CASE OF THE PUNTA PIEDRA GARIFUNA COMMUNITY AND ITS MEMBERS v. HONDURAS TABLE OF CONTENTS I.INTRODUCTION OF THE CASE AND PURPOSE OF THE DISPUTE ................................ 5 II PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COURT.......................................................................... 7 III JURISDICTION ..................................................................................................... 10 IV PRELIMINARY OBJECTION: ALLEGED FAILURE TO EXHAUST DOMESTIC REMEDIES................................................................................................................... 10 A. Observations of the parties and the Commission ................................................... 10 b. Considerations of the Court ................................................................................. 11 V THE STATE’S PARTIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY ........................... 13 A. Observations of the parties and the Commision ...................................................... 13 B. Considerations of the Court ................................................................................. 15 VI PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS ......................................................................... 16 A. The State’s alleged failure to recognize the Punta Piedra Garifuna community as original people ........................................................................................................... 16 B. Admissibility of some facts of the factual framework ............................................... 18 B.1 Exclusion of facts and arguments related to “Sierra Rio Tinto” National Park .............. 18 B.2 Request to include facts related to the Los Chorros” Hydroelectric Project; mining exploration and exploitation activities and the Fisheries Act ......................................... 19 VII EVIDENCE ............................................................................................................ 20 A. Documentary, testimonial and expert evidence ...................................................... 20 B. Admission of the evidence.................................................................................... 20 B.1 Admission of the documentary evidence ............................................................... 20 B.2 Admission of the testimonial and expert evidence .................................................. 21 B.3 Admission of the evidence related to mining exploration activities ............................ 21 C. Assessment of the evidence ................................................................................. 22 VIII FACTS ................................................................................................................. 22 A. The Garifuna people in Honduras and the Punta Piedra Garifuna community .............. 23 A.1 Background ....................................................................................................... 23 B. State recognition and titling of the territory of the Punta Piedra Garifuna community . 26 B.1 Definitive ownership title awarded in 1993 (800 hectares and 748 m2)...................... 27 B.2 Definitive ownership title awarded in 1999 (1,513 hectares and 5,445.03 m2) ........... 28 C. Occupation of the territory titled to the Punta Piedra Garifuna community by inhabitants of the village of Rio Miel ............................................................................................. 30 D. Steps taken to clear the title of the territory of the Punta Piedra Garifuna community.. 33 D.1 Ad Hoc Interinstitutional Commission and Undertaking signed on December 13, 2001 34 D.2 2006 Memorandum of Understanding, Special Agreement with the village of Rio Miel of April 20, 2007, and subsequent actions ..................................................................... 36 E. “Punta Piedra II” non-metallic mining concession ....................................................38 F. Complaints filed at the domestic level as a result of the conflict ............................... 39 F.1. Land usurpation complaint, investigation and criminal proceedings owing to the death of Félix Ordóñez Suazo ............................................................................................... 40 F.1.1 2003 Land usurpation complaint ..................................................................... 40 F.1.2 Death of Félix Ordóñez Suazo ......................................................................... 41 F.1.3 Preliminary investigation and criminal proceedings for the death of Félix Ordóñez Suazo ................................................................................................................ 42 F.2 Complaint for the offense of usurpation and threats against Paulino Mejía and the Punta Piedra Garifuna community ..................................................................................... 44 F.3 Complaint of abuse of authority owing to the construction of a highway cutting through the territory of the Punta Piedra Garifuna community .................................................. 45 IX MERITS.................................................................................................................. 47 IX-1 RIGHT TO COLLECTIVE PROPERTY IN RELATION TO ARTICLES 1(1) AND 2 OF THE AMERICAN CONVENTION ......................................................................................... 47 A. Arguments of the Commission and the parties ....................................................... 47 B. Considerations of the Court .................................................................................. 48 B.1 Right to collective property of indigenous and tribal peoples .................................... 49 2