5
9.
When ordering the reparation measure concerning the obligation to
investigate, the Court took into account that the violation of judicial guarantees and
judicial protection in this case were based on two factors: i) the granting of
jurisdiction to military courts, by means of a Supreme Court decision, to hear the
case concerning the death of Mr. Almonacid Arellano; and, ii) the enforcement of
Decree Law No. 2.191 by which the military tribunals that ruled on the case granted
themselves amnesty.6 Consequently, in order to ensure that these violations are not
repeated in this case, the Court ordered that the State, so as to fulfill its obligation to
investigate the extrajudicial execution of Mr. Almonacid Arellano and to identify and,
where appropriate, punish those responsible, should: i) ensure that the Decree Law
does not continue to hinder the investigation into what happened to Mr. Almonacid
Arellano, ii) nullify the decisions and judgments issued domestically that authorize
jurisdiction to the military courts and allowed the investigation to be closed under the
Decree Law; and, iii) refer the case to the courts, so that as part of criminal
proceedings those responsible for the death of Mr. Almonacid Arellano be identified
and punished.7
10.
The Court also stated, inter alia, that the investigation should comply with the
following: not enforce the Decree Law No. 2.191, not invoke prescription periods,
non-retroactivity of criminal law, the principle of ne bis in idem, as well as not
implementing any other measures to eliminate responsibility, or avoid the duty to
investigate and punish those responsible;8 ensure that all public institutions provide
the necessary facilities to the ordinary court that hears the case of Mr. Almonacid
Arellano;9 and ensure that Ms. Elvira del Rosario Gómez Olivares and Alfredo, Alexis
and José Luis Almonacid Gómez have full access and ability to participate in all
phases and stages of the investigations, in accordance with domestic law and the
norms of the American Convention.10
11.
To assess the state of compliance with the obligation to investigate what
happened to Mr. Almonacid Arellano, the Court has referred to the information
provided by Chile, which was not disputed by the representative or the Commission.
However, the Court notes that, with the exception of two decisions taken in
December 2008 in domestic criminal proceedings,11 the Court does not have copies
of the rulings and proceedings taken in connection with said investigation, both with
respect to granting jurisdiction to ordinary courts and the execution of criminal
proceedings pending before said jurisdiction, since the State has not provided copies
of these actions and rulings. The Court also considers that the only occasion when
the representative addressed the Tribunal in relation to monitoring compliance with
the Judgment was to present a copy of the two judicial resolutions that relate
specifically to the progress reported by the State (supra Considering Clause 7). The
Court also notes that, regarding the rulings and proceedings carried out in the
preliminary stage of the criminal proceedings pending before the ordinary courts, the
6
Cf. Case of Almonacid Arellano v. Chile. Preliminary Objections, Merits, Reparations and Costs.
Judgment of September 26, 2006. Series C No. 154, para. 146.
7
Cf. Case of Almonacid Arellano et al. v. Chile, supra note 6, para. 145-147.
8
Cf. Case of Almonacid Arellano et al. v. Chile, supra note 6, para. 151-155.
9
Cf. Case of Almonacid Arellano et al. v. Chile, supra note 6, para. 156.
10
Cf. Case of Almonacid Arellano et al. v. Chile, supra note 6, para. 157.
11
In particular, in the case file concerning monitoring compliance with the Judgment there are
copies of the Resolution issued on December 24, 2008, by the aforementioned special visiting judge
(supra Considering Clauses 6(a) and 6(b)), as well as the ruling of December 3, 2008 of the Supreme
Court of Justice for Chile (supra Considering Clause 6(a)).