’WPC” ś{Ć}‹fõukŗ­Ąc7#c8štwė·=Ė' ¢jŃK‚—lćˆ’¦ķŖ{ bu§ŗüŠÜą}€s £`ėSöōjćwo8+ĪrRĶ—éĶĖłń!žēqś’~Õ¼&éŃą„I¦öĪņ}2|TöQ›ƒ+­#­ņÓ²–īłUīgV¾Ńé‡{°|ĪŌēXsFXGGÅoø4YŪž(Ŗµ…ļ"s-ä÷ŗĮ€Ū[y¾BFóÄāVu-’GIwR¢/–š0M‚*ū¼‰%Ķ¢Ķ< =pMĮłéƒą/|Ķat³åfmĄŃAŅ‚“Œ]Ń#vĶ—æĢōŁ×ÓZu ÕU掓ƒƒŸńLgš`. ū])Vf•žX{až:Čö¤-“ß0šA• iR”eŲP|™»$@“›qrŒus§øĮœ <€ąĮŌm6ŌÖY£ļ,¤žOD§ōeSĪż"^f{e<°O°DWhĶ¢«Æm<†Œ4Šå§C愅o¤īT3?“b×akōÜ×i”9¦æÕś²”Ø,7źÉøņgjįk껑č?*ĖŁŹ^¼2-:_E݈cA\yQŗd…īoDœĄĖ"Ė4ˆC³%dgßa_ē%‡ó8¦TĆ©ś LČ3‰ ¶#ĮĘUN‡ %Õ 0:ŪNU@^ Wwc4g{ m}#|x˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - StandardČŠššČŠ0(ČhH  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ūœ$””ŌUKUS.,Ō(ČhH  Z‹(Times New Roman ˜z+ Š^O*ź:i œ’U‹’ĄĄĄŻ ƒūœ!ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌÓ  ÓŌ‡X˜ZXXXŌņ ņHUMAN€RIGHTS€COMMITTEEŠ ° ŠĢņņG.€F.€Ō_ŌCroesŌ_Ō€v.€the€NetherlandsóóŠ ą ŠĢCommunication€No.€164/1984€Š pĄ ŠĢ7€November€1988Š P   ŠĢĢADMISSIBILITYŠ  p  Šó óĢĢņņņņSubmitted€by:óó€Ō_ŌGilbertoŌ_Ō€Francois€Ō_ŌCroesŌ_Ō,€deceased,€and€his€heirsŠ š@  ŠĢņņAlleged€victim:óó€G.€F.€Ō_ŌCroesŌ_ŌŠ Š  ŠĢņņState€party€Concerned:óó€The€NetherlandsŠ ° ŠĢņņDate€of€Communication:€óó11€January€1984€(date€of€initial€letter)Š ą ŠóóĢĢņņThe€Human€Rights€Committeeóó,€established€under€article€28€of€the€International€Covenant€on€CivilŠ `° Šand€Political€Rights:Š P  ŠĢņņMeetingóó€on€7€November€1988,Š 0€ ŠĢņņSetting€asideóó,€pursuant€to€rule€93,€paragraph€4,€of€its€provisional€rules€of€procedure,€an€earlierŠ ` Šdecision€on€admissibility,€dated€25€October€1985,Š P ŠĢņņAdoptsóó€the€following:Š ą0 ŠĢĢÓ=ÓÓ  Óņ ņRevised€decision€on€admissibilityó óŠ °"  ŠÓęÓÓÓĢ1.€The€author€of€the€communication€(initial€letter€dated€11€January€1984€and€further€letters€dated€18Š $ą" ŠMay,€8€June€and€27€September€1984)€is€the€late€Ō_ŌGilbertoŌ_Ō€Francois€Ō_ŌCroesŌ_Ō,€a€native€of€the€island€ofŠ €%Š # ŠAruba.€Mr.€Ō_ŌCroesŌ_Ō€was€the€leader€of€the€People's€Electoral€Movement€(Ō_ŌMovementoŌ_Ō€Electoral€Ō_ŌdiŌ_ŌŠ p&Ą!$ ŠPueblo,€Ō_ŌMEPŌ_Ō)€of€Aruba.€When€Aruba€achieved€the€status€of€a€self-governing€country€within€theŠ `'°"% ŠKingdom€of€the€Netherlands,€on€1€January€1986,€the€author€was€elected€a€member€of€the€ParliamentŠ P( #& Šof€Aruba.€On€26€November€1986,€as€a€result€of€an€automobile€accident,€the€author€passed€away.€ByŠ @)$' Šletter€of€29€June€1988€his€heirs€requested€the€Committee€to€continue€examination€of€the€case.€TheyŠ 0*€%( Šare€represented€by€counsel.Š  +p&) ŠĢ2.1€It€is€stated€that€the€author€founded€the€Ō_ŌMEPŌ_Ō€in€1971€and€that€the€party€has€been€proposingŠ -P(+ ŠAruba's€independence€since€1972.€Because€of€his€political€activity€he€was€allegedly€subjected€toŠ š-@), ŠŌ_Ōharassment,€accusations€of€being€radical€and€revolutionary€as€well€as€to€physical€threats€and€attacksŠ ° Šby€various€political€opponents;€he€deposited€complaints€with€the€prosecuting€authorities€for€slanderŠ  š Šand€other€offences,€but€it€is€claimed€that€he€was€denied€reasonable€satisfaction€and€that€theŠ ą Šauthorities€have€condoned€these€violations.Š €Š ŠĢ2.2€In€connection€with€the€preparation€for€the€elections€of€the€Island€Parliament€n€April€1983,€theŠ ` ° ŠMEP,€which€reportedly€had€been€the€majority€party€through€six€elections€(in€the€November€1985Š P   Šelections,€the€MEP€lost€its€majority),€was€denied€permission€to€hold€a€parade,€apparently€on€theŠ @  Šground€that€the€relevant€request€submitted€by€the€MEP€had€disappeared.€The€author€was€allegedlyŠ 0 € Šled€to€believe€by€police€authorities€that€no€obstacle€would€be€laid€if€he€were€to€hold€the€parade,€but,Š  p  Šon€24€April€1983,€an€order€was€given€by€the€police€authorities€to€break€up€the€MEP€parade€and€aŠ `  Špoliceman€shot€the€author€in€the€chest€two€inches€below€the€heart.€He€was€operated€on€andŠ P  Šsubsequently€flown€to€a€hospital€in€Miami,€United€States,€where€he€underwent€a€second€operation.Š š@  ŠIt€is€further€alleged€that€the€policeman€who€did€the€shooting€has€not€been€prosecuted,€although€theŠ ą0  Šauthor€requested€his€prosecution€on€11€June€1983€and€again€on€16€November€1983€in€a€complaintŠ Š  Što€the€Judge€of€First€Instance€in€Aruba.€After€the€judge€rejected€prosecution€on€22€December€1983,Š Ą Šthe€author€directed€a€request€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€the€Netherlands€Antilles,€which,€on€24Š ° ŠFebruary€1984,€declared€the€author's€request€inadmissible.€It€is€thus€claimed€that€domestic€remediesŠ  š Šhave€been€exhausted€with€respect€to€this€allegation,€and€that€"the€duration€of€the€investigation€itselfŠ ą Šhad€taken€much€too€long,€unreasonably€long€in€the€terminology€of€the€Optional€Protocol".Š €Š ŠĢ2.3€The€author€alleged,€particularly,€that€his€right€to€life,€his€right€to€being€treated€equally€and€hisŠ `° Šright€to€see€others€treated€equally€under€the€laws€of€the€Netherlands€Antilles€was€violated€by€theŠ P  Šauthorities€of€the€Netherlands€Antilles€and€of€the€Netherlands.€He€further€alleged€that€the€right€toŠ @ Šself-determination€of€the€Aruban€people€was€threatened€with€gross€violation€by€the€authoritiesŠ 0€ Šconcerned.Š  p ŠĢ3.€In€response€to€a€request€for€further€information,€the€author,€in€a€letter€dated€27€September€1984,Š P Šstated€that€the€alleged€attempt€on€his€life€"was€the€result€of€a€conspiracy,€inspired€to€kill€me€as€aŠ š@ Šleader€of€the€Aruba€independence€movement",€and€gave€details€on€another€shooting€incident€and€onŠ ą0 Šan€alleged€raid€on€his€parents'€home€in€August€1977.Š Š  ŠĢ4.€By€its€decision€of€26€October€1984€the€Human€Rights€Committee€transmitted€the€communicationŠ °"  Šunder€rule€91€of€the€Committee's€provisional€rules€of€procedure€to€the€State€party,€requestingŠ  #š! Šinformation€and€observations€relevant€to€the€question€of€the€admissibility€of€the€communication.Š $ą" ŠĢ5.1€In€its€submission€dated€28€May€1985,€the€State€party€presented€the€facts€as€follows:Š p&Ą!$ ŠĢ"The€complainant,€Mr.€Gilberto€Francois€Croes,€is€the€leader€of€a€political€party€on€the€island€ofŠ P( #& ŠAruba.€Aruba€is€one€of€the€islands€which€together€constitute€the€Netherlands€Antilles.€The€Š @)$' ŠNetherlands€Antilles€is€a€part€of€the€Kingdom€of€the€Netherlands,€consisting€of€two€self-governingŠ 0*€%( Šcountries,€the€Netherlands€and€the€Netherlands€Antilles.Š  +p&) ŠĢ"The€political€party€of€which€Mr.€Croes€is€the€leader€strives€for€an€independent€status€of€Aruba.Š -P(+ ŠŠ š-@), Š"On€24€April€1983,€during€disturbances€surrounding€a€car€parade€on€the€island€of€Aruba,€held€by€Mr.Š ° ŠCroes'€political€party€without€the€required€permission€from€the€authorities,€Mr.€Croes€€was€woundedŠ  š Šby€a€pistol€shot.€He€alleged€that€the€shot€was€deliberately€fired€by€a€policeman.Š ą ŠĢ"On€26€May€1983,€the€Minister€of€Justice€of€the€Netherlands€Antilles€appointed€a€Committee€ofŠ pĄ ŠInquiry€to€investigate€the€actions€and€conduct€of€the€police€during€the€events€that€took€place€on€24Š ` ° ŠApril.€This€investigation€was€concluded€on€8€July€1983.€The€Committee€of€Inquiry€concluded€thatŠ P   Šthe€police€forces€serving€that€day€had€shown€sufficient€self-restraint€and€self-discipline.Š @  ŠĢ"The€Committee€of€Inquiry€purposely€did€not€go€into€the€question€whether€the€shot€that€woundedŠ  p  ŠMr.€Croes€was€in€fact€fired€by€a€policeman,€and€if€so,€whether€the€policeman€could€be€held€guilty€Š `  Šof€this€fact,€in€view€of€the€forthcoming€investigations€by€the€prosecuting€authorities€into€theseŠ P  Šquestions.Š š@  ŠĢ"The€prosecuting€authorities€in€their€investigations€came€to€the€conclusion€that€there€was€no€proofŠ Š  Šof€premeditated€or€deliberate€or€intentional€firing€on€the€part€of€[the€policeman],€and€moreover€thatŠ Ą Šthere€was€even€no€proof€of€guilt€on€the€part€of€[the€policeman]€that€his€gun€fired€the€shot€which€hitŠ ° ŠMr.€Croes.€€For€this€reason€the€case€against€[the€policeman]€was€dropped.Š  š ŠĢ"On€16€November€1983,€Mr.€Croes€filed€a€request€with€the€court€in€first€instance,€requesting€theŠ €Š Šprosecution€of€[the€policeman].€€The€court,€in€a€decision€dated€12€December€1983,€supported€the€Š pĄ ŠPublic€Prosecutor's€Decision€not€to€prosecute€[the€policeman],€and€rejected€the€request€of€Mr.€Croes.Š `° ŠĢ"Mr.€Croes€then,€on€12€January€1984,€filed€a€complaint€with€the€Court€of€Justice€of€the€NetherlandsŠ @ ŠAntilles,€which€was€rejected€on€grounds€of€form."Š 0€ ŠĢ5.2€With€regard€to€the€rights€invoked€by€the€author,€the€State€party€addresses€itself€to€allegedŠ ` Šviolations€of€the€following€rights:Š P ŠĢ"(a)€'His€right€to€life',Š ą0 ŠĢ"(b)€'His€right€to€being€treated€equally',Š Ą! ŠĢ€"(c)€'His€right€to€see€others€treated€equally',Š  #š! ŠĢ"(d)€'The€right€to€self-determination€of€the€Aruban€people',Š €%Š # ŠĢ"(e)€Furthermore€a€complaint€in€a€letter€of€Mr.€Croes'€lawyer€dated€18€May€1984,€'that€the€durationŠ `'°"% Šof€the€investigation€itself€had€taken€much€too€long,€unreasonably€long'.€It€is€unclear€whether€thisŠ P( #& Šcomplaint€refers€to€the€treatment€of€Mr.€Croes€himself€or€the€treatment€of€the€[policeman].€In€theŠ @)$' Šlatter€case,€this€part€of€the€communication€would€in€any€case€be€inadmissible€under€rule€90,Š 0*€%( Šparagraph€1€(b)€of€the€Committee's€Rules."Š  +p&) ŠĢ5.3€With€regard€to€the€question€of€admissibility,€the€State€party€"starts€from€the€assumption€that€Mr.Š -P(+ ŠCroes€can€be€supposed€to€be€invoking€articles€6,€14,€26€and€article€1€of€the€International€CovenantŠ š-@), Šon€Civil€and€Political€Rights.€As€for€his€"right€to€see€others€treated€equally",€the€Government€cannotŠ ° Šfind€an€article€in€the€Covenant€protecting€such€a€right.€€Confronted€with€the€question€whether€theŠ  š ŠGovernment€considers€Mr.€Croes'€communication€to€be€admissible,€the€Government,€to€its€regret,Š ą Šhas€to€reply€in€the€negative,€for€the€following€reasons:Š €Š ŠĢFirstly,€the€communication€indicates€an€abuse€of€the€right€to€present€a€communication,€for€politicalŠ ` ° Šand€propagandistic€motives.€Mr.€Croes€is€the€leader€of€a€political€party€propagating€a€"status€aparte"Š P   Šfor€the€island€of€Aruba.€His€principal€accusation€is€that,€as€a€political€leader,€he€was€discriminatedŠ @  Šagainst€by€the€prosecuting€and€judicial€authorities€of€the€Kingdom€of€the€Netherlands.€A€complaintŠ 0 € Šbased€on€article€26€of€the€Covenant€could€only€be€made€on€the€basis€of€the€allegation€that€either€theŠ  p  Šprosecuting€authorities€or€the€courts€applied€the€laws€to€Mr.€Croes€in€a€discriminatory€way.€ThoughŠ `  ŠMr.€Croes€does€indeed€accuse€the€authorities€of€a€"conspiracy"€against€him,€and€apparently€fears€thatŠ P  Šthis€spirit€of€conspiracy€has€even€reached€the€Judicial€Laboratory€at€Rijswijk€in€the€Netherlands€heŠ š@  Šfails€to€bring€any€concrete€evidence€in€support€of€his€accusations€and€insinuations.Š ą0  ŠĢSecondly,€Mr.€Croes€failed€to€exhaust€the€available€domestic€remedies€with€respect€to€his€complaintsŠ Ą Šunder€the€Covenant.€What€he€did€submit€to€the€national€authorities€were:Š ° ŠĢ(a)€A€protest€against€the€decision€not€to€prosecute€[the€policeman];Š ą ŠĢ(b)€A€protest€against€the€decision€not€to€prosecute€Mr.€Croes€himself€on€charges€of€perjury€andŠ pĄ Šholding€a€car€parade€without€a€permit.Š `° ŠĢHowever,€Mr.€Croes€failed€to€invoke€before€the€national€authorities€any€of€the€Covenant's€rightsŠ @ Šmentioned€above.€Of€these€rights,€at€least€articles€6€and€14€are,€in€accordance€with€article€93€of€theŠ 0€ ŠConstitution,€"self-executing"€in€the€sense€that€they€can€be€invoked€by€individuals€before€theŠ  p Šnational€courts.€In€this€way€the€Constitution€provides€an€important€"available€domestic€remedy"€inŠ ` Šthe€sense€of€article€5,€paragraph€2(b),€of€the€Optional€Protocol.Š P ŠĢThirdly,€Mr.€Croes'€allegation€that€the€investigating€procedures€took€too€long€cannot€be€broughtŠ ą0 Šwithin€the€scope€of€article€14,€paragraph€3€(b),€of€the€Covenant€because€Mr.€Croes€was€not€in€theŠ Š  Šposition€of€a€person€"charged€with€a€criminal€offence"€within€the€meaning€of€that€provision.Š Ą! ŠĢFourthly,€a€complaint€based€on€article€6€of€the€Covenant€appears€to€be€made€as€a€result€of€allegationsŠ  #š! Šthat:Š $ą" ŠĢ(a)€The€shots€which€wounded€Mr.€Croes€were€deliberately€fired€by€a€policeman€in€a€premeditatedŠ p&Ą!$ Šattempt€to€kill€him;Š `'°"% ŠĢ(b)€That€the€prosecuting€and€judicial€authorities€joined€in€efforts€to€cover€up€this€fact€and€to€protectŠ @)$' Š[the€policeman]€from€the€normal€administration€of€justice.Š 0*€%( ŠĢMr.€Croes€fails€to€submit€any€evidence€in€support€of€such€allegations.Š ,`'* ŠĢLastly,€Mr.€Croes€cannot€claim€a€right€to€invoke€article€1€of€the€Covenant€without€submitting€evenŠ š-@), Ša€beginning€of€evidence€to€the€effect€that:Š ° ŠĢ(a)€The€people€of€Aruba€claim€to€be€the€victim€of€a€violation€of€article€1€of€the€Covenant€by€theŠ ą ŠKingdom€of€the€Netherlands;Š €Š ŠĢ(b)€This€people€has€authorized€Mr.€Croes€to€submit€on€its€behalf€a€complaint€under€article€1€of€theŠ ` ° ŠConvenant;Š P   ŠĢ(c)€the€Kingdom€of€the€Netherlands€has€violated€article€1.€In€this€respect€it€is€significant€that€Mr.Š 0 € ŠCroes'€lawyer,€in€paragraph€28€of€his€letter€of€11€January€1984,€does€not€as€yet€allege€an€actualŠ  p  Šviolation€of€article€1,€but€"a€threat"€to€the€right€of€self-determination.€This€raises€the€questionŠ `  Šwhether€a€possible€future€violation€of€a€right€protected€by€the€Covenant€could€be€the€object€of€aŠ P  Šcomplaint€under€the€Optional€Protocol.€The€Government€answers€this€question€in€the€negative.Š š@  ŠĢFor€the€reasons€submitted€in€the€foregoing€paragraphs€the€Government€of€the€Kingdom€of€theŠ Š  ŠNetherlands€submits€that€the€communication€of€Mr.€Gilberto€Francois€Croes€is€inadmissible€underŠ Ą Šrule€90,€paragraphs€1€(b),€1€(c),€1€(d)€and€1€(f)€of€the€Committee's€Rules€of€Procedure."Š ° ŠĢ6.1€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Human€Rights€CommitteeŠ ą Šmust,€in€accordance€with€rule€87€of€its€provisional€rules€of€procedure,€decide€whether€or€not€it€isŠ €Š Šadmissible€under€the€Optional€Protocol€to€the€Covenant.Š pĄ ŠĢ6.2€Article€5,€paragraph€2€(a),€of€the€Optional€Protocol€precludes€the€Committee€from€consideringŠ P  Ša€communication€if€the€same€matter€is€being€examined€under€another€procedure€of€internationalŠ @ Šinvestigation€or€settlement.€There€was€no€indication€hat€the€case€was€under€examination€elsewhere.Š 0€ ŠĢ6.3€Article€5,€paragraph€2€(b),€of€the€Optional€Protocol€precludes€the€Committee€from€consideringŠ ` Ša€communication€unless€domestic€remedies€have€been€exhausted.€In€his€connection€the€CommitteeŠ P Šrecalled€that€in€its€decision€under€rule€91€of€its€provisional€rules€of€procedure€it€requested€the€StateŠ š@ Šparty,€in€case€it€would€contend€that€domestic€remedies€had€not€been€exhausted,€"to€give€details€ofŠ ą0 Šthe€effective€remedies€available€in€the€particular€circumstances€of€this€case".€The€Committee€notedŠ Š  Šthat€in€its€submission€of€28€May€1985€the€State€party€contended€that€the€author€had€failed€to€exhaustŠ Ą! Šdomestic€remedies.€It€mentioned€the€steps€taken€by€Mr.€Croes,€but€did€not€specify€what€effectiveŠ °"  Šlocal€remedies€would€have€been€available€in€the€circumstances€of€this€case,€had€Mr.€CroesŠ  #š! Šspecifically€invoked€articles€6€and€14€of€the€Covenant€in€his€submission€of€complaints€to€the€nationalŠ $ą" Šauthorities.€The€Committee€noted€that€the€steps€taken€by€the€author€to€exhaust€domestic€remediesŠ €%Š # Šended€with€the€rejection€of€his€appeal€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€the€Netherlands€Antilles€on€24Š p&Ą!$ ŠFebruary€1984.€In€the€absence€of€any€clear€indication€from€the€State€party€concerning€other€effectiveŠ `'°"% Šdomestic€remedies€which€he€author€should€have€pursued,€the€Committee€concluded€that€it€was€notŠ P( #& Šprecluded€by€article€5,€paragraph€2€(b),€of€the€Optional€Protocol€from€considering€this€case,€butŠ @)$' Šindicated€that€this€conclusion€could€be€reviewed€in€the€light€of€any€further€information€submitted€byŠ 0*€%( Šthe€State€party€under€article€4,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Optional€Protocol.Š  +p&) ŠĢ6.4€The€Committee€noted€the€State€party's€contention€that€the€communication€indicates€an€abuse€ofŠ -P(+ Šthe€right€of€submission.€However,€the€Committee€found€that€the€grounds€invoked€by€the€State€partyŠ š-@), Šin€this€connection€did€not€appear€to€support€such€a€conclusion.Š ° ŠĢ7.€On€25€October€1985,€the€Human€Rights€Committee€therefore€decided€that€the€communication€wasŠ ą Šadmissible€in€so€far€as€Mr.€Croes€claimed€to€be€personally€affected€by€the€events€which€he€describedŠ €Š Š(as€set€out€in€paras.€2.2,€2.3€and€3€above),€and€in€so€far€as€these€events€could€raise€issues€underŠ pĄ Šarticles€6,€9,€paragraph€1,€first€sentence,€19,€21,€25€and€26€of€the€Covenant.Š ` ° ŠĢ8.1€In€its€submission€under€article€4,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Optional€Protocol,€dated€16€May€1986,€theŠ @  ŠState€party,€elaborating€on€its€submission€of€28€May€1985,€reaffirms€that€the€author€failed€to€exhaustŠ 0 € Šthe€domestic€remedies€that€were€available€to€him.€It€states€that€the€author,€in€his€initial€action€broughtŠ  p  Šagainst€the€State€party,€failed€to€invoke€the€self-executing€provisions€of€the€International€CovenantŠ `  Šon€Civil€and€Political€Rights.€The€State€party's€obligations€under€the€Covenant€were€invoked€for€theŠ P  Šfirst€time€before€the€Human€Rights€Committee.€Furthermore,€he€could€have€initiated€civilŠ š@  Šproceedings€against€the€State€alleging€tort.€The€State€party€submits€that€the€courts€would€have€dealtŠ ą0  Šwith€his€complaints€based€on€the€Covenant€except€his€allegation€of€a€violation€of€the€right€ofŠ Š  Šself-determination€under€article€1.€Had€the€author€acted€as€indicated€above,€he€could€have€exhaustedŠ Ą Šall€domestic€remedies€up€to€and€including€the€highest€judicial€authority€in€the€Kingdom,€the€SupremeŠ ° ŠCourt€(Hoge€Raad),€and€thus€met€the€requirements€of€article€5,€paragraph€2€(b),€of€the€OptionalŠ  š ŠProtocol.Š ą ŠĢ8.2€With€respect€to€the€merits€of€the€communication,€the€State€party€submits€that€there€has€not€beenŠ pĄ Šany€violation€of€the€rights€invoked€by€the€author.€Concerning€article€6,€it€recalls€that€after€dueŠ `° Šinvestigation€the€prosecuting€authorities€in€Aruba€concluded€that€there€was€no€evidence€whatsoeverŠ P  Šof€premeditated€or€intentional€firing€on€the€part€of€the€police€officer,€that€there€was€no€proof€that€theŠ @ Šshot€which€wounded€Mr.€Croes€had€been€fired€from€the€police€officer's€gun,€and€that€for€that€reasonŠ 0€ Šthe€case€against€the€police€officer€was€dismissed.Š  p ŠĢ8.3€Concerning€the€alleged€violation€of€article€9,€paragraph€1,€the€State€party€affirms€that€it€did€notŠ P Šviolate€the€author's€right€to€liberty€and€security€of€person.€It€explains€that€the€police€forces€that€wereŠ š@ Šon€duty€in€Aruba€on€24€April€1983€sought€to€uphold€law€and€order,€to€prevent€disorder€and€to€protectŠ ą0 Šall€people,€including€the€author,€against€any€form€of€bodily€harm.€In€this€context,€the€author€wasŠ Š  Šneither€deprived€of€his€liberty€nor€of€his€security.€The€police€forces€on€duty€on€the€said€day€were€notŠ Ą! Šonly€sufficiently€trained€but€also€displayed€behaviour€which€enabled€them€to€fulfil€their€duties€inŠ °"  Ševery€respect.€Disturbances€resulted€because€the€MEP€held€a€motorcade€without€permission€andŠ  #š! Špartly€because€of€the€behaviour€of€MEP€supporters.Š $ą" ŠĢ8.4€With€respect€to€articles€19,€21€and€25€of€the€Covenant,€the€State€party€rejects€the€allegations€putŠ p&Ą!$ Šforth€by€the€author.€It€points€out€that€Mr.€Croes€exercised€all€his€democratic€rights€to€expressŠ `'°"% Špolitical€views,€to€found€a€political€party€and€to€be€elected€to€the€Parliament€of€the€NetherlandsŠ P( #& ŠAntilles.€No€violation€of€article€19€can€thus€be€said€to€have€taken€place.€In€respect€of€article€21,€theŠ @)$' ŠState€party€points€out€that€under€the€laws€of€the€Netherlands€Antilles€and€Aruba,€anyone€who€wishesŠ 0*€%( Što€organize€a€manifestation€on€public€roads€must€seek€and€obtain€permission€from€the€competentŠ  +p&) Šauthorities.€ņņaóó/€In€the€present€case,€the€request€for€authorization€to€hold€a€motorcade€filed€by€theŠ ,`'* Šauthor's€party€did€not€reach€the€authorities,€which€is€why€permission€to€hold€a€parade€was€given€toŠ -P(+ Šanother€political€party.€The€author's€party€was,€however,€granted€permission€hold€a€demonstration.Š š-@), ŠIn€the€interest€of€public€order,€the€police€broke€up€the€motorcade€which€was€held€after€theŠ ° Šdemonstration.€The€State€party€submits€that€the€regulations€in€question€are€compatible€with€articleŠ  š Š21,€since€the€requirement€of€prior€permission€to€hold€public€demonstrations€is€a€restriction€made€inŠ ą Šconformity€with€the€law€and€necessary€in€the€interest€of€public€order.€Concerning€article€2€the€StateŠ €Š Šparty€summarizes€the€electoral€system€in€force€in€the€Netherlands€Antilles€and€Aruba€at€the€sameŠ pĄ Štime€of€the€submission€of€the€complaint,€and€emphasizes€that€the€author's€rights€and€the€rights€of€hisŠ ` ° Šparty€under€that€article€were€in€no€way€restricted.Š P   ŠĢ8.5€Finally,€with€respect€to€the€alleged€violation€of€article€26,€the€State€part€refers€to€the€decision€ofŠ 0 € Šthe€Court€of€Justice€of€the€Netherlands€Antilles€of€24€February€1984€and€argues€that€the€Court'sŠ  p  Šconsiderations€do€not€reveal€that€Mr.€Croes€was€discriminated€against.Š `  ŠĢ9.1€Commenting€on€the€State€party's€submission,€the€author's€heirs,€in€a€submission€dated€29€JuneŠ š@  Š1988,€maintain€that€their€father's€initial€allegations€are€well€founded€and€that€he€did€indeed€exhaustŠ ą0  Šall€the€domestic€remedies€available€to€him.€In€particular,€they€claim€that€the€State€party's€argumentŠ Š  Šthat€the€author€should€have€initiated€civil€proceedings€against€the€Netherlands€does€not€address€hisŠ Ą Šconcerns,€since€monetary€compensation€cannot€do€away€with€the€human€rights€violations€of€whichŠ ° Šthe€author€was€a€victim,€and€which€in€their€opinion€still€warrant€criminal€prosecution.€Furthermore,Š  š Šthey€claim€that€Mr.€Croes€did€not€have€to€invoke€international€treaty€norms€and€obligations€of€theŠ ą ŠState€party,€since€the€courts€should€have€applied€them€ex€officio.€They€claim€in€that€context€that€theŠ €Š Šauthor,€in€his€memorandum€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€the€Netherlands€dated€10€January€1984,€did€inŠ pĄ Šfact€invoke€the€Covenant.Š `° ŠĢ9.2€With€respect€to€the€alleged€violation€of€articles€6€and€9,€paragraph€1,€the€author's€heirs€reiterateŠ @ Šthat€the€shot€fired€by€[name€deleted]€which€wounded€the€author€was€part€of€a€premeditated€plotŠ 0€ Šagainst€the€author's€life.€They€affirm€that€the€"heavily€armed€police€corps"€intended€to€"victimize"Š  p Šthe€unarmed€MEP€loyalists,€to€cause€Aruban€citizens€to€turn€against€Aruban€citizens,€which€in€turnŠ ` Šwould€provide€a€pretext€to€postpone€the€elections€scheduled€by€the€Government€of€the€NetherlandsŠ P ŠAntilles.€They€deny€that€MEP€supporters€acted€in€any€way€that€could€be€construed€as€aggressiveŠ š@ Šduring€the€motorcade€and€affirm€that€the€parade€was€held€following€discussions€with€the€highestŠ ą0 Špolice€officer€on€duty€on€24€April€1983.Š Š  ŠĢ9.3€With€respect€to€the€alleged€violations€of€articles€19€and€21,€the€author's€heirs€claim€that€the€StateŠ °"  Šparty's€argumentation€reflects€an€exceedingly€narrow€interpretation€of€the€scope€of€these€articles.Š  #š! ŠThey€take€issue€with€the€State€party's€submissions€concerning€article€21€(see€para.€8.4€above)€andŠ $ą" Šreiterate€that€the€motorcade€was€broken€up€only€after€it€had€proceeded€for€several€hours€and€coveredŠ €%Š # Šapproximately€20€miles,€and€that€there€was€no€danger€of€crossing€the€motorcade€of€a€rival€politicalŠ p&Ą!$ Šparty.€Thus€there€was€no€basis€for€prohibiting€and/or€breaking€up€the€parade.Š `'°"% ŠĢ9.4€Concerning€an€alleged€violation€of€article€25,€the€author's€heirs€challenge€without€furtherŠ @)$' Šsubstantiation€the€State€party's€claim€that€the€rights€of€the€author€and€of€his€party€were€in€no€wayŠ 0*€%( Šrestricted.€In€respect€of€article€26,€finally,€they€maintain€that,€under€the€pretext€of€justice,€the€authorŠ  +p&) Šdid€suffer€from€discrimination€because€of€the€inadequate€investigation€of€the€shooting€incident€andŠ ,`'* Šthe€authorities'€effort€to€hold€back€evidence.€In€other€words,€the€discrimination€is€said€to€haveŠ -P(+ Šconsisted€in€the€authorities'€attempt€to€"cover€up"€the€case€of€the€police€Ō_Ōofficer.Š š-@), Ї10.€Pursuant€to€rule€93,€paragraph€4,€of€its€provisional€rules€of€procedure€and€in€accordance€with€itsŠ ° Šdecision€of€25€October€1985,€the€Human€Rights€Committee€has€reviewed€its€decision€onŠ  š Šadmissibility€of€25€October€1985.€On€the€basis€of€the€additional€information€provided€by€the€StateŠ ą Šparty€in€its€submission€of€16€May€1986,€the€Committee€concludes€that€there€would€have€beenŠ €Š Šeffective€remedies€available€to€the€author€both€with€respect€to€the€shooting€incident€and€the€break-upŠ pĄ Šof€the€motorcade.€The€Committee€has€stressed€on€previous€occasions€that€remedies,€the€availabilityŠ ` ° Šof€which€is€not€evident,€cannot€be€invoked€by€the€State€party€to€the€detriment€of€the€author€inŠ P   Šproceedings€under€the€Optional€Protocol€(Communication€No.€113/1981,€decision€of€12€April€1985,Š @  Špara.€10.1).€In€this€case,€however,€the€Committee€comes€to€the€conclusion€that€remedies€wereŠ 0 € Ševident.€It€would€have€been€open€to€Mr.€Ō_ŌCroesŌ_Ō€to€institute€civil€proceedings€against€the€State€partyŠ  p  Šand€to€claim€compensation€for€the€damages€suffered€as€a€result€of€the€alleged€failure€of€the€StateŠ `  Šparty€to€fulfil€its€obligations€under€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights.€It€is€trueŠ P  Šthat€he€claimed€that€this€type€of€recourse€would€not€address€his€concerns.€In€this€context,€theŠ š@  ŠCommittee€observes€that€although€States€parties€are€obliged€to€investigate€in€good€faith€allegationsŠ ą0  Šof€human€rights€violations,€criminal€proceedings€would€not€be€the€only€available€remedy.Š Š  ŠAccordingly,€the€Committee€cannot€accept€the€argument€of€the€author€and€his€heirs€that€proceedingsŠ Ą Šbefore€the€Aruban€courts,€other€than€those€leading€to€the€criminal€prosecution€of€the€policeman,€doŠ ° Šnot€constitute€effective€remedies€within€the€meaning€of€article€5,€paragraph€2€(b),€of€the€OptionalŠ  š ŠProtocol.€The€Committee€adds€that€the€authors'€complaint€could€be€directed,€in€all€of€its€aspects,Š ą Šagainst€the€Aruban€authorities€in€general€and€that€he€and€his€heir€have€failed€to€pursue€all€avenuesŠ €Š Šof€judicial€recourse€open€to€them.Š pĄ ŠĢ11.€€The€Human€Rights€Committee€therefore€decides€that:Š P  ŠĢ(a)€The€decision€of€25€October€1985€is€set€aside;Š 0€ ŠĢ(b)€The€communication€is€inadmissible;Š ` ŠĢ(c)€This€decision€shall€be€communicated€to€the€heirs€of€Ō_ŌGilbertoŌ_Ō€Francois€Ō_ŌCroesŌ_Ō€and€to€the€StateŠ š@ Šparty.Š ą0 ŠĢĢņņNotesóóŠ °"  ŠĢŌ_Ōņņaóó/Ō_Ō€Article€32€of€the€General€Police€Regulations€for€Aruba.€€The€State€party,€in€an€annex€to€itsŠ $ą" Šsubmission,€provides€excerpts€of€these€Ō_Ōregulations.Ō_ŌŠ €%Š # ŠŌ#†X˜ZXXX˜ZI#ŌÓ>Ó