CASE N° HOND/02 - MIGUEL ANGEL PAVON SALAZAR - HONDURAS

Resolution adopted without a vote by the Inter-Parliamentary Council
at its 162nd session (Windhoek, 11 April 1998)

The Inter-Parliamentary Council,

Referring to the outline of the case, as contained in the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/162/11(a)-R.1), and to the resolution adopted at its 161st session (September 1997) concerning the case of Mr. Miguel Angel Pavón Salazar, of Honduras,

Taking account of information provided by one of the sources in March 1998,

Recalling that Mr. Pavón Salazar was shot dead on 14 January 1988; that the judicial investigations which established a link between his murder and evidence he gave in October 1987 before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights concerning " disappearances " came to a practical standstill until, in 1994, the Honduran National Commissioner for Human Rights published a report concluding that the investigations had not been carried out properly, thereby causing oversight of the investigation to be entrusted to the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights,

Recalling also that, despite this measure, no progress in the investigations was made by the competent investigating judge of the Third Criminal Court (Juzgado Tercero de Letras de lo Criminal); that finally, on 4 July 1996 - apparently on the initiative of the Honduran Congress - the Criminal Investigation Branch of the Public Prosecutor's Office (DIC) resumed the investigations into the murder of Mr. Pavón Salazar which brought new evidence to light; that, however, additional investigations have been deemed necessary before a formal accusation can be lodged,

Considering that one of the sources expressed confidence that this would materialise in the months ahead,

Noting that legislative and presidential elections took place in November 1997 in which the former President of Congress was elected President of the Republic and the former Vice-President of Congress, President of that body,

1. Regrets that the lack of further progress in the investigation continues to prevent appropriate court action;
2. Earnestly hopes that the additional investigations still under way will rapidly permit the filing of an indictment, and that subsequent judicial proceedings will finally restore the right to justice in this case;
3. Calls again on the Honduran parliamentary authorities to continue monitoring the case and ensure that it is brought to a satisfactory conclusion;
4. Re-emphasises that, in accordance with generally accepted standards of human rights, victims of human rights violations are entitled to adequate material compensation, and wishes to ascertain the stage reached in the amicable settlement proceedings under way in this respect before the American Commission on Human Rights;
5. Requests the Secretary General to address on its behalf the newly elected President of the Republic of Honduras and the President of the National Congress, inviting them to take necessary measures to ensure progress in the relevant judicial proceedings and to keep it informed of progress in the investigations;
6. Also requests the Secretary General to maintain contact with the American Commission on Human Rights regarding this case;
7. Requests the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians to continue examining the case and report to it at its next session (September 1998).

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