’WPC[ › 2A.6°ĘĒtĶ€ūJķ#/Ēå•:S“n8JdY¤5ę÷@ż‰²€½²ąt>rD?lĄšJ"vŹ„`]Nåę žķwē~xÓŗÜŁƒH„ĀGš ńOŪqµ›J u‰ŪŚŽNĻÓaäZz,*Ē4zbµ„ys‚Z­yJUÉ倅8ÜŁ0ļsšÆMJjŠmߏ“f“×+ĆbŸiķ&»EĻc¢L¾üsįk ˆ6Ŗ:”®‘J >;œ“ņSĶK iŹAmۓĜ^čSUJ$ĢĢ—×ė‰ šŗU–—zNÖčķ&žßžĻŃuR8eÉV2‡©3p,Ł2”!ĖfšÆaéŖ1NĽĢ:ĆV¤½ś¹°'xWĖĖ%•HI>hI…Ϥćū§Ā3źˆ\·!TØS=ŁŹ“¦“œX½ÄĻł~Ņ×éz¾¦ķč"²•FätUD;øY%k'Ģdk4^Æ“ōn×ÜV$jQ|črqĒ‹ņ®œ)ŲDķŽĶžx^}C•'H”Łå+ ł‘Š·l1Ļy;ņś„utžœœ÷™,d€ /3^y*ŅīµŠpĖ ZøNŚ•ŲŽ–]ÓoąÆ·ųhi—«õI’\†\Ŗŗphś`w&9÷²q˜o #Į¶UNw %Å 0:Ė^ w4)8 m:QNY˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSČŁŲŁŁŲČŁ0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ūœ$””ŌUKUS.,ŌŌzm, ×~f,üϟ3|x’U‹’ĄĄĄ Ż ƒūœ!ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_Ōņ ņÓ  ÓŌ‡¼t@»XXŌNICARAGUAŌ#†X1~X»¼t@L#ŌŠ ° ŠÓ@ÓĢĢŌ_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō€A/38/40€(1983)ó óŠ •å ŠĢĢÓ  Ó220.€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/14/Add.2€and€3)€submitted€by€theŠ Q ” ŠGovernment€of€Nicaragua€at€its€420ņņthóó,€421ņņstóó,€422ņņndóó,€428ņņthóó€and€429ņņthóó€meetings,€held€on€28€and€29Š : Š ŠMarch€and€on€4€April€1983€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/SR.420,€421,€422,€428€and€429).Š # s ŠĢ221.€€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party,€who€gave€a€detailed€accountŠ õ E  Šof€the€historical€and€geographical€factors€which€had€shaped€the€development€of€Nicaragua€since€theŠ Ž.  Štime€of€the€Spanish€Conquest,€and€stated€that€following€the€triumph€of€the€revolution€in€1979,€hisŠ Ē  ŠGovernment€had€set€national€reconstruction€and€the€liberation€of€man€as€its€main€goals;€that€it€wasŠ °  Šthe€belief€of€the€Government€Junta€that€human€rights€and€individual€liberties€were€indivisible€andŠ ™é  Šthat€the€full€realization€of€civil€and€political€rights€was€impossible€without€the€full€enjoyment€ofŠ ‚Ņ  Šeconomic,€social€and€cultural€rights;€that€the€acts€of€aggression€and€the€repeated€attempts€toŠ k» Šdestabilize€the€country,€which€were€financed€by€the€United€States€Government,€impeded€efforts€toŠ T¤ Šachieve€the€goals€set€by€the€Government,€constituted€the€main€obstacle€to€the€free€exercise€of€humanŠ = Šrights€in€the€country€and€obliged€the€Government€to€declare€a€state€of€national€emergency,€asŠ &v Šprovided€for€in€the€Statute€on€the€Rights€and€Guarantees€of€Nicaraguans€and€in€article€4€of€theŠ _ ŠCovenant,€in€order€to€safeguard€the€rights€and€guarantees€of€its€people€and€the€countryššs€self„Š ųH Šdefence.Š į1 ŠĢ222.€€He€also€pointed€out€that€his€Government€recognized€the€existence€of€Ō_ŌsocioŌ_Ō„economic€andŠ ³ Šcultural€discrepancies€between€the€population€of€the€Pacific€region€and€the€ethnic€groups€of€theŠ œģ ŠAtlantic€coast€and€was€endeavouring€to€serve€the€interests€of€the€disadvantaged€population€of€theŠ …Õ Šlatter€region;€that,€in€January€1981,€the€Government€had€been€forced€to€transfer€39€primarily€Ō_ŌMiskitoŌ_ŌŠ n¾ Šcommunities€to€an€area€where€they€would€be€protected€from€the€immediate€danger€of€militaryŠ W§ Šaggression€and€that€the€Government€had€been€helping€people€in€the€new€settlements€to€meet€theirŠ @ Šmost€urgent€needs€in€various€fields€of€life.€€His€Government€assured€the€Committee€that€it€wouldŠ ) y Šend€or€restrict€the€state€of€emergency€as€soon€as€the€problem€of€external€aggression€was€resolved.Š !b ŠĢ223.€€Members€of€the€Committee€praised€the€Government€of€Nicaragua€for€sending€a€high€levelŠ ä"4! Šdelegation€to€represent€it€before€the€Committee€and€for€submitting,€in€time,€a€full€report€thatŠ Ķ#" Šprovided€a€comprehensive€and€informative€picture€of€both€the€legal€and€factual€economic,€social€andŠ ¶$ # Špolitical€context€of€human€rights€in€the€country.€They€noted€with€appreciation€that€soon€afterŠ Ÿ%ļ $ Šoverthrowing€the€dictatorship,€the€Sandinista€revolution€had€enacted€the€Statute€on€the€Rights€andŠ ˆ&Ų!% ŠGuarantees€of€Nicaraguans,€ratified€or€acceded€to€several€instruments€designed€to€ensure€and€protectŠ q'Į"& Šhuman€rights,€including€the€Covenant€and€the€Optional€Protocol€and€had€shown€great€willingnessŠ Z(Ŗ#' Šand€determination€in€fulfilling€its€commitments€for€the€overall€reconstruction€of€the€county€on€theŠ C)“$( Šbasis€of€social€justice€and€democracy,€despite€the€great€external€economic€and€military€pressures€andŠ ,*|%) Šthreats€aimed€at€destabilizing€the€Government€and€undermining€its€achievement.€€In€this€connection,Š +e&* Šit€was€pointed€out€that€the€impact€of€Ō_ŌdestablizationŌ_Ō€on€the€enjoyment€of€human€rights€was€bound€toŠ ž+N'+ Šbe€negative,€resulting€as€it€had€in€the€declaration€of€a€state€of€emergency€in€Nicaragua;€that€it€wasŠ ē,7(, Šthe€right€of€every€people€to€manage€its€internal€affairs€without€external€interference;€that€theŠ Š- )- ŠŌ_Ōcontinuing€outside€interference€in€Nicaraguaššs€affairs€violated€that€right;€that€international€law€didŠ ° Šnot€recognize€spheres€of€influence€and€that€its€strict€observance€was€fundamental€to€the€internalŠ ™é Šorder€of€countries.€€It€was€obvious€that€it€could€only€be€imagined€what€favourable€results€could€haveŠ ‚Ņ Šbeen€achieved€if€Nicaragua€would€not€have€been€forced€to€protect€itself€against€subversiveŠ k» Šoperations€financed€and€organized€from€abroad.Š T¤ ŠĢ224.€€Noting€that€although€Nicaragua€was€party€to€the€Optional€Protocol,€no€communications€hadŠ & v Šbeen€submitted€to€the€Committee,€one€member€hoped€to€receive€an€assurance€that€the€GovernmentŠ  _ Šwould€co„operate€with€the€Committee€in€dealing€with€communications€as€conscientiously€as€itŠ ų H Šcarried€out€its€reporting€obligations€under€article€40€of€the€Covenant.€€In€that€connection,€it€wasŠ į 1  Šasked€what€measures€had€been€taken€by€the€Government€to€make€judicial€and€law€enforcementŠ Ź   Šofficers€aware€of€the€content€of€the€Covenant€and€to€inform€the€population€of€the€ratification€byŠ ³  ŠNicaragua€of€the€International€Covenants€on€Human€Rights€and€the€Optional€Protocol.€€InformationŠ œģ  Šwas€also€requested€on€the€National€Commission€for€the€Promotion€and€the€Protection€of€HumanŠ …Õ  ŠRights,€its€specific€functions,€competence€and€activities€and€on€any€independent€human€rightsŠ n¾  Šcommissions€that€were€active€in€the€country,€such€a€the€Permanent€Commission€on€Human€Rights.Š W§  ŠĢ225.€€In€relation€to€article€1€of€the€Covenant,€members€requested€information€on€the€position€ofŠ )y ŠNicaragua€regarding€the€right€of€peoples€to€self„determination€and€asked€why€the€Government€hadŠ b Šfound€it€necessary€to€derogate€from€this€article€during€the€state€of€emergency€and€whether€there€wasŠ ūK Ša€basis€for€thinking€that€the€decision€to€derogate€from€the€right€to€self„determination€had€been€takenŠ ä4 Šwith€particular€persons€or€groups€of€persons€in€mind.€€Information€was€also€requested€on€whetherŠ Ķ Šthere€were€foreign€companies€still€exploiting€Nicaraguaššs€resources;€on€the€legal€consequences;€onŠ ¶ Šthe€implementation€of€the€Covenant€of€some€of€the€trials€which€had€taken€place,€in€particularŠ Ÿļ Šfollowing€the€nationalization€that€had€been€carried€out,€the€agrarian€reform€and€the€creation€of€aŠ ˆŲ Šmixed€economy€in€the€country.Š qĮ ŠĢ226.€€As€regards€article€2€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€asked€whether€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€hadŠ C“ Šbeen€incorporated€into€the€Nicaraguan€legal€system;€whether€the€Covenant€could€be€directly€invokedŠ ,| Šin€the€courts;€what€the€exact€meaning€was€of€the€provision€referred€to€in€the€report€that€the€š šfullŠ e Šapplicabilityšš€of€human€rights€was€guaranteed€and€what€measures€had€been€taken€to€give€it€legalŠ žN Šeffect€and€also€to€ensure€respect€of€human€rights.€€Information€was€also€sought€on€the€remediesŠ ē 7 Šavailable,€under€those€circumstances,€to€all€those€who€believed€that€their€rights€under€the€CovenantŠ Š!   Šhad€been€violated;€and€on€the€general€provisions€with€regard€to€ņņŌ_ŌamparoŌ_Ōóó,€whether€that€remedy€wasŠ ¹" ! Šavailable€during€periods€of€emergency€and€what€the€competent€authority€was€in€that€respect.€€NotingŠ ¢#ņ" Šthat€there€existed€in€Nicaragua€a€strong€concentration€of€executive€and€legislative€powers€in€theŠ ‹$Ū# Šhands€of€the€Government€and€that€the€Sandinista€Police€enjoyed€š šjurisdictional€powersšš,€membersŠ t%Ä $ Šasked€what€the€highest€authority€of€Nicaragua€was;€which€laws€could€be€passed€independently€byŠ ]&­!% Šthe€Junta€and€what€happened€if€the€Junta€did€not€accept€bills€submitted€to€it€by€the€Council€of€State;Š F'–"& Šwhether€the€judiciary€could€decide€that€a€decree€was€illegal€and€whether€the€Junta€could€overrideŠ /(#' Šthe€objections€of€the€judiciary.Š )h$( ŠĢ227.€€In€respect€of€article€3€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€asked€how€the€principle€of€equality€between€menŠ ź*:&* Šand€women€was€put€into€practice;€how€many€women€had€positions€in€the€Government,€in€theŠ Ó+#'+ ŠCouncil€of€State,€in€the€judiciary€and€in€the€diplomatic€service€and€what€measures€the€GovernmentŠ ¼, (, Šhad€taken€to€increase€awareness€among€women€of€their€rights.€€Information€was€also€requested€onŠ „-õ(- Šthe€integration€of€women€in€development€activities€and€technical€co„operation€as€both€participantsŠ ° Šand€beneficiaries€on€equal€terms€with€men.Š ™é ŠĢ228.€€Members€noted€with€appreciation€that,€in€proclaiming€a€public€emergency,€the€GovernmentŠ k» Šof€Nicaragua€had€complied€with€the€requirements€of€article€4€of€the€Covenant,€provided€assurancesŠ T¤ Šthat€the€measures€had€been€implemented€š šwith€extreme€cautionšš€in€an€attempt€to€restrict€theŠ =  Šfundamental€rights€of€Nicaraguans€as€little€as€possible€and€to€guarantee€their€freedoms.€€While€oneŠ & v Šmember€stressed€that€the€Government€had€thereby€fulfilled€its€obligations€under€article€4€of€theŠ  _ ŠCovenant€and€did€not€have€to€account€for€its€decision€to€the€Committee,€another€member€stated€that,Š ų H Šin€submitting€additional€information€on€the€subject€without€being€requested€to€do€so,€thatŠ į 1  ŠGovernment€seemed€to€agree€that€when€a€State€party€invoked€its€rights€under€article€4€of€theŠ Ź   ŠCovenant€to€derogate€from€certain€provisions,€its€reporting€obligations€under€article€40€of€theŠ ³  ŠCovenant€were€not€suspended.€€Members€asked€for€more€information€on€the€actual€difficultiesŠ œģ  Šencountered€by€the€Government€in€implementing€the€Covenant€in€view€of€the€state€of€emergencyŠ …Õ  Šand€on€the€extent€of€the€derogations€in€respect€of€each€of€the€articles€affected;€whether€it€could€beŠ n¾  Šassumed€that€the€implementation€of€articles€26€and€27€of€the€Covenant€had€been€suspended€and,€ifŠ W§  Šso,€what€reasons€had€led€the€Government€to€take€that€decision;€to€what€extent€the€rights€which€hadŠ @ Šnot€been€suspended€as€well€as€those€which€could€not€be€suspended€according€to€article€4,€paragraphŠ )y Š2,€particularly€the€right€to€life,€were€themselves€endangered€by€the€circumstances€which€had€led€theŠ b ŠGovernment€to€take€the€emergency€measures;€which€articles€of€the€Covenant€Nicaragua€had€mostŠ ūK Šdifficulty€in€implementing€and€why€and€what€the€Committee€could€do€to€assist€Nicaragua€to€protectŠ ä4 Šhuman€rights€in€its€territory€under€those€circumstances.€€In€this€connection,€it€was€suggested€that€theŠ Ķ ŠCommittee€should€consider€adopting€a€general€comment€regarding€the€difficulties€facing€StateŠ ¶ Šparties€in€the€implementation€of€the€Covenant€because€of€external€economic€and€military€pressureŠ Ÿļ Šand€interference.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ229.€€Commenting€on€article€6€of€the€Covenant,€members€expressed€their€satisfaction€at€the€abolitionŠ ZŖ Šof€the€death€penalty€in€Nicaragua.€€They€noted€that€deaths€had€nevertheless€occurred€and€that€theyŠ C“ Šwere€attributed€to€Government€forces€and€they€asked€whether€the€Government€had€initiated€inquiriesŠ ,| Šon€those€cases€and€what€the€results€were;€what€steps€it€had€taken€to€protect€those€who€might€beŠ e Švulnerable€to€such€abuse€by€the€authorities€or€to€attack€by€counter„revolutionaries€and€whatŠ žN Šmeasures€had€been€adopted€to€train€the€police€and€security€forces€with€a€view€to€minimizing€suchŠ ē 7 Šrisks.€€Information€was€also€requested€on€any€involuntary€disappearances€that€may€have€taken€placeŠ Š!   Šin€the€country€and€on€the€events€which€had€occurred€at€Leymus€in€December€1981€which€had€ledŠ ¹" ! Što€the€death€of€Ō_ŌMiskitoŌ_Ō€Indians.Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢ230.€€With€reference€to€articles€7,€8€and€10€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€asked€whether€penalties€wereŠ t%Ä $ Šmade€proportionate€to€offences€and€what€the€maximum€period€was€for€putting€an€individual€onŠ ]&­!% Šparole;€what€the€Governmentššs€position€was€in€respect€of€forced€labour;€what€procedures€there€wereŠ F'–"& Šfor€supervising€places€of€detention€and€for€receiving€and€investigating€complaints€filed€by€detainees;Š /(#' Šwhat€remedies€were€available€to€deal€with€violations€of€those€articles€of€the€Covenant;€what€theŠ )h$( Šconditions€were€at€the€special€detention€centres€for€former€members€of€the€National€Guard€and€whatŠ *Q%) Šthe€legal€status€was€for€counter„revolutionary€prisoners€in€general€and,€in€particular,€whether€theyŠ ź*:&* Šwere€considered€to€be€political€prisoners€and,€if€so,€how€many€they€were,€whether€their€families€andŠ Ó+#'+ Šlawyers€had€access€to€them€and€in€what€way€their€treatment€differed€from€š šordinary€prisonersššŠ ¼, (, Šreferred€to€in€the€report.€€It€was€also€asked€whether€those€who,€after€the€revolution,€abused€theirŠ „-õ(- Špowers€and€took€the€law€into€their€own€hands€had€been€prosecuted;€whether€the€Government€hadŠ ° Štaken€measures€to€institute€an€inquiry€following€the€events€which€had€taken€place€at€Puerto€Ō_ŌCabezasŌ_ŌŠ ™é Šand€whether€the€relocation€of€Ō_ŌMiskitoŌ_Ō€prisoners€had€been€intended€as€a€penalty€or€a€rehabilitativeŠ ‚Ņ Šmeasure€and€what€safeguards€were€applicable€to€those€prisoners€in€the€areas€to€which€they€had€beenŠ k» Štransferred.Š T¤ ŠĢ231.€€As€regards€article€9€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€asked€whether€the€Maintenance€of€Order€andŠ & v ŠPublic€Security€Act€was€still€in€force€or€whether€its€application€had€been€suspended€during€the€stateŠ  _ Šof€emergency;€what€measures€had€been€taken€to€avoid€harassment€of€certain€individuals€orŠ ų H Šarbitrarily€depriving€them€of€their€liberty;€how€long€a€person€could€be€detained€without€trial€or€heldŠ į 1  Šincommunicado€and€whether€the€situation€was€different€during€the€state€of€emergency;€to€whatŠ Ź   Šextent€the€right€of€ņņhabeas€corpusóó€had€been€suspended€during€the€state€of€emergency€and€whether€theŠ ³  ŠGovernment€had€used€its€emergency€powers€to€detain€people€without€trial.Š œģ  ŠĢ232.€€In€connection€with€article€12,€in€conjunction€with€article€27€of€the€Covenant,€members€askedŠ n¾  Šwhat€justification€there€was€for€the€transfer€and€relocation€of€several€thousand€Ō_ŌMiskitoŌ_Ō€Indians;€whyŠ W§  Šit€had€been€necessary€to€move€them€in€such€haste;€under€what€conditions€the€transfer€had€takenŠ @ Šplace;€in€what€circumstances€they€were€allowed€to€leave€the€camps€where€they€have€been€resettledŠ )y Šand€whether€any€of€them€had€taken€that€option;€whether€measures€were€envisaged€to€compensateŠ b Šthem€and€reunite€families;€whether€it€was€the€future€policy€of€the€Government€to€authorize€them€toŠ ūK Šreturn€to€their€homes€after€the€state€of€emergency€or€whether€it€would€settle€them€elsewhere.Š ä4 ŠĢ233.€€Commenting€on€article€14€of€the€Covenant,€members€asked€how€the€Government€guaranteedŠ ¶ Šthe€impartiality€and€independence€of€the€judiciary;€what€had€been€done€to€establish€the€legalŠ Ÿļ Šprofession€on€a€sound€basis€and€what€conditions€there€were€for€the€appointment€and€dismissal€ofŠ ˆŲ Šjudges;€whether€the€Special€Courts€referred€to€in€the€report€had€been€established€under€the€state€ofŠ qĮ Šemergency€and,€if€so,€for€what€purpose€and€with€what€powers;€whether€the€military€courts€whichŠ ZŖ Šacted€by€authority€of€the€governing€Junta€were€thus€becoming€regular€courts;€whether€policeŠ C“ Šmagistrates€functioned€as€courts€and,€if€so,€what€avenues€of€appeal€existed€against€their€decisionsŠ ,| Šand€why€offenders€could€not€be€brought€before€the€ordinary€courts;€and€to€what€extent€theŠ e Šrequirements€laid€down€in€article€14€of€the€Covenant€were€being€met€by€the€procedures€any€suchŠ žN Šcourts€might€follow.€€Clarification€was€requested€of€a€statement€in€the€report€that€administration€ofŠ ē 7 Šjustice€in€Nicaragua€was€now€based€on€historical€truth€rather€than€on€the€truth€of€the€evidence;€andŠ Š!   Šof€the€review€of€penal€procedure€which€had€been€carried€out€following€proceedings€brought€by€theŠ ¹" ! Šrevolutionaries€against€members€of€the€National€Guard€of€the€Somoza€era.€€Information€was€alsoŠ ¢#ņ" Šrequested€on€the€maximum€time€that€might€be€taken€by€administrative€and€judicial€appealŠ ‹$Ū# Šproceedings;€on€whether€the€procedural€time„limits€provided€for€by€the€Maintenance€of€Order€andŠ t%Ä $ ŠPublic€Security€Act€still€applied€and€whether€they€would€continue€to€apply€after€the€state€ofŠ ]&­!% Šemergency;€on€the€date€on€which€the€Supreme€Court€would€issue€its€verdict€in€the€case€on€the€PuertoŠ F'–"& ŠŌ_ŌCabezasŌ_Ō€Indians€and€on€the€number€of€trials€which€were€under€way€in€accordance€with€the€law€onŠ /(#' Šmilitary€criminal€procedures€and€on€the€nature€of€offences€against€public€order€and€the€lawŠ )h$( Šgoverning€them€in€general.Š *Q%) ŠĢ234.€€In€relation€to€article€18€of€the€Covenant,€one€member,€referring€to€a€quotation€in€the€report,Š Ó+#'+ Šwondered€whether€it€was€the€business€of€any€Government€to€draw€a€distinction€between€true€andŠ ¼, (, Šsham€Christians€and€to€set€itself€up€as€preserver€of€the€true€thought€of€Christ.€€It€was€also€askedŠ „-õ(- Šwhether€it€was€true€that€religious€figures€had€been€arrested€or€ordered€to€reside€elsewhere€in€theŠ ° Šcountry;€that€some€of€them€had€been€subjected€to€physical€attacks€in€the€streets€and€the€police€hadŠ ™é Šfailed€to€intervene;€that€religion€was€systematically€exposed€to€ridicule€in€Nicaragua;€that€theŠ ‚Ņ Šeducational€system€in€Nicaragua€was€being€restructured€in€such€a€way€as€to€prejudice€the€liberty€ofŠ k» Šparents€to€ensure€the€religious€and€moral€education€of€their€children€in€conformity€with€their€ownŠ T¤ Šconvictions;€whether€the€building€housing€the€synagogue€in€Managua€had€been€taken€away€from€theŠ =  ŠJewish€community€and€why€all€efforts€to€recover€it€had€been€to€no€avail.€€In€this€connectionŠ & v Šinformation€was€requested€on€the€effects€the€closing€of€the€Ō_ŌMoravianŌ_Ō€Bible€Institute€in€1982€had€onŠ  _ Šthe€Ō_ŌMiskitosŌ_Ō€sense€of€identity€and€on€the€cohesion€of€their€group.Š ų H ŠĢ235.€€Commenting€on€article€19€of€the€Covenant,€members€wondered€what€the€NicaraguanŠ Ź   Šrevolution€philosophy€was€with€regard€to€fundamental€freedoms€and€to€what€extent€those€freedomsŠ ³  Šcould€be€guaranteed€when€the€state€of€emergency€was€in€force€or€when€national€security€wasŠ œģ  Šthreatened.€€They€asked,€in€particular,€whether€the€formalities,€conditions€and€restrictions€whichŠ …Õ  Šcould€be€imposed€on€the€freedom€of€expression,€as€stated€in€the€Fundamental€Statute€of€Nicaragua,Š n¾  Šhad€been€reviewed€in€the€light€of€paragraph€3€of€article€19€of€the€Covenant;€why€prior€censorshipŠ W§  Šwas€imposed€on€the€press;€what€the€number€of€newspapers€in€the€country€was€and€who€owned€them;Š @ Šwhat€measures€were€taken€to€permit€political€parties€to€have€access€to€State€television€and€to€expressŠ )y Štheir€view„points.€€Clarification€was€requested€of€statements€in€the€report€to€the€effect€that€freedomŠ b Šof€expression€could€be€restricted€in€the€interests€of€š šthe€national€economyšš,€that€freedom€ofŠ ūK Šinformation€could€not€be€subjected€š što€the€economic€power€of€any€groupšš€and€that€information€thatŠ ä4 Šmight€affect,€ņņinter€aliaóó,€š šproductionšš€was€censored.€€Noting€that€article€5€of€the€Covenant€recognizedŠ Ķ Šthat€there€were€limits€to€political€freedoms,€one€member€pointed€out€that€those€limits,€however,€wereŠ ¶ Šnot€intended€to€be€such€as€to€prohibit€peaceful€expression€of€views€and€public€debate€on€publicŠ Ÿļ Šissues€and€he€asked€whether€the€definition€of€the€role€of€political€parties,€as€appeared€in€a€draftŠ ˆŲ Šstatute,€namely€that€of€making€constructive€criticism€and€submitting€proposals€to€the€publicŠ qĮ Šadministration,€represented€a€deliberate€exclusion€of€political€parties€from€any€real€political€role.Š ZŖ ŠĢ236.€€In€respect€of€articles€21,€22€and€25€of€the€Covenant,€it€was€asked€whether€opposition€partiesŠ ,| Šhad€found€it€difficult€to€hold€meetings;€which€political€parties€and€trade€unions€had€been€banned€andŠ e Šfor€what€reasons;€whether€the€restrictions€envisaged€in€the€Labour€Code€were€compatible€with€ILOŠ žN ŠConventions;€why€it€was€found€necessary€that€only€one€trade€union€was€permitted€to€function€in€aŠ ē 7 Šgiven€enterprise;€whether€the€social€and€peoplesšš€organizations€which,€since€the€revolution,€had€beenŠ Š!   Šactive€in€politics€could€participate€in€the€conduct€of€public€affairs,€in€particular€in€the€law„makingŠ ¹" ! Šprocess,€for€example,€by€initiating€the€preparation€for€new€laws;€what€the€criteria€were€for€selectingŠ ¢#ņ" Šcertain€groups€for€representation€on€the€Council€of€State;€whether€any€member€of€the€Council€wasŠ ‹$Ū# Šarrested€and,€if€so,€whether€the€organization€he€represented€had€ceased€to€have€any€legal€existence;Š t%Ä $ Šwhat€the€relationship€was€between€the€Council€and€the€Government€Junta;€what€the€GovernmentššsŠ ]&­!% Šgeneral€concept€was€of€political€pluralism€and€what€the€main€aspects€of€the€bill€on€the€politicalŠ F'–"& Šparties€referred€to€in€the€report€were;€to€what€extent€the€restrictions€imposed€by€the€state€ofŠ /(#' Šemergency€had€affected€political€rights€in€Nicaragua,€including€access€to€public€office,€as€well€asŠ )h$( Šthe€functioning€of€Municipal€Reconstruction€Boards€and€the€elections€thereto€by€popular€vote;Š *Q%) Šwhether€the€Government€still€intended€to€hold€elections€in€1985€and,€if€so,€what€measures€had€beenŠ ź*:&* Štaken€in€that€connection;€whether€a€new€Constitution€would€be€introduced€at€that€stage€and€whetherŠ Ó+#'+ Šthat€Constitution€would€be€subject€to€democratic€approval.Š ¼, (, ŠŠ „-õ(- Š237.€€Commenting€on€article€23€of€the€Covenant,€members€asked€whether€there€was€true€equalityŠ ° Šbetween€men€and€women,€since€it€was€indicted€in€the€report€that€only€the€father€exercised€ņņpatriaŠ ™é Špotestasóó€over€children€and€that€there€appeared€to€be€a€difference€in€treatment€between€men€andŠ ‚Ņ Šwomen€in€respect€of€divorce.€€It€was€also€asked€what€the€legal€matrimonial€Ō_ŌrgimeŌ_Ō€was€in€Nicaragua.Š k» ŠĢ238.€€As€regards€articles€26€and€27€of€the€Covenant,€it€as€asked€what€specific€measures€has€beenŠ =  Štaken€by€the€Government€to€put€an€end€to€discrimination€in€a€multi„racial,€multi„ethnic€and€multi„Š & v Šlingual€society€like€Nicaragua;€and€what€the€ņņde€factoóó€situation€was€concerning€discrimination€againstŠ  _ Šthe€Ō_ŌMiskitosŌ_Ō€and€whether€there€had€been€any€discrimination€against€them€in€the€past.€€Noting€that,Š ų H Šthroughout€the€report,€the€expression€š šethnic€groupšš€was€used€rather€than€the€words€š šindigenousŠ į 1  Špopulationšš,€one€member€asked€what€distinction€was€made€between€those€two€expressions€andŠ Ź   Šwhether€it€was€the€Governmentššs€policy€to€keep€the€indigenous€population€on€their€territory€or€toŠ ³  Šassimilate€them.€€Referring€to€the€forcible€displacement€of€several€thousand€Ō_ŌMiskitoŌ_Ō€Indians€fromŠ œģ  Štheir€territory€and€their€homes,€members€asked€what€chance€they€had,€deprived€of€their€lands,€homesŠ …Õ  Šand€culture,€of€overcoming€the€linguistic€problems€which€must€have€arisen€and€re„establishing€theŠ n¾  Šself„governing€institutions€which€seemed€to€mean€so€much€to€them;€what€was€being€done€to€improveŠ W§  Štheir€situation€and€resettle€them,€and€whether€that€group€had€the€right€to€a€special€status€relating€toŠ @ Šself„determination.Š )y ŠĢ239.€€Before€giving€the€floor€to€the€representative€of€Nicaragua,€the€Chairman€wished€to€state€forŠ ūK Šthe€record€that,€by€considering€reports€submitted€by€States€parties,€the€Committee€promoted€aŠ ä4 Šfruitful€and€necessary€dialogue€with€the€delegations€of€those€States€that€presented€their€countryššsŠ Ķ Šreports€in€person;€that€such€a€dialogue€afforded€it€a€better€insight€into€the€implementation€of€theŠ ¶ ŠCovenant€in€the€country€concerned;€that€it€was€neither€the€purpose€nor€the€function€of€theŠ Ÿļ ŠCommittee,€or€of€its€members,€to€level€accusations€at€State€parties€and€that€any€such€interpretationŠ ˆŲ Šwould€be€contrary€to€the€spirit€in€which€the€Committee€and€its€members€worked;€and€that€statementsŠ qĮ Šor€comments€made€by€members€of€the€Committee€on€the€occasion€of€the€Nicaraguan€delegationššsŠ ZŖ Špresentation€of€their€countryššs€report€must€be€viewed€in€that€light€and€that€light€alone.€€In€endorsingŠ C“ Šthe€comments€made€by€the€Chairman,€members€of€the€Committee€expressed€their€indignation€at€anŠ ,| Šarticle€published€in€a€New€York€newspaper€on€31€March€1983€depicting€the€Committee€as€a€tribunalŠ e Šand€Nicaragua€as€the€accused;€stressed€that€the€Committee€had€simply€requested€further€informationŠ žN Šfrom€the€representatives€of€Nicaragua€while€recognizing€the€current€uncertainty€created€in€thatŠ ē 7 Šcountry€by€the€threat€of€foreign€intervention;€regretted€the€fact€that,€in€the€six€years€of€theŠ Š!   ŠCommitteeššs€existence,€that€was€the€first€time€a€New€York€newspaper€had€seen€fit€to€report€on€theŠ ¹" ! ŠCommitteeššs€work€and€that,€in€so€doing,€it€had€published€incorrect€statements€and€grosslyŠ ¢#ņ" Šmisinterpreted€the€Committeeššs€intentions€and€procedures.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ240.€€The€representative€of€Nicaragua€welcomed€the€statements€made€by€the€Chairman€and€membersŠ ]&­!% Šof€the€Committee€regarding€ņņThe€New€York€Timesóó€article€and€wished€to€place€on€record€that€hisŠ F'–"& ŠGovernment€had€chosen€to€be€present€at€the€current€meeting€in€exercise€of€its€sovereign€right€toŠ /(#' Šrespond€to€questions€and€comments€raised€in€regard€to€its€report€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/14/Add.2);€that€Ō_ŌthatŌ_Ō€reportŠ )h$( Šhad€been€voluntarily€updated€by€his€Government€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/14/Add.3),€in€order€to€explain€situationsŠ *Q%) Šwhich€might€be€regarded€as€deviating€from€those€described€in€the€earlier€report;€that€his€GovernmentŠ ź*:&* Šhad,€in€both€cases,€supplied€the€Committee€with€legal,€economic,€social€and€cultural€backgroundŠ Ó+#'+ Šdata€on€the€human€rights€situation€in€his€country;€that€his€delegationššs€presence€at€the€current€sessionŠ ¼, (, Šof€the€Committee€had€been€agreed€to€months€previously€as€a€means€of€establishing€a€frank€dialogueŠ „-õ(- Šwith€the€Committee;€that€his€country€remained€ready€to€co„operate€with€the€Committee€whoseŠ ° Švaluable€views€would€be€used€to€help€enhance€the€legal€and€other€instruments€existing€for€theŠ ™é Špromotion€of€human€rights€in€Nicaragua.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢ241.€Responding€to€questions€raised€and€comments€made€by€members€of€the€Committee,€theŠ T¤ Šrepresentative€stated€that€his€Government€had€taken€many€steps€to€familiarize€people€with€theŠ =  Šinternational€instruments€relating€to€human€rights,€in€particular€the€Covenant€and€its€OptionalŠ & v ŠProtocol€whose€published€texts€were€distributed€to€military€and€police€personnel,€teachers,€studentsŠ  _ Šand€others.€€He€explained€the€role€of€the€National€Commission€for€the€Promotion€and€Protection€ofŠ ų H ŠHuman€Rights,€the€National€Autonomous€University€of€Nicaragua€and€the€Supreme€Court€of€JusticeŠ į 1  Šin€disseminating,€teaching€and€explaining€the€provisions€of€those€instruments.€€In€this€connection,Š Ź   Šhe€pointed€out€that€the€National€Commission€on€Human€Rights€had€been€established€by€Decree€inŠ ³  Š1980€in€compliance€with€the€resolutions€of€the€United€Nations€Commission€on€Human€Rights€andŠ œģ  Šof€the€General€Assembly;€that€it€was€competent€to€receive€complaints,€hear€witnesses,€investigateŠ …Õ  Šarbitrary€or€illegal€acts€allegedly€committed€by€civil€servants,€visit€detention€centres€and€report€toŠ n¾  Šthe€Junta€regarding€any€necessary€measures€to€be€taken.€€In€addition€to€other€related€activities,€theŠ W§  ŠNational€Commission€had€been€involved€in€the€organization,€at€the€regional€level€under€UnitedŠ @ ŠNations€auspices,€of€the€third€United€Nations€Seminar€on€recourse€procedures€and€other€forms€ofŠ )y Šprotection€available€to€victims€of€racial€discrimination.€€Members€of€the€Commission€wereŠ b Šappointed€for€two„year€periods,€received€no€remuneration€and€could€not€be€dismissed€during€theirŠ ūK Šterm€of€office.€€He€also€pointed€out€that€there€were€also€private€committees€on€human€rights€thatŠ ä4 Šfreely€exercised€their€activities€in€the€main€cities€of€the€country;€that€one€of€them€had€sentŠ Ķ Šrepresentatives€to€the€World€Congress€on€Human€Rights€held€in€Costa€Rica€in€1982.Š ¶ ŠĢ242.€Replying€to€questions€raised€under€article€2€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€stated€that€theŠ ˆŲ ŠCovenant€had€been€incorporated€into€Nicaraguaššs€domestic€laws€and€could€be€invoked€directly€inŠ qĮ Šadministrative€and€judicial€disputes€and€that,€in€practice,€it€was€frequently€invoked€by€litigants.€€HeŠ ZŖ Šreferred€to€the€report€under€consideration€regarding€the€domestic€remedies€provided€for€inŠ C“ ŠNicaraguan€legislation€and€explained€the€distinction€that€existed€in€his€country€between€violationsŠ ,| Šof€the€liberty€and€security€of€individuals€on€the€one€hand,€and€guarantees€and€rights€of€personsŠ e Šagainst€any€provision€and€against€any€act€or€omission€on€the€part€of€a€civil€servant€or€authorityŠ žN Šinfringing€their€rights€on€the€other.€€He€indicted€that€the€ņņŌ_ŌAmparoŌ_Ōóó€Act€stipulated€the€legal€means€byŠ ē 7 Šwhich€the€right€to€ņņŌ_ŌamparoŌ_Ōóó€(the€right€to€court€protection)€was€exercised€in€accordance€with€theŠ Š!   Šprovisions€of€the€Fundamental€statute€and€the€Statute€on€the€Rights€and€Guarantees€of€Nicaraguans;Š ¹" ! Šthat€appeals€were€to€be€brought€before€the€criminal€or€civil€division,€as€the€case€may€be,€of€the€CourtŠ ¢#ņ" Šof€Appeals€in€the€relevant€jurisdiction€of€the€citizen€concerned€and€that€anyone€could€seek€recourseŠ ‹$Ū# Što€ņņŌ_ŌamparoŌ_Ōóó€either€orally€or€in€writing.€€He€also€stated€that€for€the€duration€of€the€state€of€emergency,Š t%Ä $ Šthe€Governing€Junta,€which€was€responsible€politically€to€the€revolutionary€movement€that€hadŠ ]&­!% Šbrought€it€to€power,€was€performing€executive€and€administrative€functions€and€that,€during€theŠ F'–"& Štransitional€period,€it€could€enact€decrees€which€enjoyed€the€force€of€law;€that€at€no€time€had€itŠ /(#' Šexercised€judicial€functions;€that€the€Council€of€State€had€co„legislative€functions€with€the€Junta;Š )h$( Šthat€the€substance€of€bills€drafted€by€the€Junta€and€submitted€to€the€Council€differed€from€that€of€theŠ *Q%) Šlaws€enacted€by€the€Council€itself;€that€the€special€functions€of€the€Council€included€the€drafting€ofŠ ź*:&* Šan€electoral€bill€and€a€preliminary€draft€Constitution;€that€the€Junta€had€always€accepted€theŠ Ó+#'+ Šcomments€made€by€the€Council€on€decrees€which€it€had€drafted;€and€that€the€Junta€could€make€itsŠ ¼, (, Šown€authentic€interpretation€of€the€law,€but€in€no€case€it€could€annul,€revoke€or€amend€judicialŠ „-õ(- Šdecisions.Š ° ŠĢ243.€€As€regards€article€3€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€stated€that€equality€between€men€andŠ ‚Ņ Šwomen€in€all€areas€was,€in€fact,€the€chief€aim€of€the€body€of€legislation€passed€by€the€GovernmentŠ k» Šof€Nicaragua;€that€the€active€participation€of€women€in€the€political€life€of€the€country€was€anŠ T¤ Šobjective€to€which€the€Government€attached€great€importance;€that€women€held€high€posts€and€thatŠ =  Šone€of€them€held€the€rank€of€minister;€that€despite€the€difficulties€encountered€whenever€traditionsŠ & v Šwere€changed,€great€progress€had€already€been€made€and€would€continue€to€be€made€in€that€respectŠ  _ Šin€all€areas,€economic,€social€or€cultural.Š ų H ŠĢ244.€€Replying€to€questions€raised€under€article€4€of€the€Covenant,€he€pointed€out€that€the€attacksŠ Ź   Šof€counter„revolutionary€bands€and€the€foreign€aggression€to€which€Nicaragua€was€being€subjected,Š ³  Šconstituted€the€sole€obstacle€to€the€full€exercise€of€civil€and€political€rights€in€his€country,€since€itŠ œģ  Šwas€those€attacks€which€had€forced€his€Government€to€declare€the€state€of€emergency;€that€insteadŠ …Õ  Šof€listing€the€rights€and€guarantees€that€had€been€suspended€because€of€the€state€of€emergency,€hisŠ n¾  ŠGovernment,€due€to€lack€of€experience,€had€included€in€the€relevant€decree€all€the€provisions€of€theŠ W§  ŠCovenant€except€those€relating€to€guarantees€which€were€not€subject€to€suspension;€that€despite€theŠ @ Šseriousness€of€the€situation,€the€guarantees€referred€to€in€article€4,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Covenant,Š )y Šremained€intact€and€that€many€civilians,€particularly€women€and€children,€had€been€deprived€of€theirŠ b Šright€to€life€due€to€the€attacks€of€the€counter„revolutionaries.Š ūK ŠĢ245.€€With€respect€to€article€6€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€admitted€that€a€number€of€deathsŠ Ķ Šhad€occurred€immediately€after€the€end€of€the€war€of€liberation€which€the€Government€had€beenŠ ¶ Šunable€to€investigate€fully;€that€in€cases€affecting€the€right€to€life,€the€victimššs€family€had€been€ableŠ Ÿļ Što€obtain€compensation€through€the€courts€without€affecting€the€punishment€imposed€on€the€guiltyŠ ˆŲ Špersons;€that€although€the€steps€taken€to€prevent€abuses€by€the€military€and€police€personnel€hadŠ qĮ Šbeen€successful,€the€Government€continued€to€maintain€a€vigilant€watch€and€punished€all€offenders;Š ZŖ Šthat€there€were€no€cases€of€arbitrary€deprivation€of€life€in€which€the€guilty€persons€had€not€beenŠ C“ Špunished;€that€extreme€care€was€exercised€in€security€operations€to€avoid€endangering€human€lifeŠ ,| Šand€that,€to€that€end,€all€military€and€police€personnel€were€instructed€with€regard€to€the€provisionsŠ e Šguaranteeing€respect€for€life.Š žN ŠĢ246.€€Responding€to€questions€posed€under€articles€7,€8€and€10€of€the€Covenant,€he€indicated€thatŠ Š!   Šsentences€of€up€to€30€yearsšš€imprisonment€were€imposed€in€cases€of€murder,€homicide€withŠ ¹" ! Šaggravated€criminal€responsibility€or€for€repeated€offences€and€that€such€sentences€could€not,€underŠ ¢#ņ" Šthe€circumstances,€be€characterized€as€cruel;€that€domestic€legislation€fully€accorded€with€theŠ ‹$Ū# ŠCovenant€regarding€forced€labour;€that€involving€prisoners€in€productive€activities€was€a€penalŠ t%Ä $ Šmeasure€based€on€a€belief€in€the€ennobling€character€of€work€for€all€people;€that€complaintsŠ ]&­!% Šinvolving€mistreatment€could€be€lodged€with€the€prison€authorities,€the€higher€authorities€of€theŠ F'–"& Špenitentiary€system,€the€Peopleššs€Claims€Office€of€the€Ministry€of€the€Interior€or€the€GovernmentŠ /(#' ŠJunta€and€that€severe€sentences€had€been€passed€against€a€number€of€military€personnel€for€variousŠ )h$( Šoffences,€including€atrocities.€€He€also€pointed€out€that€former€members€of€the€Somoza€NationalŠ *Q%) ŠGuard€were€imprisoned€in€the€Jorge€Navarro€Rehabilitation€Centre€and€were€accorded€the€sameŠ ź*:&* Štreatment€as€prisoners€in€any€other€penitentiary;€that€they€were€separated€from€other€criminals€inŠ Ó+#'+ Šview€of€the€widespread€hatred€brought€about€by€the€atrocities€which€they€had€committed€against€theŠ ¼, (, Šgeneral€population;€that€š šcounter„revolutionary€crimesšš€were€clearly€defined€by€the€law€and€thatŠ „-õ(- Šdecisions€as€to€the€status€of€those€accused€of€acts€of€genocide€could€be€reached€only€on€a€case„by„Š ° Šcase€basis;€that€due€to€the€lack€of€space€and€supply€difficulties€at€Puerto€Ō_ŌCabezasŌ_Ō,€his€GovernmentŠ ™é Šhad€been€confronted€with€insurmountable€problems;€that€some€of€the€prisoners€who€had€been€flownŠ ‚Ņ Što€Managua€and€against€whom€no€cause€for€action€had€been€found€had€subsequently€been€returnedŠ k» Što€Puerto€Ō_ŌCabezasŌ_Ō;€and€that€the€Ō_ŌMiskitoŌ_Ō€Indians,€who€had€been€sentenced€had€been€transferred€to€aŠ T¤ Šfarm€near€the€Capital,€where€they€had€been€joined€by€their€families€and€where€they€could€engage€inŠ =  Šagricultural€work€and€practice€their€religion€and€that,€once€they€had€completed€their€sentence,€thoseŠ & v Šwho€wished€to€do€so€would€be€able€to€return€with€their€families€to€their€homes.Š  _ ŠĢ247.€€In€connection€with€questions€raised€under€article€9€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€statedŠ į 1  Šthat€martial€law€had€not€been€declared€in€€Nicaragua;€that€the€state€of€emergency€had€not€resultedŠ Ź   Šin€periods€of€detention€that€were€prolonged€or€without€trial€and€that€there€was€no€repression€nor€anyŠ ³  Šsuspension€of€legal€procedures,€particularly€as€concerned€persons€held€in€custody;€and€that,€in€orderŠ œģ  Što€forestall€abuses,€the€Supreme€Court€of€Justice€had€issued€circulars€with€a€view€to€ensuring€that,Š …Õ  Šas€of€the€date€of€arrest,€the€time€limits€prescribed€for€judicial€procedures€were€respected.€€He€alsoŠ n¾  Šexplained€the€machinery€for€the€application€of€both€ņņhabeas€corpusóó€and€ņņŌ_ŌamparoŌ_Ōóó€against€detention€andŠ W§  Šarrest€warrants,€including€the€appeal€procedure€in€case€of€court€decisions€rejecting€the€release€ofŠ @ Špersons€concerned.Š )y ŠĢ248.€€As€regards€article€12,€in€conjunction€with€article€27€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€statedŠ ūK Šthat€the€transfer€of€about€8,500€Nicaraguan€citizens€of€the€Ō_ŌMiskitoŌ_Ō€origin€was€in€compliance€withŠ ä4 ŠNicaraguaššs€obligations€under€article€6€of€the€Covenant,€since€it€had€been€a€matter€of€life€or€deathŠ Ķ Šbecause€of€the€constant€incursions€of€armed€band€which€had€produced€many€casualties;€that€hisŠ ¶ ŠGovernment€had€committed€itself€in€writing€to€guaranteeing€and€facilitating€the€voluntary€return€ofŠ Ÿļ Šthose€citizens€to€the€banks€of€the€river€Ō_ŌCoCoŌ_Ō€by€making€arrangements€for€housing,€subsistence€andŠ ˆŲ Šthe€resumption€of€their€production€activities;€that€his€Government€had€undertaken€to€repair€theŠ qĮ Šdamage€caused€to€buildings€and€to€re„establish€the€necessary€structures€for€health,€teaching€and€food,Š ZŖ Šnotably€by€providing€agricultural€subsidies€and€machinery,€while€ensuring€the€respect€for€the€wayŠ C“ Šof€life€of€its€citizens€and€encouraging€the€reunification€of€families€with€the€assistance€of€the€UnitedŠ ,| ŠNations€High€Commissioner€for€Refugees.Š e ŠĢ249.€€Commenting€on€questions€posed€under€article€14€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€statedŠ ē 7 Šthat,€given€the€immediate€importance€of€the€judiciary€in€correcting€and€preventing€injustices,€it€hadŠ Š!   Šbeen€decided€to€preserve€unchanged€the€traditional€structure€and€functioning€of€the€judiciary;€thatŠ ¹" ! Šunder€the€traditional€system,€the€executive,€in€the€present€case€the€Junta,€appointed€and€couldŠ ¢#ņ" Šdismiss€the€members€of€the€Supreme€Court€and€of€courts€of€second€instances;€that€the€SupremeŠ ‹$Ū# ŠCourt€appointed€the€district€and€local€judges;€that€all€judicial€functions€were€exercised€by€theŠ t%Ä $ Šjudiciary,€without€prejudice€to€the€jurisdictional€powers€of€administrative€organs€in€contentiousŠ ]&­!% Šcases€or€cases€involving€public€morality;€that€since€members€of€the€judiciary€had€been€appointedŠ F'–"& Šfollowing€the€triumph€of€the€revolution,€only€two€changes€had€been€made€in€the€membership€of€theŠ /(#' ŠSupreme€Court;€that€were€any€member€of€the€Junta€to€dare€to€ignore€a€decision€of€the€judiciary,€heŠ )h$( Šwould€be€subject€to€administrative€and€criminal€penalties;€that€judicial€impartiality€was€achieved€byŠ *Q%) Šmonitoring€the€legality€and€correctness€of€judgesšš€decisions€and€actions,€a€task€performed€by€theŠ ź*:&* Šhigher€courts,€headed€by€the€Supreme€Court;€that€the€Supreme€Court€enjoyed€total€independence€andŠ Ó+#'+ Šits€decisions€were€respected€by€the€Government;€and€that,€in€order€to€facilitate€access€to€judicialŠ ¼, (, Špositions,€law€students€were€employed€in€the€administration€of€justice€and,€depending€on€theŠ „-õ(- ŠŌ_Ōexperience€gained,€gradually€given€greater€responsibility.€€He€also€informed€the€Committee€that€theŠ ° ŠPolice€Jurisdictional€Functions€Act€was€of€a€transitional€nature;€that€in€cases€brought€before€theŠ ™é ŠMilitary€Courts€the€accused€could€choose€either€military€or€civilian€defence€lawyers;€that€the€SpecialŠ ‚Ņ ŠCourts€had€been€dissolved€and€the€ordinary€courts€were€empowered€to€try€cases€which€hadŠ k» Špreviously€fallen€within€the€jurisdiction€of€the€Special€Courts;€that€the€Procedural€Act€of€DecemberŠ T¤ Š1981€had€introduced€procedures€for€holding€trials€in€full€accordance€with€the€principle€of€dueŠ =  Šprocess;€and€that€the€phrase€in€the€report€concerning€the€š štruth€of€the€evidencešš€referred€to€theŠ & v Šmechanical€manner€in€which€evidence€had€been€assessed€under€the€former€legal€system,€but€that€theŠ  _ Šnew€system€did€not€allow€the€personal€belief€or€whim€of€the€examining€magistrate€to€influence€thatŠ ų H Šprocess.€€He€also€stated€that€the€decision€to€revise€judgments€handed€down€by€the€Special€Courts€fellŠ į 1  Šwithin€the€jurisdiction€of€the€Council€of€State€in€co„operation€with€the€National€Committee€for€theŠ Ź   ŠPromotion€and€Protection€of€Human€Rights.Š ³  ŠĢ250.€€In€connection€with€comments€made€under€article€18€of€the€Covenant,€the€representativeŠ …Õ  Šexplained€the€development€of€relations,€since€the€triumph€of€the€revolution,€between€the€SandinistaŠ n¾  ŠGovernment€and€the€clergy€of€Nicaragua,€particularly€the€Episcopal€Conference€and€the€MoravianŠ W§  ŠBishops€and€stressed€the€adherence€of€his€Government€to€the€principles€of€freedom€of€conscienceŠ @ Šand€religion€manifest€in€the€paper€entitled€š šThe€Position€of€the€Frente€Sandinista€de€LiberacionŠ )y ŠNacional€with€respect€to€Religionšš.€€He€informed€the€Committee€that€currently,€in€Nicaragua,€a€largeŠ b Šnumber€of€churches€and€religious€groups€were€operating€with€full€religious€freedoms;€that€theŠ ūK Šfreedom€to€conduct€religious€education€was€also€guaranteed;€that€there€were€396€centres€of€pre„Š ä4 Šschool,€primary€and€secondary€education€belonging€to€various€religious€groups€out€of€a€total€of€511Š Ķ Šprivate€schools;€that€the€Association€of€Clergy€of€Nicaragua€participated€in€the€Council€of€State;€thatŠ ¶ Šseveral€religious€bodies€were€involved€in€the€implementation€of€plans€drawn€up€by€the€GovernmentŠ Ÿļ Što€improve€the€quality€of€life€of€the€people;€that€there€existed€a€Catholic€radio€station€and€weeklyŠ ˆŲ Šand€monthly€publications.€€He€also€indicated€that€the€Government€endeavoured€to€solve€theŠ qĮ Šproblems€with€the€Moravian€Church€generated€primarily€by€some€persons€of€the€Moravian€faith€whoŠ ZŖ Šwere€openly€engaged€in€subversive€activities;€that€the€Government€realized€that€membership€in€thatŠ C“ ŠChurch€was€a€characteristic€of€some€of€the€ethnic€groups€of€the€Atlantic€region€of€the€country€andŠ ,| Šthat€it€had€maintained€an€ongoing€dialogue€with€the€Moravian€Bishops;€that€the€building€housingŠ e Šthe€synagogue€of€Mangua€had€been€abandoned€before€assigning€it€temporarily€for€social€purposes,Š žN Šbut€that€should€the€owners€of€the€building€request€that€it€should€again€be€a€place€for€worship,€theŠ ē 7 ŠGovernment€Junta€would€evaluate€the€request€in€the€context€of€religious€freedom.Š Š!   ŠĢ251.€€With€respect€to€article€19€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€explained€the€principles€of€theŠ ¢#ņ" Šrespect€for€freedom€of€expression€in€the€light€of€the€provisions€of€the€General€Act€on€SocialŠ ‹$Ū# ŠCommunications€Media.€€He€admitted,€however,€that€the€circumstances€that€had€resulted€in€theŠ t%Ä $ Šdeclaration€of€the€state€of€emergency€had€affected€the€exercise€of€that€freedom€and€led€theŠ ]&­!% ŠGovernment€to€take€restrictive€measures€relating€to€the€information€and€communications€media;€thatŠ F'–"& Šcensorship€was€being€applied€only€to€information€liable€to€jeopardize€domestic€security,€defence€andŠ /(#' Šproduction€and,€in€any€case,€it€was€not€applied€to€all€publications€or€to€information€broadcast€byŠ )h$( Šradio€or€television;€that€the€freedom€to€criticize€Government€actions€had€barely€been€affected,€thatŠ *Q%) Šthe€Government€considered€it€necessary€to€correct€the€errors€and€possible€abuses€in€which€highŠ ź*:&* Šofficials€had€been€involved€and€that€such€criticism€was€encouraged€on€a€weekly€televisionŠ Ó+#'+ Šprogramme€and€also€in€the€daily€press;€that€sanctions€imposed€on€newspapers€could€be€appealed€byŠ ¼, (, Špublishers€to€either€the€office€of€the€Ministry€of€the€Interior€responsible€for€the€media€or€Ō_ŌtheŠ „-õ(- ŠSupreme€Court.€€In€this€connection,€he€stated€that,€given€the€complex€nature€of€news€and€theŠ ° Šoverriding€influence€of€the€market€place,€those€responsible€for€the€dissemination€of€information€mustŠ ™é Šbear€in€mind€the€Ō_ŌsocioŌ_Ō„economic€conditions€in€the€country€and€the€continent,€the€interests€of€theŠ ‚Ņ Šdisadvantaged€groups€and€the€true€enjoyment€of€freedom€of€expression;€and€that€because€of€theŠ k» Šeconomic€aggression€which€the€country€was€currently€subjected€to,€it€was€also€necessary€to€regulateŠ T¤ Šany€information€which€might€affect€production€or€generate€panic€and€shortage€of€supplies.€€He€alsoŠ =  Špointed€out€that€there€were€three€daily€newspapers€owned€respectively€by€the€Ō_ŌFrenteŌ_Ō€Sandinista€deŠ & v ŠŌ_ŌLiberacionŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌNacionalŌ_Ō,€a€workerššs€co„operative€and€private€citizens;€that€of€48€radio€stations,€31€wereŠ  _ Šprivate;€of€the€48€news€services,€44€were€private;€that€both€television€stations€were€State„owned€andŠ ų H Šthat€in€order€to€guarantee€the€participation€of€the€public€in€the€media,€debates€were€aired€in€whichŠ į 1  Šcivil€servants€and€opposition€leaders€participated€and€that€plans€existed€to€give€air€space€to€politicalŠ Ź   Šparties,€without€exception,€as€part€of€the€process€leading€to€the€elections€in€1995.Š ³  ŠĢ252.€€Replying€to€questions€raised€under€articles€21,€22€and€25€of€the€Covenant,€the€representativeŠ …Õ  Šstated€that€the€state€of€emergency€had€neither€restricted€the€right€of€political€parties€freely€to€holdŠ n¾  Štheir€regular€meetings€nor€the€freedom€of€association€in€any€way;€that€32€organizations,€among€themŠ W§  Šemployerššs€associations€and€professional€and€religious€organizations,€had€been€granted€legal€status;Š @ Šthat€all€Nicaraguans€whose€rights€had€not€been€suspended€by€law,€and€all€political€parties€andŠ )y Šorganizations,€participated€in€the€countryššs€administration€and€political€management,€and€that€accessŠ b Što€public€office€would€continue€to€be€open€to€all€citizens€on€an€equal€basis;€and€that€the€Council€ofŠ ūK ŠState€was€currently€debating€the€system€governing€political€parties,€with€the€full€participation€ofŠ ä4 Šsuch€parties.€€He€pointed€out€that€the€Council€of€State€consisted€of€51€members,€appointed€byŠ Ķ Špolitical,€popular,€trade€union,€social€and€religious€organizations;€that€the€procedure€for€electingŠ ¶ Šmembers€of€the€Council€were€determined€purely€by€the€organizations€which€they€represented;€thatŠ Ÿļ Šthe€members€of€the€Council€enjoyed€immunities€which€they€could€renounce€or€which€the€CouncilŠ ˆŲ Šcould€withdraw€and€that€they€were€answerable€politically€only€to€their€peers€and€organizationsŠ qĮ Šduring€the€period€of€their€immunity€and€to€the€courts€when€their€immunity€was€withdrawn€orŠ ZŖ Šrenounced.€€Nicaraguaššs€municipal€authorities€continued€to€be€elected€at€public€meetings,€in€whichŠ C“ Šall€the€inhabitants€of€the€municipality€concerned€participated.€€Preparations€were€under€way€forŠ ,| Šopening€the€election€campaign€in€1984€and€for€holding€the€elections,€as€pledged,€in€1985€on€the€basisŠ e Šof€political€reconstruction€and€pluralism,€but€that€there€was€as€yet€€no€constitutional€provision€on€theŠ žN Šsystem€of€government€and€there€were€no€electoral€laws€or€electoral€rolls.Š ē 7 ŠĢ253.€€In€connection€with€questions€posed€under€article€23€of€the€Covenant,€the€representative€statedŠ ¹" ! Šthat€parents€had€equal€rights€in€all€that€concerned€their€children;€that€the€provisions€stipulating€thatŠ ¢#ņ" Šthe€consequences€of€the€commission€of€adultery,€one€of€the€causes€of€divorce,€should€differ,Š ‹$Ū# Šdepending€on€whether€the€husband€or€the€wife€was€involved,€were€no€longer€applied,€now€that€theŠ t%Ä $ ŠCovenant€had€been€incorporated€into€domestic€law€and€the€Statute€on€the€Rights€and€Guarantees€ofŠ ]&­!% ŠNicaraguans€had€been€enacted€and€that€discriminatory€treatment€had€therefore€been€abolished.€€HeŠ F'–"& Šalso€explained€the€legal€matrimonial€Ō_ŌrgimeŌ_Ō€and€pointed€out€that€each€spouse€was€the€owner€of€hisŠ /(#' Šor€her€personal€property€and€could€freely€dispose€of€it,€whether€it€had€been€acquired€before€or€afterŠ )h$( Šmarriage,€that€joint€ownership€did€not€exist,€nor€did€the€system€whereby€the€property€of€the€womanŠ *Q%) Šwas€administered€by€the€husband.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ254.€€Commenting€on€questions€raised€under€articles€26€and€27€of€the€Covenant,€the€representativeŠ ¼, (, Šstated€that€a€major€document€on€the€history€of€the€different€ethnic€groups€during€the€colonial€andŠ „-õ(- Šneo„colonial€periods€would€be€translated€into€the€working€languages€of€the€United€Nations€and€couldŠ ° Šserve€as€a€basis€for€an€in„depth€examination€of€the€issue€and€that,€to€a€large€extent,€the€documentŠ ™é Šprovided€answers€to€the€questions€raised€by€members€of€the€Committee€concerning€the€Ō_ŌMiskitoŌ_ŌŠ ‚Ņ ŠIndians.Š  k» ŠÓ Óņ ņŌ_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō€€A/45/40€Ō_Ō(1990)ó óŌ_ŌŠ ° ŠĢÓ  ÓĢ388.€€The€Committee€considered€the€second€periodic€report€of€Nicaragua€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/42/Add.8)€at€itsŠ l¼ Š975ņņthóó€to€978ņņthóó€meetings,€held€on€4€and€5€April€1990€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/SR.975„SR.978).Š U„ ŠĢ389.€€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party,€who€drew€the€CommitteeššsŠ ' w Šattention€to€a€number€of€developments€demonstrating€the€importance€attached€by€his€GovernmentŠ  ` Što€the€promotion€of€human€rights€that€had€occurred€following€the€assumption€of€power€by€theŠ ł I ŠGovernment€Junta€for€National€Reconstruction.€€In€this€connection,€he€noted,€ņņinter€aliaóó,€that€politicalŠ ā 2  Špluralism€had€been€strengthened€through€the€presidential€and€legislative€elections€held€in€1984€andŠ Ė   Šthe€adoption€of€the€new€Constitution€in€1987;€that€under€article€46€of€the€Constitution€all€personsŠ “  Šenjoyed€the€protection€and€full€exercise€of€the€rights€set€forth€in€international€human€rightsŠ ķ  Šinstruments,€including€the€Covenant;€and€that€the€Maintenance€of€Order€and€Public€Security€Act,Š †Ö  Šas€well€as€the€decree€which€had€set€up€the€anti„Somoza€peopleššs€tribunals,€had€been€repealed,Š oæ  Šresulting€in€the€release€from€prison€of€some€4,000€former€members€of€the€National€Guard.€€TheŠ XØ  Šprinciple€of€political€pluralism€had€also€been€strengthened€by€the€adoption€of€the€Electoral€Act€ofŠ A‘ Š24€August€1988.Š *z ŠĢ390.€€Additionally,€the€representative€noted€that€the€General€Act€on€Social€Communication€MediaŠ üL Šhad€created€favourable€conditions€for€the€holding€of€elections€in€1990.€€The€elections€of€FebruaryŠ å5 Š1990,€the€outcome€of€which€had€been€unfavourable€to€the€party€currently€in€power,€had€taken€placeŠ Ī Šin€the€presence€of€more€than€2,000€observers€and€had€been€the€cleanest€in€the€history€of€Nicaragua.€Š · ŠThe€peaceful€and€orderly€transfer€of€power€on€25€April€1990€would€be€carried€out€pursuant€to€theŠ  š Šagreements€that€had€recently€been€signed€and€would€be€guaranteed€under€the€legal€frameworkŠ ‰Ł Šestablished€by€the€Constitution.Š rĀ ŠĢņņConstitutional€and€legal€framework€within€which€the€Covenant€is€implementedóóŠ D” ŠĢ391.€€With€regard€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€what€the€legal€status€ofŠ f Šthe€Covenant€was€in€domestic€legislation;€whether€there€had€been€any€instances€where€the€provisionsŠ ’O Šof€the€Covenant€had€been€directly€invoked€before€the€courts€and,€if€so,€with€what€results;€whatŠ č 8 Šremedies€were€available€if€a€domestic€law€ran€counter€to€international€obligations;€whether€there€hadŠ Ń!!  Šbeen€any€instances€where€provisions€of€a€law,€decree€or€administrative€act€had€been€challenged€asŠ ŗ" ! Šunconstitutional€on€the€ground€that€they€impaired€the€substance€of€a€right€provided€for€under€theŠ £#ó" ŠCovenant;€whether€the€National€Commission€for€the€Promotion€and€Protection€of€Human€Rights€hadŠ Œ$Ü# ŠŌ_ŌhadŌ_Ō€occasion€to€investigate€or€denounce€abuses€or€human€rights€violations€and€to€take€correctiveŠ u%Å $ Šaction;€and€what€the€impact€of€the€new€legislation€regulating€the€remedies€of€ņņŌ_ŌamparoŌ_Ōóó€and€ņņhabeasŠ ^&®!% Šcorpusóó€and€the€declaration€of€unconstitutionality€had€been€an€earlier€legislation€such€as€the€Ō_ŌAmparoŌ_ŌŠ G'—"& ŠAct€of€21€May€1980.€€Additionally,€members€wished€to€know€the€extent€to€which€public€opinion€hadŠ 0(€#' Šbeen€taken€into€account€in€drafting€the€new€Constitution;€how€the€Ō_ŌAmparoŌ_Ō€Act€applied€to€the€lodgingŠ )i$( Šof€complaints€in€the€courts;€how€the€independence€of€the€National€Commission€for€the€PromotionŠ *R%) Šand€Protection€of€Human€Rights€from€executive€control,€and€the€tenure€of€the€CommissionššsŠ ė*;&* Šmembers€were€guaranteed;€and€how€its€powers€to€implement€specific€remedies€compared€with€thoseŠ Ō+$'+ Šof€other€judicial€or€legislative€bodies.€€Members€also€sought€information€concerning€the€impact€ofŠ ½, (, Šthe€civil€war€and€outside€intervention€on€the€human€rights€guaranteed€under€the€Covenant;€activitiesŠ ¦-ö(- ŠŌ_Ōrelating€to€the€promotion€of€greater€awareness€of€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€and€the€OptionalŠ ° ŠProtocol;€and€efforts€to€disseminate€such€information€among€law„enforcement€officers€and€theŠ ™é Šindigenous€communities€of€the€Atlantic€Coast€region.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢ392.€€In€connection€with€the€transitional€period€that€was€now€in€course,€and€with€specific€referenceŠ T¤ Što€the€Amnesty€Act,€members€wished€to€know€what€offences€were€covered€by€the€Amnesty€Act€andŠ =  Šfor€what€time€period;€how€public€opinion€had€responded€to€that€Actššs€adoption;€whether€bothŠ & v Špolitical€and€non„political€crimes,€and€offences€committed€either€by€the€ņņcontrasóó€or€the€SandinistaŠ  _ ŠPeopleššs€army,€were€covered;€and€how€victims€of€offences€constituting€a€violation€of€the€CovenantŠ ų H Šwould€be€compensated.€€Clarification€was€also€requested€of€the€extent€of€the€privilege€of€immunityŠ į 1  Šand€of€the€circumstances€under€which€it€could€be€granted.Š Ź   ŠĢ393.€€Replying€to€the€questions€raised€by€members€of€the€Committee,€the€representative€of€the€StateŠ œģ  Šparty€explained€that€the€Constitution€did€not€contain€any€provisions€concerning€the€hierarchicalŠ …Õ  Šrelationship€between€international€human€rights€instruments€and€Nicaraguan€law.€€Article€46€of€theŠ n¾  ŠConstitution,€which€provided€that€every€individual€should€enjoy€in€full€the€rights€set€forth€in€suchŠ W§  Šinstruments,€had€to€be€read€in€the€light€of€article€182€of€the€Constitution,€according€to€which€anyŠ @ Štreaties€that€were€contrary€to€the€provisions€of€the€Constitution€had€no€value.€€Thus,€where€theŠ )y ŠConstitution€failed€to€include€a€specific€right€the€provisions€of€an€international€treaty€might€beŠ b Šapplicable€and€held€superior€to€domestic€law,€whereas€in€case€of€a€discrepancy€between€such€anŠ ūK Šinstrument€and€the€Constitution€the€latter€would€prevail.€€In€cases€where€there€was€an€allegedŠ ä4 Šcontradiction€between€an€ordinary€law€and€one€or€more€of€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€that€wereŠ Ķ Šrecognized€by€the€Constitution,€constitutional€remedies€could€be€pursued€under€the€Amparo€Act.€Š ¶ ŠThe€provisions€of€the€Covenant€had€been€invoked€before€the€courts€in€several€cases€such€as€thoseŠ Ÿļ Šof€Eugene€Hasenfus€or€Mario€Alegri,€and€both€individuals€had€later€been€pardoned.€€When€a€law,Š ˆŲ Šdecree„law,€or€decree„regulation€directly€or€indirectly€violated€rights€established€under€theŠ qĮ ŠCovenant,€it€could€be€challenged€before€the€courts.€€In€one€such€case€of€conflict,€the€law€establishingŠ ZŖ Šthe€jurisdictional€functions€of€the€police€had€been€amended€in€order€to€remove€a€penal€sentencingŠ C“ Šfunction€from€the€police.Š ,| ŠĢ394.€€Under€the€new€Amparo€Act€adopted€in€1988,€ņņamparoóó€could€be€invoked€by€any€natural€orŠ žN Šjuridical€person€against€acts€of€the€Administration€that€violated€or€attempted€to€violate€the€rights€andŠ ē 7 Šguarantees€established€in€the€Constitution.€€The€remedy€of€ņņhabeas€corpusóó€could€be€brought€by€theŠ Š!   Šaggrieved€party€or€any€citizen€at€any€time,€even€during€a€state€of€emergency,€where€a€person€wasŠ ¹" ! Šbeing€illegally€deprived€of€his€liberty€or€threatened€with€the€deprivation€of€liberty.€€AppealsŠ ¢#ņ" Šregarding€the€unconstitutionality€of€any€law,€decree€or€regulation€could€be€filed€by€any€citizen,€butŠ ‹$Ū# Šwas€only€resorted€to€in€exceptional€cases.€€A€declaration€of€unconstitutionality€made€a€lawŠ t%Ä $ Šinapplicable€but€did€not€necessarily€repeal€it.Š ]&­!% ŠĢ395.€€The€primary€purpose€of€the€National€Commission€for€the€Promotion€and€Protection€of€HumanŠ /(#' ŠRights€was€to€investigate€and€denounce€any€violation€of€human€rights€committed€against€anyoneŠ )h$( Šwithin€the€national€territory.€€The€Commission€could,€ņņinter€aliaóó€correct€administrative€acts€affectingŠ *Q%) Šhuman€rights;€apply€for€judicial€remedies€in€the€courts;€issue€writs€of€ņņhabeas€corpusóó€in€connectionŠ ź*:&* Šwith€acts€affecting€an€individualššs€physical€integrity;€ask€for€a€forensic€medical€opinion€on€the€healthŠ Ó+#'+ Šof€a€prisoner;€and€recommend€pardons€and€measures€such€as€conditional€liberty€or€parole.€€It€wasŠ ¼, (, Šan€independent€body€composed€of€10€impartial€experts,€who€enjoyed€an€autonomy€similar€to€thatŠ „-õ(- Šof€judges€of€the€Supreme€Court.€€The€Commission€was€also€active€in€promoting€greater€publicŠ ° Šawareness€of€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€and€the€Optional€Protocol;€played€a€prominent€role€inŠ ™é Šcarrying€out€educational€programmes€devoted€to€human€rights;€and€ensured€that€human€rightsŠ ‚Ņ Šeducation€was€included€in€the€curricula€of€all€educational€institutions.Š k» ŠĢ396.€€Replying€to€questions€relating€to€the€1990€Amnesty€Act,€the€representative€explained€that€theŠ =  ŠTela€agreements€concluded€by€the€Central€American€Presidents€had€established€procedures€forŠ & v Šdemobilizing€member€of€the€Nicaraguan€resistance€and€guaranteeing€their€peaceful€reintegration€intoŠ  _ Šcivilian€life.€€Under€the€agreements,€members€of€the€Nicaraguan€Resistance€who€laid€down€theirŠ ų H Šarms€would€not€be€prosecuted€for€past€crimes€of€a€political€or€military€nature.€€In€the€interest€ofŠ į 1  Šnational€peace€and€reconciliation,€the€Sandinista€Government€had€also€pardoned€former€membersŠ Ź   Šof€Somozaššs€National€Guard,€prisoners€sentenced€for€crimes€against€public€policy,€and€members€ofŠ ³  Šthe€Nicaraguan€army€who€had€committed€crimes€in€time€of€war€and€conflict.€€Provisions€hadŠ œģ  Šnevertheless€been€made€for€compensation€of€the€families€of€victims€of€human€rights€violations.€Š …Õ  ŠPresidents€and€Vice„Presidents€of€Nicaragua€serving€for€terms€of€office€after€the€1984€electionsŠ n¾  Šbenefited€from€the€privilege€of€life„time€immunity.€€However,€Nicaraguan€legislation€provided€forŠ W§  Ša€procedure€whereby€immunity€could€be€suspended.Š @ ŠĢņņState€of€emergencyóóŠ b ŠĢ397.€€With€reference€to€that€issue,€members€wished€to€know€what€control€was€exercised€by€theŠ ä4 Šlegislative€branch€over€the€power€accorded€to€the€President€to€proclaim€a€state€of€emergency;€whatŠ Ķ Šthe€differences€were€between€a€state€of€emergency€and€a€state€of€war;€and€whether€there€was€anyŠ ¶ Šlegal€provision€to€guarantee€that€there€could€be€no€derogation€from€the€basic€rights€laid€down€inŠ Ÿļ Šarticle€4,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Covenant.€€In€the€latter€connection,€members€sought€clarification€of€theŠ ˆŲ Šcircumstances€which€had€justified€derogations€from€articles€10,€26€and€27€of€the€Covenant.€€TheyŠ qĮ Šalso€wished€to€know€whether€a€new€declaration€of€a€state€of€emergency€had€been€made€in€1989€and,Š ZŖ Šif€so,€whether€the€provisions€of€article€4,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Covenant€had€been€complied€with.Š C“ ŠĢ398.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€said€that€the€modalities€for€imposing€and€lifting€states€ofŠ e Šemergency€were€regulated€by€articles€185€and€186€of€the€Constitution€as€well€as€by€the€EmergencyŠ žN ŠAct€of€19€October€1988.€€Article€2€of€that€Act€authorized€the€President,€in€case€of€war€or€whenŠ ē 7 Šdemanded€by€national€security,€economic€conditions€or€a€national€catastrophe,€to€suspend€the€rightsŠ Š!   Šand€guarantees€set€forth€in€the€Constitution,€except€for€those€established€in€the€articles€enumeratedŠ ¹" ! Šin€article€186€of€the€Constitution,€for€a€specific€and€renewable€period.€€The€National€Assembly€hadŠ ¢#ņ" Što€be€informed€of€any€such€action€but€had€no€legislative€control€in€the€matter.€€The€Act€was€fully€inŠ ‹$Ū# Škeeping€with€article€4€of€the€Covenant€and€provided€for€a€number€of€remedies,€such€as€ņņamparoóó€andŠ t%Ä $ Šņņhabeas€corpusóó€to€protect€the€rights€and€guarantees€not€suspended€by€emergency€decrees.€€IndividualsŠ ]&­!% Šcould€also€apply€for€a€review€of€administrative€acts€by€a€superior€official€within€six€days.€€The€stateŠ F'–"& Šof€emergency€that€had€been€declared€in€1982€had€been€repeatedly€extended€and€the€Government€hadŠ /(#' Šalways€given€due€notification€of€such€actions.€€In€the€interest€of€the€overall€peace€of€CentralŠ )h$( ŠAmerica,€the€Government€had€recently€decided€to€lift€the€state€of€emergency€prevailing€in€theŠ *Q%) Šcountry€even€though€its€cause€had€not€been€removed.Š ź*:&* ŠĢņņNon„discrimination€and€equality€of€the€sexesóóŠ ¼, (, ŠŠ „-õ(- Š399.€€In€connection€with€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€receive€detailedŠ ° Šinformation€on€the€effectiveness€of€programmes€of€action€designed€to€promote€full€equality€betweenŠ ™é Šmen€and€women,€including€the€education€and€health€programmes€and€the€Child€Development€CentreŠ ‚Ņ Šprogramme.€€They€also€inquired€in€which€respects,€other€than€in€the€exercise€of€political€rights,€theŠ k» Šrights€of€aliens€were€restricted€as€compared€with€those€of€citizens,€and€whether€non„nationalsŠ T¤ Špermanently€resident€in€Nicaragua€were€subject€to€restrictions€on€their€choice€of€profession€andŠ =  Šplace€of€work.Š & v ŠĢ400.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€the€Government€had€endeavouringŠ ų H Što€integrate€men€and€women€into€productive€life€on€an€equal€footing.€€The€health€professionsŠ į 1  Šemployed€more€women€than€men,€women€could€hold€public€office,€classes€were€co„educational€inŠ Ź   Š90€per€cent€of€primary€and€secondary€schools,€and€married€women€were€guaranteed€independenceŠ ³  Šin€matters€of€nationality€pursuant€to€Decree€No.€€867€of€November€1981.€€Child€DevelopmentŠ œģ  ŠCentres€did€not€discriminate€in€any€way€on€grounds€of€sex.€€Article€27€of€the€Constitution€providedŠ …Õ  Šthat€aliens€enjoyed€the€same€rights€as€nationals€subject€to€certain€restrictions€stipulated€in€domesticŠ n¾  Špublic€law,€but€they€could€not€hold€public€office.Š W§  ŠĢņņRight€to€lifeóóŠ )y ŠĢ401.€€With€regard€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€what€rules€andŠ ūK Šregulations€governed€the€use€of€firearms€by€the€police€and€security€forces;€whether€there€had€beenŠ ä4 Šany€complaints€during€the€reporting€period€concerning€alleged€disappearances€caused€by€the€policeŠ Ķ Šor€the€security€forces€or€undertaken€with€their€support€and,€if€so,€whether€such€allegations€had€beenŠ ¶ Šinvestigated€by€the€authorities€and€with€what€results;€what€measures€had€been€taken€by€theŠ Ÿļ ŠGovernment€in€the€field€of€health€care,€particularly€with€a€view€to€reducing€infant€mortality;€andŠ ˆŲ Šhow€the€infant€mortality€rate€among€the€ethnic€groups€compared€with€that€of€the€total€population.Š qĮ ŠĢ402.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€confirmed€that€there€had€been€instances€ofŠ C“ Šdisappearances,€predominantly€in€war€zones.€€Often,€when€people€had€joined€the€ņņcontrasóó€without€theŠ ,| Šknowledge€of€their€families,€they€had€been€reported€as€missing.€€Disappearances€had€also€occurredŠ e Šas€a€result€of€the€fighting€between€the€Sandinista€Peopleššs€Army€and€the€ņņcontrasóó€and€at€times€it€hadŠ žN Šbeen€difficult€to€determine€who€had€actually€disappeared.€€Extensive€immunization€campaigns€hadŠ ē 7 Šbeen€organized€against€polio,€smallpox€and€measles€and€efforts€had€also€been€made€to€combatŠ Š!   Šmalaria.€€Children€were€provided€with€milk€in€the€schools.€The€same€health€care€services€wereŠ ¹" ! Šavailable,€without€discrimination,€to€Nicaraguaššs€ethnic€population€but€it€had€been€difficult€to€reachŠ ¢#ņ" Šthose€populations€at€times€because€they€lived€in€remote€areas€and€were€suspicious€of€modernŠ ‹$Ū# Šmedicine.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢņņTreatment€of€prisoners€and€other€detaineesóóŠ F'–"& ŠĢ403.€€With€reference€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€whether€the€legalŠ )h$( Šsituation€with€respect€to€torture€described€in€the€report€had€been€clarified;€what€the€procedures€wereŠ *Q%) Šfor€receiving€and€investigating€complaints€relating€to€article€7€of€the€Covenant;€whether€there€hadŠ ź*:&* Šbeen€any€such€complaints€during€the€reporting€period€and,€if€so,€whether€those€allegations€had€beenŠ Ó+#'+ Šinvestigated€by€the€authorities€and€with€what€results;€what€the€penalties€were€for€violating€theŠ ¼, (, Šprovisions€of€article€4€of€Ministry€of€Interior€Order€No.€€069„86€of€21€October€1986;€whether€thatŠ „-õ(- Šorder€applied€to€the€use€of€the€so„called€š šchiquitasšš;€whether€the€United€Nations€Standard€MinimumŠ ° ŠRules€for€the€Treatment€of€Prisoners€were€complied€with;€whether€prison€regulations€and€directivesŠ ™é Šwere€known€and€accessible€to€prisoners;€and€whether€there€were€any€political€prisoners€in€NicaraguaŠ ‚Ņ Šand,€if€so,€for€what€reasons€they€were€being€detained.€Members€also€wished€to€receive€furtherŠ k» Šinformation€concerning€the€alleged€failure€of€the€Government€to€identify€and€establish€lists€ofŠ T¤ Šprisoners€of€war;€the€conditions€and€duration€of€solitary€confinement,€the€protection€afforded€toŠ =  Šindividuals€taken€prisoner€during€the€internal€armed€conflict,€the€definitions€applied€to€politicalŠ & v Šprisoners€and€political€crimes,€the€implementation€of€the€Amparo€Act;€and€the€prisoner€rehabilitationŠ  _ Šrgime.Š ų H ŠĢ404.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€explained€that€the€national€penitentiary€system€regulating€theŠ Ź   Štreatment€of€prisoners€and€other€detainees€was€under€the€control€of€the€Ministry€of€the€Interior.€Š ³  ŠPhysical€or€mental€torture€was€not€acceptable€under€any€circumstances€and€the€dignity€and€integrityŠ œģ  Šof€the€person€were€guaranteed€under€the€Constitution.€€The€procedure€for€investigating€allegedŠ …Õ  Šviolations€of€rights€under€article€7€of€the€Covenant€were€set€out€in€the€Amparo€Act€of€1980€and€courtŠ n¾  Šrulings€were€enforced.€€The€use€of€the€so„called€š šchiquitasšš€had€been€eliminated€in€1989€and€theŠ W§  ŠInternational€Committee€of€the€Red€Cross,€which€had€visited€the€alleged€sites€of€secret€prisons€inŠ @ Š1989,€had€found€no€such€prisons.€€The€International€Red€Cross€had€also€carried€out€a€survey€of€theŠ )y Šnumber€of€prisoners€in€the€national€and€regional€penitentiaries.€€There€were€no€political€prisonersŠ b Šin€Nicaragua€and,€in€order€to€create€a€climate€of€peace,€individuals€who€had€been€detained€for€crimesŠ ūK Šendangering€State€security€had€been€pardoned€during€the€recent€electoral€process.€€TheŠ ä4 Šdetermination€of€when€an€individual€who€had€been€captured€during€the€period€of€the€armed€conflictŠ Ķ Šwas€rehabilitated€and€ready€to€be€transferred€to€an€easier€treatment€rgime€was€made€by€a€team€ofŠ ¶ Špsychologists€and€sociologists€working€directly€with€the€prison€population.€€Under€the€open„goalsŠ Ÿļ Šsystem,€detainees€were€free€to€work€in€public€areas€and€to€spend€week„ends€with€their€families.€Š ˆŲ ŠSuch€prisoners€rarely€tried€to€escape.Š qĮ ŠĢņņLiberty€and€security€of€the€personóóŠ C“ ŠĢ405.€€With€reference€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€how€soon€after€arrestŠ e Ša€person€could€contact€his€lawyer;€what€was€the€maximum€period€of€pre„trial€detention;€whatŠ žN Šprovisions€governed€release€pending€trial;€what€was€the€authority,€under€the€Sandinista€PoliceŠ ē 7 ŠJurisdiction€Act,€of€the€police;€and,€in€the€absence€of€a€specific€provision€for€compensating€victimsŠ Š!   Šof€unlawful€arrest€or€detention€or€persons€wrongfully€convicted€or€imprisoned,€how€suchŠ ¹" ! Šcompensation€could€be€obtained.€€They€also€requested€information€concerning€detention€inŠ ¢#ņ" Šinstitutions€other€than€prisons€and€for€reasons€other€than€crimes;€provisions€for€the€judicial€reviewŠ ‹$Ū# Šof€decisions€to€place€mentally€ill€persons€in€institutions;€and€legal€provisions€relating€to€preventiveŠ t%Ä $ Šdetention.Š ]&­!% ŠĢ406€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€under€the€Sandinista€PoliceŠ /(#' ŠJurisdiction€Act€an€accused€person€had€to€be€allowed€to€contact€a€lawyer€within€72€hours.€Š )h$( ŠUnfortunately,€there€had€been€a€number€of€abuses€where€accused€persons€had€not€been€permittedŠ *Q%) Što€contact€a€lawyer,€but€such€difficulties€were€being€overcome€through€the€remedy€of€ņņamparoóó€andŠ ź*:&* Šthe€stepped€up€training€of€members€of€the€police€in€law€enforcement€and€legal€procedures.€€AfterŠ Ó+#'+ Šthe€maximum€of€five€days€following€an€arrest,€the€police€examining€magistrate€was€obliged,€withinŠ ¼, (, Ša€further€24„hour€period,€to€evaluate€the€facts€and€decide€whether€to€release€the€accused€personŠ „-õ(- Šimmediately€or€to€refer€the€case€to€the€Government€Attorney€for€further€consideration.€€In€the€latterŠ ° Šcase,€the€Government€Attorney€had€then€three€days€to€decide€on€the€merits€of€the€case€and€whetherŠ ™é Što€institute€proceedings.€€Thus,€the€maximum€period€of€pre„trial€detention€was€nine€days.€€ReleaseŠ ‚Ņ Šfrom€preventive€detention€on€bail€or€on€personal€recognizance€was€possible€under€the€law.Š k» ŠĢ407.€€Compensation€for€unlawful€arrest€or€wrongful€imprisonment€could€be€pursued€through€theŠ =  Šcourts€by€procedures€established€under€the€Civil€Code€for€human€rights€violations.€€PregnantŠ & v Šwomen,€mentally€ill€persons€and€persons€with€chronic€illnesses€or€infectious€diseases€were€placedŠ  _ Šin€institutions€other€than€prisons€in€accordance€with€the€Code€of€Criminal€Procedure.Š ų H ŠĢņņRight€to€a€fair€trialóóŠ Ź   ŠĢ408.€€In€connection€with€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€requested€information€concerningŠ œģ  Šthe€legal€and€administrative€provisions€governing€the€tenure,€dismissal€and€disciplining€of€membersŠ …Õ  Šof€the€judiciary€and€how€the€security€of€tenure€and€independence€of€the€judiciary€was€guaranteed;Š n¾  Šthe€jurisdictional€differences€among€the€ordinary€courts,€the€Anti„Somoza€Peopleššs€Tribunals€andŠ W§  ŠMilitary€Courts;€popular€participation€in€the€courts;€the€kind€and€number€of€cases€that€were€assignedŠ @ Što€the€Anti„Somozaššs€Peopleššs€Tribunals€under€Decree€No.€€1074;€the€organization€and€functioningŠ )y Šof€the€Bar€in€Nicaragua;€and€the€availability€of€legal€assistance€to€criminal€defendants.€€In€addition,Š b Šmembers€wished€to€know€how€military€judges€were€appointed.Š ūK ŠĢ409.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€explained€that€judges€of€the€Supreme€CourtŠ Ķ Šwere€elected€from€lists€submitted€by€the€Executive€to€the€National€Assembly.€€Such€lists€were€drawnŠ ¶ Šup€by€the€President€in€consultation€with€members€of€the€legal€profession,€various€political€partiesŠ Ÿļ Šand€other€Government€bodies.€€Appeals€Court€judges€were€elected€by€the€Supreme€Court.€€TheŠ ˆŲ Šfunctions€of€dissolved€bodies€such€as€the€Sandinista€police,€the€housing€court€and€the€agrarian€courtsŠ qĮ Šhad€been€given€to€the€judicial€branch,€and€this€had€strengthened€the€latterššs€independence.€Š ZŖ ŠNicaraguaššs€only€experience€with€popular€participation€in€the€courts€had€been€the€Anti„SomozaŠ C“ ŠPeopleššs€Tribunals,€established€in€1983€and€abolished€by€Decree€No.€€296€of€20€January€1988.€€AllŠ ,| Šthe€cases€pending€before€those€tribunals€had€been€transferred€to€the€ordinary€courts.€€FormerŠ e Šmembers€of€the€National€Guard€and€the€ņņcontrasóó€who€were€still€in€custody€had€been€amnestied€by€anŠ žN Šorder€of€9€February€1990.€€Military€courts€dealt€only€with€military€personnel€or,€in€exceptional€cases,Š ē 7 Šwith€civilians€involved€in€crimes€of€a€military€nature.€€Persons€who€had€been€judged€by€a€militaryŠ Š!   Šcourt€could€appeal€to€the€Supreme€Court.€€There€was€no€organization€or€professional€group€thatŠ ¹" ! Šperformed€the€functions€of€a€Bar.€€Defendants€without€means€could€obtain€legal€advice€from€an€ņņexŠ ¢#ņ" Šofficioóó€counsel€appointed€to€assist€them.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢņņFreedom€of€movement€and€expulsion€of€aliensóóŠ ]&­!% ŠĢ410.€€With€regard€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€what€legal€provisionsŠ /(#' Šgoverned€the€expulsion€of€aliens;€whether€an€appeal€against€an€expulsion€order€had€suspensiveŠ )h$( Šeffect;€and€whether€the€Amnesty€Act€of€23€February€1985€was€still€in€force.€€They€also€wished€toŠ *Q%) Šreceive€statistical€estimates€concerning€the€number€of€nationals€who€had€left€Nicaragua€subsequentŠ ź*:&* Što€19€July€1979€and€the€number€that€had€returned€since€the€enactment€of€Decree€No.€€1353€of€4Š Ó+#'+ ŠDecember€1983€and€of€Act€No.€€1€of€23€January€1985.Š ¼, (, ŠŠ „-õ(- Š411.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€under€the€Migration€Act€of€4€MayŠ ° Š1982€a€residence€permit€could€be€revoked€or€denied,€without€explanation,€for€offences€against€publicŠ ™é Špolicy€or€national€security€or€for€interfering€in€the€countryššs€internal€affairs€and€in€political€matters.€Š ‚Ņ ŠThe€Ministry€of€the€Interior€could€be€petitioned€to€review€an€expulsion€order€and,€under€article€27Š k» Šof€the€Constitution,€the€remedy€of€ņņamparoóó€could€be€invoked€before€the€Supreme€Court€of€Justice€ifŠ T¤ Šan€administrative€confirmation€of€expulsion€resulted€in€injury.€€The€Amnesty€Act€of€23€1985€hadŠ =  Šbeen€extended€several€times€and€had€been€supplemented€by€the€National€Reconciliation€Act,€adoptedŠ & v Šon€13€March€1990.€€A€total€of€211€persons€had€been€granted€amnesty€between€April€1989€andŠ  _ ŠFebruary€1990.€€The€number€of€Nicaraguans€who€had€left€the€country€after€July€1979€or€whoŠ ų H Šreturned€after€December€1983€was€not€known,€but€more€than€5€million€people€had€travelled€to€andŠ į 1  Šfrom€Nicaragua€for€various€reasons.Š Ź   ŠĢņņRight€to€privacyóóŠ œģ  ŠĢ412.€€In€connection€with€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€inquired€as€to€whether€there€had€beenŠ n¾  Šany€complaints€of€abuse€of€authority€by€unlawful€entry€and,€if€so,€whether€such€cases€had€beenŠ W§  Šinvestigated€and€action€taken€to€punish€offenders€and€to€prevent€a€recurrence€of€the€offence.Š @ ŠĢ413.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€said€that€the€home,€correspondence€and€communications€of€allŠ b Šindividuals€were€inviolable,€in€principle,€under€article€26€of€the€Constitution€and€homes€could€notŠ ūK Šbe€entered€and€searched€without€a€written€order€from€a€competent€judge.€€However,€owing€to€theŠ ä4 Šspecial€circumstances€prevailing€in€the€country€that€provision€had€been€suspended€and,€in€someŠ Ķ Šexceptional€cases,€the€Sandinista€Police€had€conducted€searches€without€warrants.Š ¶ ŠĢņņFreedom€of€religion€and€expression;€prohibition€of€propaganda€for€war€and€incitement€to€national,Š ˆŲ Šracial€or€religious€hatredóóŠ qĮ ŠĢ414.€€With€reference€to€those€issues,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€whether€DecreeŠ C“ ŠNo.€€639€of€1981€also€applied€to€churches,€sects€or€denominations,€in€addition€to€š šassociationsšš€orŠ ,| Šš šorganizationsšš;€what€regulations€governed€the€registration,€operation€and€control€of€religiousŠ e Šdenominations;€what€measures€had€been€taken€to€enforce€articles€1,€2€and€3€of€the€General€Act€onŠ žN ŠSocial€Communication€Media€and€its€amendments€and€what€had€been€the€outcome€of€prosecutionsŠ ē 7 Šunder€that€Act;€and€whether€there€were€any€privately€owned€radio€and€television€stations€and,€if€not,Š Š!   Šwhether€measures€had€been€taken€to€ensure€that€dissenting€opinions€were€given€a€fair€opportunityŠ ¹" ! Što€be€heard.Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢ415.€€Members€also€wished€to€know€who€determined€the€grounds€for€revoking€the€legal€personalityŠ t%Ä $ Šof€a€religious€association;€whether€religion€was€taught€in€non„denominational€schools;€how€the€sharpŠ ]&­!% Šdecrease€in€the€number€of€Catholic€clergy€between€1979€and€1986€could€be€explained;€whetherŠ F'–"& Špersons€in€the€media€could€be€held€criminally€responsible€under€provisions€of€the€General€Act€onŠ /(#' ŠSocial€Communication€Media;€whether€there€were€any€requirements,€other€than€registration,€forŠ )h$( Šestablishing€a€radio€or€television€station€or€founding€a€newspaper;€and€whether€an€independent€codeŠ *Q%) Šof€ethics€in€journalism€existed€in€Nicaragua.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ416.€€Replying€to€questions€raised€concerning€freedom€of€religion,€the€representative€of€the€StateŠ ¼, (, Šparty€said€that€religious€associations€or€organizations€were€regulated€by€the€law€of€15€NovemberŠ „-õ(- Š1983€(Decree€No.€€1346)€but€that€responsibility€for€the€central€registration€of€associations€was€vestedŠ ° Šin€the€Ministry€of€Interior.€€In€national€security€cases,€the€power€to€confer€or€revoke€legal€personalityŠ ™é Šrested€with€the€National€Assembly.€€There€was€complete€freedom€to€provide€religious€instructionŠ ‚Ņ Šin€private€and€public€schools€and€colleges.€€In€fact,€most€private€schools€were€run€by€priests€andŠ k» Šwere€heavily€subsidized€by€the€Government.€€The€problems€affecting€religious€groups€were€due€toŠ T¤ Šwar€conditions€and€not€to€persecutions.Š =  ŠĢ417.€€Referring€to€questions€relating€to€freedom€of€expression,€the€representative€said€that€there€wereŠ  _ Š25€private€radio€stations€in€the€country€but€that€all€television€stations€were€State€controlled.€Š ų H ŠOpposition€parties€had€been€given€equitable€access€to€radio€and€television€during€the€1990€electionŠ į 1  Šcampaign.€€Censorship€under€the€Mass€Media€Act€had€been€imposed€only€to€a€limited€degree€inŠ Ź   Šinstances€where€the€media€had€incited€to€violence€or€undermined€national€security.€€In€order€to€allayŠ ³  Šfears€that€the€Act€could€be€used€in€a€repressive€manner€during€the€election€campaign,€control€of€theŠ œģ  Šmedia€had€been€transferred€to€the€Supreme€Electoral€Council,€and€that€Council€had€implemented€theŠ …Õ  Š1989€Electoral€Act€in€such€a€way€as€to€maximize€access€to€the€media.€€Both€the€Mass€Media€Act€andŠ n¾  ŠDecree€No.€€511,€which€restricted€information€dealing€with€internal€security€matters€and€nationalŠ W§  Šdefence,€had€been€superseded€by€Act€No.€78€of€8€March€1990.€€Nicaragua€had€no€independent€codeŠ @ Šof€journalistic€ethics.Š )y ŠĢņņFreedom€of€assembly€and€associationóóŠ ūK ŠĢ418.€€With€regard€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€what€were€the€main€newŠ Ķ Šprovisions€governing€associations€as€contained€in€Decree€No.1346€and€whether€that€Decree€hadŠ ¶ Šentered€into€force;€whether€public€officials€and€civil€servants€could€form€trade€unions;€what€wereŠ Ÿļ Šthe€expected€consequences€of€the€new€Labour€Code;€and€what€rules€applied€to€non„politicalŠ ˆŲ Šdemonstrations.Š qĮ ŠĢ419.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€Decree€No.€346€was€in€force€and€thatŠ C“ Šmore€than€130€civil€and€secular€associations€had€been€created€subsequent€to€its€adoption.€€The€newŠ ,| ŠLabour€Code€under€discussion€was€designed€to€guarantee€compliance€with€the€rules€of€theŠ e ŠInternational€Labour€Organisation.€€There€were€no€unions€for€public€officials€and€civil€servants.€Š žN ŠPublic€demonstrations€for€which€permits€were€required€were€controlled€by€the€Sandinista€Police€inŠ ē 7 Šaccordance€with€the€relevant€regulations.Š Š!   ŠĢņņProtection€of€family€and€childrenóóŠ ¢#ņ" ŠĢ420.€€With€reference€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€receive€information€on€theŠ t%Ä $ Šlaw€and€practice€relating€to€the€employment€of€minors.Š ]&­!% ŠĢ421.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€noted€that€the€employment€of€minors€was€covered€under€TitleŠ /(#' ŠIV,€Chapter€IV€of€the€Constitution€and€by€Decree€No.1065.€€Article€84€of€the€Constitution€prohibitedŠ )h$( Šchild€labour.€€Appropriate€child€development€programmes€had€been€established.Š *Q%) ŠĢņņRight€to€participate€in€the€conduct€of€public€affairsóóŠ Ó+#'+ ŠĢ422.€€In€connection€with€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€how€equitable€accessŠ „-õ(- Što€public€service€for€members€of€ethnic,€religious€or€linguistic€minorities,€and€of€the€various€politicalŠ ° Šparties,€was€ensured;€whether€members€of€the€armed€forces€could€belong€to€political€parties€andŠ ™é Šparticipate€in€political€life;€and€for€how€long€a€period€and€through€what€circumstances€politicalŠ ‚Ņ Šrights€could€be€forfeited.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€said€that€the€Civil€Service€Act€bannedŠ k» Šdiscrimination€on€grounds€of€sex,€religion€or€political€opinion€and€was€designed€to€guaranteeŠ T¤ Špolitical€pluralism€among€State€employees.€€There€was€complete€freedom€to€form€political€partiesŠ =  Šand€10€of€these€had€participated€in€the€recent€elections.€€Members€of€the€armed€forces€could€beŠ & v Šelected€to€public€office€after€having€renounced€their€military€office€and€could€participate€fully€in€theŠ  _ Špolitical€life€of€the€country€to€the€extent€compatible€with€their€former€military€activities.€PersonsŠ ų H Šfound€guilty€and€sentenced€for€offences€against€public€policy€were€subject€to€the€suspension€of€theirŠ į 1  Špolitical€and€civil€rights.€€Minorities€could€discuss€their€problems€in€the€National€Assembly€inŠ Ź   Šaccordance€with€the€Statute€of€Autonomy.Š ³  ŠĢņņRights€of€persons€belonging€to€minoritiesóóŠ …Õ  ŠĢ423.€€With€reference€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€what€changes€hadŠ W§  Šbeen€introduced€by€the€Statute€of€Autonomy€for€the€Atlantic€Coast€Region€and€how€the€minoritiesŠ @ Šin€this€region€had€voted€in€the€elections€held€on€25€February€1990.Š )y ŠĢ424.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€the€procedures€for€electing€politicalŠ ūK Šand€administrative€authorities€in€the€two€autonomous€regions€had€been€changed€so€as€to€guaranteeŠ ä4 Šrespect€for€the€traditions€of€the€ethnic€groups€in€each€region.€€Economic€projects€in€the€areas€ofŠ Ķ Šfishing,€air€transport,€education€and€farming€as€well€as€programmes€for€disseminating€informationŠ ¶ Šin€native€languages€in€the€press€and€on€radio€and€television,€had€been€introduced.€€The€exploitationŠ Ÿļ Šof€mining,€fisheries€and€other€resources€had€also€been€promoted€in€order€to€protect€the€rights€ofŠ ˆŲ Šminorities,€consolidate€the€countryššs€political€and€administrative€structure€and€ensure€that€there€wasŠ qĮ Šno€discrimination€between€the€Atlantic€Coast€region€and€the€Pacific€Coast€region.€€Special€effortsŠ ZŖ Šhad€also€been€made€to€ensure€that€minorities€participated€fully€in€the€February€1990€elections.€€TheŠ C“ ŠOpposition€National€Union€(UNO)€had€won€most€of€the€minority€constituencies€in€the€region€butŠ ,| Šsome€Sandinista€candidates€had€also€been€elected.Š e ŠĢņņGeneral€observationsóóŠ ē 7 ŠĢ425.€€Members€of€the€Committee€expressed€their€appreciation€to€the€State€party€for€submitting€anŠ ¹" ! Šexcellent€report,€and€commended€the€delegation€for€its€co„operation€and€competence€in€replying€toŠ ¢#ņ" Šthe€Committeeššs€questions.€€Members€noted€with€particular€satisfaction€that€the€recent€legislativeŠ ‹$Ū# Šreview€had€led€to€the€repeal€or€amendment€of€some€unsatisfactory€provisions€relating€to€theŠ t%Ä $ Šmaintenance€of€law€and€order€and€to€national€security.€€The€enactment€of€the€recent€ņņAmparoóó€Act,Š ]&­!% Šthe€abolition€of€the€Anti„Somoza€Peopleššs€Tribunals,€the€adoption€of€the€1987€Constitution€and,Š F'–"& Šabove€all,€the€free€and€internationally€monitored€elections€in€February€1990€and€the€expected€smoothŠ /(#' Štransfer€of€power€to€the€new€Government€had€all€been€excellent€developments€that€augured€well€forŠ )h$( Šthe€continued€consolidation€of€the€democratic€process€and€the€improvement€of€the€human€rightsŠ *Q%) Šsituation€in€the€country.€€At€the€same€time,€members€recalled€that€there€had€been€derogations€fromŠ ź*:&* Ša€whole€range€of€rights€during€several€very€long€states€of€emergencies€and€that€certain€specificŠ Ó+#'+ Šquestions€in€that€regard,€as€well€as€in€respect€of€various€constitutional€and€legal€provisions,€had€notŠ ¼, (, Šbeen€satisfactorily€answered.€€Members€continued€to€feel€special€concern€about€several€troublesomeŠ „-õ(- Šareas,€including€the€powers€of€the€police€to€inflict€punishment€of€up€to€six€months;€insufficient€pressŠ ° Šfreedom;€inadequate€guarantees€for€ensuring€the€independence€of€the€judiciary;€non„compliance€withŠ ™é Šarticle€9,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Covenant€in€respect€of€the€length€of€pre„trial€detention;€the€lack€ofŠ ‚Ņ Šadequate€provisions€for€compensating€victims€of€human€rights€violations;€and€the€excessively€broadŠ k» Šscope€of€the€Amnesty€Act€of€1990.Š T¤ ŠĢ426.€€The€representative€of€the€State€party€thanked€the€members€of€the€Committee€for€their€keenŠ & v Šinterest€and€assured€them€that€their€comments€would€be€transmitted€both€to€the€current€GovernmentŠ  _ Šand€the€incoming€Government.€€After€the€many€sacrifices€for€peace€made€by€the€Nicaraguan€peopleŠ ų H Špeace€was€now€at€hand.€€He€was€confident€that€this€would€create€optimum€conditions€for€democraticŠ į 1  Šprogress€and€the€protection€of€human€rights.Š Ź   ŠĢ427.€€Concluding€the€consideration€of€the€second€periodic€report€of€Nicaragua,€the€Chairman€againŠ œģ  Šthanked€the€delegation€for€the€constructive€manner€in€which€it€had€conducted€its€dialogue€with€theŠ …Õ  ŠCommittee.€€The€favourable€developments€that€had€resulted€from€the€recent€elections€had€impressedŠ n¾  Šthe€entire€world.€€He€hoped€that€issues€not€fully€covered€in€the€second€periodic€report€would€be€dealtŠ W§  Šwith€in€the€next€report€which,€he€trusted,€would€show€continued€improvement€in€the€implementationŠ @ Šof€the€Covenant€in€Nicaragua.