ORDER OF THE
INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
OF FEBRUARY 6, 1997
PROVISIONAL MEASURES REQUESTED BY THE
INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
IN THE MATTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF NICARAGUA
ALEMAN LACAYO CASE
HAVING SEEN:
1.
The February 2, 1996, communication in which the Inter-American Commission on
Human Rights (hereinafter "the Commission") submitted to the Inter-American Court of
Human Rights (hereinafter "the Court") a request for provisional measures on behalf of Mr.
Arnoldo Alemán-Lacayo, at the time a presidential candidate in Nicaragua, in connection
with case No. 11.281 pending before the Commission against the Government of Nicaragua
(hereinafter "the Government" or "Nicaragua".)
2.
The events that the Commission took into account in requesting that the Government
adopt provisional measures are summarized below:
18.
Dr. Arnoldo Alemán-Lacayo, 50 years old, and the Liberal Alliance candidate for the
Presidency of the Republic of Nicaragua, escaped injury in an attempt against his life at
approximately 10 a.m. on January 25, 1995 (sic). The events took place in the Municipality of
Wiwilí, 300 kilometers north of Managua, when Dr. Alemán was traveling in the zone on a
campaign tour. Approximately a dozen heavily armed men attacked the motorcade of Alemán.
19.
One of Dr. Alemán's bodyguards, identified as Luis Angel Cruz, was killed during the
course of the attack. In addition, the Deputy Chief of Police of the Department of Nueva
Segovia, Orlando Selva, and Liberal party supporters Heriberto Gadea and Antonio Alemán were
gravely injured.
20.
The sector in which the attack occurred is a haven for heavily armed criminals, many of
whom maintain ties with bands of ex-members of the Sandinista Popular Army and the
Nicaraguan Resistance who rearmed themselves as of 1990.
21.
Arnoldo Alemán is the presidential candidate of a coalition of four liberal parties for the
general election of this October 20.
3.
The Order of the Court of February 2, 1996, in which the following provisional
measures were adopted:
1.
To call upon the Government of the Republic of Nicaragua to adopt, forthwith, such
measures as are necessary to protect the life and personal integrity of Dr. Alemán-Lacayo and to
avoid irreparable damage to him, in strict compliance with its legal obligation, under Article 1(1)
of the Convention, to respect and guarantee human rights.
2.
To call upon the Government of Nicaragua to investigate the events and punish those
responsible for them.
3.
To call upon the Government of Nicaragua to submit to the Court, upon notification of
this Order, a monthly report concerning the provisional measures which it has taken, and upon
the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to forward to the Court its observations on
such report within fifteen days of its receipt.
4.
To include this matter on the agenda of the next Regular Session of the Court in order