54.
The petitioners reported that the Public Prosecutors' Office opened a file on account of Mr.
Gómez's death and put public prosecutor Jaime Rosales in charge of the case.36 The State indicated that after
identifying the body it had cited Gustavo Cardona García to make a statement as, according to the family, he
had been the last person seen with Alejandro Yovany Gómez.37 The State maintained that Mr. Cardona did not
turn up to make a statement.38
55.
On March 20, 1995, the Human Rights Office of the Archdiocese of Guatemala issued a
communique, denouncing the "extrajudicial execution" of Mr. Gómez.39 It stated that despite complaints filed
by family members of the victim, no concrete findings had been made regarding the identity of the persons
responsible.40 The Office expressed its concern at "the inefficiency and unwillingness of the competent
authorities to investigate into the whereabouts of trade unionist Gómez when his disappearance had been
denounced by family members."41 The Office demanded that State authorities "demonstrate the political will
and desire to minimize impunity in Guatemala, by conducting the inquiries needed to determine the
perpetrators of Mr. Gómez's death and to bring them before the Courts."42
56.
The petitioners stated that on June 30, 1995, the Office of the Public Prosecutor had ordered
two individuals to present themselves: Tea Ky Quing Seonng and Sam Young Lee43. The State indicated that
those two persons "were the owners of the assembly plant (...) with whom (...), according to witnesses, [Mr.
Gómez] had frequently quarreled."44 The State did not present information as to which witnesses were
interviewed.
57.
The petitioners said that neither Tea Ky Quing Seonng nor Sam Young Lee presented
themselves and the State took no steps to locate them expeditiously.45 The State did not contest that
information.
58.
The State maintained that on July 7, 1995, the Department of Criminal Investigations of the
National Police submitted a report to the public prosecutor at the Public Prosecutors' Office.46 The State said
that the report had concluded that "there was sufficient circumstantial evidence that the Korean gentlemen
had been the instigators of the death of Mr. Alejandro Yovany Gómez Virula and that Mr. Edgar Octavio
Cardona had participated in the deed, since he refused to provide information regarding it."47
36
Original petition
37
State’s communication of December 11, 2006.
38
State’s communication of December 11, 2006.
39
Communique issued by the Human Rights Office of the Archdiocese of Guatemala , March 20, 1995. Annex to the initial
40
Communique issued by the Human Rights Office of the Archdiocese of Guatemala , March 20, 1995. Annex to the initial
41
Communique issued by the Human Rights Office of the Archdiocese of Guatemala , March 20, 1995. Annex to the initial
42
Communique issued by the Human Rights Office of the Archdiocese of Guatemala , March 20, 1995. Annex to the initial
43
Petitioners’ communication of March 23, 2000.
44
State’s communication of December 11, 2006.
45
Petitioners’ communication of March 23, 2000.
46
State’s communication of December 11, 2006.
47
State’s communication of December 11, 2006.
petition.
petition.
petition.
petition.
9