for the deaths of Messrs. Sergio Alfonso Reyes Navarrete, Ramón Luis Vivanco, Rodolfo Alejandro Espejo Gómez and Mario Melo Pradenas, and the compatibility of those decisions with the State's obligations under the American Convention. A. Competence of the Commission ratione personae, ratione materiae, ratione temporis, and ratione loci 20. The petitioner is entitled by Article 44 of the American Convention to present complaints before the Commission. The petition names as the alleged victims Magdalena Mercedes Navarrete, Alberto Reyes Navarrete, Víctor Eduardo Reyes Navarrete, Patricio Hernán Reyes Navarrete, Pamela Adriana Vivanco, Katia Ximena del Carmen Espejo Gómez, Elena Alejandrina Vargas Gómez, Ilia María Pradenas Páez, Mario Melo Acuña, and Carlos Gustavo Melo Pradenas, with respect to whom Chile is committed to respect and guarantee the rights enshrined in the American Convention. The Commission notes that Chile has been a State Party to the American Convention since August 21, 1990, when it deposited its instrument of ratification. The Commission, therefore, has jurisdiction ratione personae to examine the petition. 21. The Commission has jurisdiction ratione materiae because the petition complains of possible violations of human rights protected under the American Convention that, if proven, could constitute violations of Articles 1(1), 2, 8 and 25 of the Convention. The petitioner also alleges violations of Articles 4, 5, 7, 24 and 63(1) of the American Convention, but offers no arguments or evidence to substantiate such violations. Specifically, the petitioner alleges the denial of justice in the fact that the Chilean courts of first and second instance denied his application for compensation for mental suffering occasioned by the alleged incidents of arrest and disappearance perpetrated by State agents. 22. The principal argument presented in the response by the State on February 18, 2005 is that Chile is not responsible, under the American Convention, for violations allegedly committed during the period between September 11, 1973 and March 11, 1990. The Commission considers that in the case at hand the allegations refer only to the judgments handed down by the Chilean courts between 1999 and 2003, when the Convention was already in effect for Chile. As to the State's argument that the Commission should declare the petition inadmissible because the events began prior to March 11, 1990, the Commission rejects this argument because the judicial proceedings constitute events independent of the summary executions. The 8