5
14.
The August 27, 2004 brief by the State, in which it reported on the steps it
has taken to implement the measures ordered in the President’s July 30, 2004 Order
(supra Having Seen 9). In said brief, the State pointed out that on August 3, 2004,
COPREDEH officials visited the village of Plan de Sánchez to coordinate actions with
the National Civil Police, to station two police agents at the home of Salvador
Jerónimo Sánchez, Prudencia Cabjón, Faustina Tojom, Juan Manuel Jerónimo, and
Buenaventura Manuel Jerónimo, and also that an agreement was reached regarding
rounds of the perimeter of the village of Plan de Sánchez; that on August 5, 2004,
COPREDEH officials met with the District Attorney of the Public Prosecutor’s Office,
with the aim of obtaining preliminary information on conduct of the investigation on
the threats to the beneficiaries of the measures; that on August 11 and 19, 2004 the
President of COPREDEH met with the Minister of the Interior to coordinate and
implement actions to provide protection and security for the village of Plan de
Sánchez; that on August 18, 2004, officials of COPREDEH and of the Unidad de
Protección para Defensores de Derechos Humanos [Protection Unit for Human Rights
Advocates] met with the beneficiaries and their representatives to inform them of
the steps taken to investigate the threats that they received; and that on August 25,
2004, COPREDEH officials met with the Ministers of the Interior and of Defense to
hear from them about progress in the investigation into the threats against the
beneficiaries and other members of the community of Plan de Sánchez.
The State also indicated that, for security reasons that it is unaware of, the
representatives of the beneficiaries transferred Salvador Jerónimo Sánchez to
another community. Finally, the State mentioned that the Special Prosecutor for
Human Rights has been asked to report on progress of the investigations into the
facts stated in the complaint.
15.
The representatives’ September 7, 2004 note, in which they submitted their
observations on the report by the State regarding steps taken to implement the
measures ordered in the President’s July 30, 2004 Order. Said representatives
pointed out that the National Civil Police in the Municipality of Rabinal, Baja Verapaz
“does not have sufficient officers to provide the patrol services to the community of
Plan de Sánchez, as well as to establish fixed surveillance posts at the residence of
Salvador Jerónimo Sánchez.” They added that, during the period from August 30 to
September 3, 2004, the security agents appointed by the National Civil Police of
Rabinal “were not at their assigned posts, leaving the beneficiaries and the
community of Plan de Sánchez in a vulnerable and risky situation.”
16.
The September 8, 2004 brief by the Inter-American Commission, in which
they submitted their observations on the report by the State and on the brief by the
representatives of the beneficiaries of the measures. In this regard, the Commission
stated its concern regarding the lack of security guards at the Community of Plan de
Sánchez for five days, which is “a serious negligence that the State must ensure
does not happen again.” Therefore, the Commission asked the Court to order the
State to develop a security plan with participation by the beneficiaries and their
representatives, to set a schedule for the security agents assigned to protect said
community, and to report on the number of agents assigned.
WHEREAS: