OEA/Ser.L/V/II.53 REPORT ON THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF BOLIVIA
CONCLUSIONS
AND RECOMMENDATIONS 1.
In light of the background information, events and considerations set
forth in the present report, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has
reached the conclusion that the Government of Bolivia, which took power on July
17, 1981, has committed serious violations of human rights upheld in the
American Convention on Human Rights. These
violations affect: a.
The right to life, inasmuch as authorities belonging to or linked with
Government security agencies have unlawfully caused the death of leaders
opposing the new regime and also of an indeterminate number of other
individuals; b.
The right to humane treatment, by subjecting detainees to cruel and
inhuman physical and psychological punishment and torture during the weeks
following the military insurrection; c.
The right to personal liberty, since hundreds of individuals had been
detained without compliance with constitutional and legal requirements such as
warrants from competent authorities or the bringing of charges, and without
being brought to trial, even though some of those individuals have already been
released. And also because habeas corpus and amparo,
judicial guarantees of the highest importance for the protection of human
rights, have not been effect; d.
Political rights which are suspended.
In the opinion of the Commission, the process of the restoration of
democracy that was begun in 1977, was interrupted and all the efforts the
Bolivian people had made in that direction were frustrated by the uprising of
July 17, 1980, which disregarded the popular will and was the origin of other
violations of human rights; e.
The right to movement and residence, since most of the individuals
detained were forced to go into exile, prohibited from returning to the country
or threatened if they returned to Bolivian territory.
Other citizens who chose to remain in Bolivia were confined to living in
particular geographical areas, and were also subject to special control by the
authorities; f.
The right of assembly, freedom of association and labor rights, which
have been seriously limited and restricted by government action, aggravated by
the issuance of regulations discriminating against the opposition groups; g.
The freedom of thought and expression.
While no formal limits have been placed on the exercise of these rights,
there has been an appreciable amount of self-censure caused by the acts of
intimidation practiced on some journalists, the restriction of official paid
notices and the assaults on offices owned by some communications media. 2.
Serious obstacles have been placed in the way of the operations of the
Catholic Church and the Permanent Assembly for Human Rights, both of which, but
particularly the Church, have been systematically persecuted; priests of various
religious denominations have been detained, mistreated, deported and confined. 3.
The Commission observes that the Government of Bolivia suspended
political rights which under the American Convention on Human Rights cannot be
suspended. It also suspended other rights without complying with the
substantive restrictions and requirements set forth in Article 27 of the Pact of
San José. 4.
The Commission has learned that the Junta of Commanders, the supreme
organ of the Military Government, has appointed General Celso Torrelio Villa to
be the nation’s new president. It
has also read the statements he made when swearing in his Cabinet of ministers.
The Commission is confident that this change will mean an institutional
opening whereby the holding of general elections will be guaranteed in the near
future, with the full participation of the various political parties, thus
permitting the Bolivian people to enjoy a system of representative democracy
based on the free expression of the popular will. By
virtue of the conclusions stated above, the Commission feels it pertinent to
make the following recommendations to the Government of Bolivia: a.
That it take all measures that may be necessary to prevent new violations
of the right to life, and that it conduct investigations in order to clarify the
irregular circumstances under which there were deaths attributed to government
authorities, and that it punish those found guilty with the full force of the
law. b.
That it take all measures that may be necessary to end the practice of
cruel and inhuman punishment and torture, and that it order investigation of
accusations of the use of cruel and inhuman punishment on detainees, meting out
to those responsible whatever penal and/or disciplinary measures are required by
law. c.
In reference to the right to personal liberty:
i. That it comply with the requirements set forth in the Constitution
whenever the Government makes use of the constitutional abnormality; ii. that it
immediately inform the families of detainees that they have been arrested; iii.
that it transfer detainees exclusively to official detention centers intended
for that purpose; iv. That it order
that detainees be told of the charges against them, that they be given access to
an attorney, and that they be brought under the jurisdiction of the competent
judge within the deadlines provided in the law; v. that it guarantee that habeas
corpus and amparo will be in effect. d.
That it order release of persons detained as a result of the military
uprising of July 17, 1980 against whom no charges have been brought, or
immediately brought to regular trial, if there is good cause. e.
That it allow those persons who were deported or who for other
circumstances were forced to voluntarily seek asylum or go into exile to return
to the country freely. f.
That it define the legal status of persons in compulsory residence as
soon as possible, guaranteeing them due process if there is reason to bring a
case, or otherwise to allow them freedom of movement. g.
That it take adequate measures to ensure observance of the right of
assembly, the freedom of association and labor rights, and repeal those
provisions that prevent normal practice of those rights, particularly Supreme
Decrees 17531 of July 21, 1980 and 17536 of July 30 of the same year. h.
That it conduct investigations on the destruction and sacking of radio
stations and newspapers, penalizing those responsible for such actions according
to the law, and properly paying indemnity to the owners.
That it also guarantee unrestricted exercise of the rights to freedom of
thought and expression. i.
That it take the measures required for the Catholic Church and entities
working for the promotion and protection of human rights to carry out the work
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