exhaust€domestic€remedies,€and€onÐ V"¦! Ðthe€ground€that€the€alleged€violations€occurred€before€the€entry€into€force€of€the€CovenantÐ <#Œ" Ðand€the€Optional€Protocol€thereto.€Ð "$r# ÐÌòòAuthor's€commentsóó€Ð î%>!% ÐÌ5.1€In€his€comments€on€the€State€party's€submission,€counsel€recalls€that€it€is€not€the€author'sÐ º' #' Ðfault€that€he€is€no€longer€a€Czech€citizen€nor€has€residence€in€the€Czech€Republic€becauseÐ  (ð#( Ðhe€was€stripped€of€his€citizenship€and€he€was€expelled€by€the€State€party.€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ5.2€Counsel€argues€that€the€State€party€is€likewise€Ô_ÔestoppedÔ_Ô€from€claiming€that€the€authorÐ R+¢&+ Ðor€his€family€could€have€regained€his€citizenship€pursuant€to€an€application.€Counsel€recallsÐ 8,ˆ', Ðthat€at€the€time€the€author€and€his€family€were€threatened€with€immediate€expulsion€by€theÐ -n(- ÐState€party€which€had€also€confiscated€all€of€their€property,€as€a€result€of€which€they€wereÐ ° Ðtotally€destitute.€As€a€consequence,€the€remedies€existing€in€1945€were€in€practice€notÐ –æ Ðavailable€to€the€author€and€his€family,€nor€to€most€Germans.€Counsel€submits€that€if€the€StateÐ |Ì Ðparty€contends€that€persons€in€the€situation€of€the€author€could€have€availed€themselves€ofÐ b² Ðeffective€domestic€remedies,€it€should€provide€examples€of€those€who€did€so€successfully.€Ð H˜ ÐÌ5.3€The€author€points€out€that€at€the€time€of€the€expulsion€of€his€family,€they€were€treatedÐ  d Ðas€total€outlaws.€Thousands€of€Germans€were€detained€in€camps.€According€to€the€author,Ð ú J Ðnot€only€was€a€complaint€to€the€Czech€authorities€futile,€but€in€many€cases€when€people€didÐ à 0 Ðcomplain,€they€were€subjected€to€physical€abuse.€Ð Æ   ÐÌ5.4€The€author€acknowledges€that€the€Covenant€entered€into€force€for€Czechoslovakia€onlyÐ ’â  Ðin€1976.€However,€he€contends€that€the€restitution€legislation€of€1991€is€discriminatory,Ð xÈ  Ðbecause€it€excludes€restitution€for€the€German€minority.€Furthermore,€he€argues€that€theÐ ^®  ÐConstitutional€Court's€decision€of€8€March€1995,€which€confirmed€the€continuing€validityÐ D”  Ðof€the€Ô_ÔBenesÔ_Ô€Decrees,€is€a€confirmation€of€a€past€violation€and€thus€brings€theÐ *z  Ðcommunication€within€the€applicability€of€the€Covenant€and€the€Optional€Protocol.€CounselÐ ` Ðrefers€to€the€Committee's€Views€in€case€No.€516/1992€(Ô_ÔSimunekÔ_Ô€v.€Czech€Republic),€whereÐ öF Ðthe€Committee€held€that€confiscations€that€occurred€in€the€period€prior€to€the€entry€into€forceÐ Ü, Ðof€the€Covenant€and€Optional€Protocol€may€nevertheless€be€the€subject€of€a€communicationÐ Â Ðbefore€the€Committee€if€the€effects€of€the€confiscations€have€continued€or€if€the€legislationÐ ¨ø Ðintended€to€remedy€the€confiscations€is€discriminatory.€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌ5.5€With€regard€to€the€Constitutional€Court's€statement€that€decree€No.€108/1945€no€longerÐ Zª Ðhad€a€constitutive€character,€the€author€submits€that€this€is€a€statement€of€fact,€since€theÐ @ Ðconfiscations€had€been€completed€and€the€Germans€had€no€possibility€to€contest€them.€WithÐ &v Ðregard€to€the€State€party's€statement€that€the€Constitutional€Court€has€the€power€to€repealÐ  \ Ðlaws€or€their€provisions€if€they€are€inconsistent€with€the€Constitution€or€with€an€internationalÐ òB Ðhuman€rights€treaty,€counsel€submits€that€the€Constitutional€Court€was€requested€to€repealÐ Ø( Ðthe€Ô_ÔBenesÔ_Ô€decrees€as€being€discriminatory€but€instead€confirmed€their€constitutionality€in€itsÐ ¾ Ðjudgement€of€8€March€1995.€Following€this€judgement,€no€effective€remedy€is€available€toÐ ¤ô Ðthe€author,€as€it€would€be€futile€to€challenge€the€legality€of€the€decrees€again.€Ð Š Ú ÐÌ5.6€With€regard€to€the€State€party's€claim€that€domestic€remedies€are€available€to€the€authorÐ V"¦! Ðat€present,€counsel€requests€the€State€party€to€indicate€precisely,€in€the€circumstances€of€theÐ <#Œ" Ðauthor's€case,€what€procedure€would€be€available€to€him€and€to€give€examples€of€successfulÐ "$r# Ðuse€of€this€procedure€by€others.€In€this€connection,€counsel€refers€to€the€Committee'sÐ %X $ Ðjurisprudence€that€it€is€not€sufficient€for€a€State€party€to€list€the€legislation€in€question,€butÐ î%>!% Ðthat€a€State€party€should€explain€how€an€author€can€avail€himself€of€the€legislation€in€hisÐ Ô&$"& Ðconcrete€situation.€Ð º' #' ÐÌ5.7€Finally,€counsel€argues€that€if€indeed€the€Covenant€is€superior€to€Czech€law,€then€theÐ †)Ö$) ÐState€party€is€under€an€obligation€to€correct€the€discrimination€to€which€the€author€and€hisÐ l*¼%* Ðfamily€were€subjected€in€1945€and€all€the€consequences€emanating€therefrom.€According€toÐ R+¢&+ Ðcounsel,€there€is€no€indication€that€the€State€party€is€prepared€to€do€so.€On€the€contrary,Ð 8,ˆ', Ðcounsel€claims€that€recent€statements€by€high€officials€in€the€State€party's€Government,Ð -n(- Ðannouncing€the€privatization€of€formerly€confiscated€German€property,€show€that€there€isÐ ° Ðno€willingness€on€the€part€of€the€State€party€to€give€any€relief€to€the€author€or€anyone€in€aÐ –æ Ðsimilar€situation.€Ð |Ì ÐÌòòIssues€and€proceedings€before€the€Committeeóó€Ð H˜ ÐÌ6.1€Before€considering€any€claim€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Human€RightsÐ  d ÐCommittee€must,€in€accordance€with€rule€87€of€its€rules€of€procedure,€decide€whether€or€notÐ ú J Ðit€is€admissible€under€the€Optional€Protocol€to€the€Covenant.€Ð à 0 ÐÌ6.2€With€regard€to€the€author's€claim€under€article€12,€paragraph€4,€of€the€Covenant,€theÐ ¬ ü  ÐCommittee€notes€that€the€deprivation€of€his€citizenship€and€his€expulsion€in€1946€were€basedÐ ’â  Ðon€Ô_ÔBenesÔ_Ô'€decree€No.€33.€Although€the€Constitutional€Court€in€the€Czech€Republic€declaredÐ xÈ  ÐÔ_ÔBenesÔ_Ô'€decree€No.€108,€authorizing€the€confiscation€of€properties€belonging€to€ethnicÐ ^®  ÐGermans,€constitutional,€the€Court€was€never€called€upon€to€decide€the€constitutionally€ofÐ D”  Ðdecree€No.€33.€The€Committee€also€notes€that,€following€the€Court's€judgment€of€8€MarchÐ *z  Ð1995,€the€Ô_ÔBenesÔ_Ô'€decrees€have€lost€their€constitutional€status.€The€compatibility€of€decree€No.Ð ` Ð33€with€higher€laws,€including€the€Covenant€which€has€been€incorporated€in€Czech€nationalÐ öF Ðlaw,€can€thus€be€challenged€before€the€courts€in€the€Czech€Republic.€The€CommitteeÐ Ü, Ðconsiders€that€under€article€5,€paragraph€2€(b),€of€the€Optional€Protocol,€the€author€shouldÐ Â Ðbring€his€claim€first€before€the€domestic€courts€before€the€Committee€is€in€a€position€toÐ ¨ø Ðexamine€his€communication.€This€claim€is€thus€inadmissible€for€non„exhaustion€of€domesticÐ ŽÞ Ðremedies.€Ð tÄ ÐÌ6.3€The€Committee€likewise€considers€that€the€author€has€failed€to€substantiate,€for€purposesÐ @ Ðof€admissibility,€his€claim€under€article€27€of€the€Covenant.€This€part€of€the€communicationÐ &v Ðis€thus€inadmissible€under€article€2€of€the€Optional€Protocol.€Ð  \ ÐÌ6.4€The€author€has€further€claimed€violations€of€articles€14€and€26,€because,€whereas€a€lawÐ Ø( Ðhas€been€enacted€to€provide€compensation€to€Czech€citizens€for€properties€confiscated€in€theÐ ¾ Ðperiod€from€1948€to€1989,€no€compensation€law€has€been€enacted€for€ethnic€Germans€forÐ ¤ô Ðproperties€confiscated€in€1945€and€1946€following€the€Ô_ÔBenesÔ_Ô€decrees.€Ð Š Ú ÐÌ6.5€The€Committee€has€consistently€held€that€not€every€distinction€or€differentiation€inÐ V"¦! Ðtreatment€amounts€to€discrimination€within€the€meaning€of€articles€2€and€26.€The€CommitteeÐ <#Œ" Ðconsiders€that€in€the€present€case,€legislation€adopted€after€the€fall€of€the€Communist€regimeÐ "$r# Ðin€Czechoslovakia€to€compensate€victims€of€that€regime€does€not€appear€to€be€òòprima€facieóóÐ %X $ Ðdiscriminatory€within€the€meaning€of€article€26€merely€because,€as€the€author€contends,€itÐ î%>!% Ðdoes€not€compensate€the€victims€of€injustices€committed€in€the€period€before€the€communistÐ Ô&$"& Ðregimeòò€2óó.€The€Committee€considers€that€the€author€has€failed€to€substantiate,€for€purposes€ofÐ º' #' Ðadmissibility,€his€claim€that€he€is€a€victim€of€violations€of€articles€14€and€26€in€this€regard.Ð  (ð#( ÐThis€part€of€the€communication€is€thus€inadmissible€under€article€2€of€the€Optional€Protocol.€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ7.€The€Human€Rights€Committee€therefore€decides:€Ð R+¢&+ ÐÌ(a)€that€the€communication€is€inadmissible;€Ð -n(- Ї(b)€that€this€decision€shall€be€communicated€to€the€State€party€and€to€the€author.€Ð ° ÐÌÌ___________€Ð b² ÐÌ*The€following€members€of€the€Committee€participated€in€the€examination€of€theÐ . ~ Ðcommunication:€Mr.€Ô_ÔPrafullachandraÔ_Ô€N.€Ô_ÔBhagwatiÔ_Ô,€Lord€Ô_ÔColvilleÔ_Ô,€Mr.€Ô_ÔOmranÔ_Ô€El€Ô_ÔShafeiÔ_Ô,€Ms.Ð  d ÐElizabeth€Ô_ÔEvattÔ_Ô,€Ms.€Ô_ÔP.GaitanÔ_Ô€de€Ô_ÔPomboÔ_Ô,€Mr.€Ô_ÔEckartÔ_Ô€Klein,€Mr.€David€Ô_ÔKretzmerÔ_Ô,€Mr.Ð ú J ÐÔ_ÔRajsoomerÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔLallahÔ_Ô,€Ms.€Cecilia€Medina€Ô_ÔQuirogaÔ_Ô,€Mr.€J.€Prado€Vallejo,€Mr.€Martin€Ô_ÔScheininÔ_Ô,Ð à 0 ÐMr.€R.€Ô_ÔWieruszewskiÔ_Ô,€and€Mr.€Maxwell€Ô_ÔYaldenÔ_Ô.€Ð Æ   ÐÌ**The€text€of€an€individual€opinion€signed€by€Committee€members€Ô_ÔE.KleinÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔC.MedinaÔ_ÔÐ ’â  ÐÔ_ÔQuirogaÔ_Ô€is€appended€to€the€present€document.€Ð xÈ  ÐÌ1/€€The€Czech€and€Slovak€Federal€Republic€ceased€to€exist€on€31€December€1992.€On€22Ð D”  ÐFebruary€1993,€the€Czech€Republic€notified€its€succession€to€the€Covenant€and€the€OptionalÐ *z  ÐProtocol.Ð ` ÐÌ2/€€See€the€Committee's€decision€declaring€inadmissible€communication€No.€643/1995Ð Ü, Ð(òòÔ_ÔDrobekÔ_Ô€v.€Slovakiaóó),€14€July€1997.Ð Â ÐÌ[Adopted€in€English,€French€and€Spanish,€the€English€text€being€the€original€version.Ð ŽÞ ÐSubsequently€to€be€issued€also€in€Arabic,€Chinese€and€Russian€as€part€of€the€Committee'sÐ tÄ Ðannual€report€to€the€General€Assembly.]€Ð Zª ÐÌÌÓPÓÓ  Óòòò òAppendixó óóóÐ  \ ÐÓ·dÓÓÓÌÌòòIndividual€opinion€by€Committee€membersóó€Ð ¾ ÐòòCecilia€Medina€Ô_ÔQuirogaÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔEckartÔ_Ô€Kleinóó€Ð ¤ô Ð(partly€dissenting)Ð Š Ú ÐÌTo€our€regret€we€cannot€follow€the€Committee's€decision€that€the€communication€is€alsoÐ V"¦! Ðinadmissible€as€far€as€the€author€claims€that€he€is€a€victim€of€a€violation€of€article€26€of€theÐ <#Œ" ÐCovenant,€because€the€Law€No.€87/1991€would€deliberately€discriminate€against€him€forÐ "$r# Ðethnical€reasons€(See€para.€3.4).€For€the€reasons€given€in€our€Individual€Opinion€inÐ %X $ ÐCommunication€No.€643/1995€(òòÔ_ÔDrobekÔ_Ô€v.€Slovakiaóó),€we€think€that€the€Committee€shouldÐ î%>!% Ðhave€declared€the€communication€admissible€in€this€regard.€Ð Ô&$"& ÐÌCecilia€Medina€Ô_ÔQuirogaÔ_Ô€(signed)€Ð  (ð#( ÐÌÔ_ÔEckartÔ_Ô€Klein€(signed)€Ð l*¼%* ÐÓüdÓ