ORDER OF THE
INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
OF AUGUST 1, 1991
PROVISIONAL MEASURES REQUESTED BY THE
INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
IN THE MATTER OF GUATEMALA
CHUNIMÁ CASE
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights, composed of the following judges:
Héctor Fix-Zamudio, President
Orlando Tovar-Tamayo, Vice-President
Thomas Buergenthal, Judge
Rafael Nieto-Navia, Judge
Policarpo Callejas-Bonilla, Judge
Sonia Picado-Sotela, Jugde
Julio A. Barberis, Judge
also present,
Manuel E. Ventura-Robles, Secretary and
Ana María Reina, Deputy Secretary
issues the following order:
1.
On June 28, 1991, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
(hereinafter "the Commission") forwarded to the Inter-American Court of Human
Rights (hereinafter "the Court") a resolution passed that same month on case 10.674
concerning Guatemala, in which it requested "provisional measures to protect the life
and personal integrity" of fourteen persons. According to the Commission, these
persons are apparently members of the "Consejo de Comunidades Etnicas Runujel
Junam" (CERJ), their relatives or judicial officials who have investigated and acted in
cases related to the assassination of members of human rights organizations in
Chunimá, Departament of El Quiché, Republic of Guatemala. The Commission's
resolution sets down facts reported by Americas Watch and by the Center for Justice
and International Law (CEJIL) on April 4 and 18 and again on May 2, 1991, and
expresses the opinion that "there is abundant evidence that the members of human
rights organizations in Chunimá are facing grave and irreparable danger." The
Commission is likewise of the opinion that "the background materials submitted by
the petitioners present prima facie a grave case of imminent and irreparable
danger to the life and physical integrity of the members of human rights organization
and their relatives."
On July 2, 1991, the Court received from the Commission the documentation
accompanying the request for provisional measures.
2.
Exercising the powers conferred on him under Article 23(4) of the Rules of
Procedure of the Court (hereinafter "the Rules"), the President of the Court