43
provide information on the whereabouts of the victim or to initiate an effective investigation to clarify what
186
happened.
235.
The Commission considers that this presumption is even more evident in a case such as
the instant case, in which the victims are all children who, given their condition, were in a situation of
greater defenselessness and vulnerability. This allows one to infer that their parents and/or family
members felt profound fear and impotence in the face of the victims’ fate. Mindful of the circumstances
already described of each of the disappearances, the separation from the family, the failed attempts to
clarify what had happened, and the consequent uncertainty as to the fate or whereabouts of their
children, the Commission considers that the State violated the right to mental and moral integrity of the
family members Alfonso Hernández, Sebastián Rochac Hernández, Estanislao Rochac Hernández, Maria
Juliana Rochac Hernández, María del Tránsito Rochac Hernández, Ana Margarita Rochac Hernández,
Nicolas Alfonso Rochac Hernández, María Adela Iraheta (deceased in 2005), Amparo Salinas, Estela
Salinas, Josefina Salinas, Julio Iraheta, Felipe Flores Iraheta, María Adela Hernández, Juan de la Cruz
Sánchez (deceased), Joel Alcides Hernández, Valentina Hernández, Santiago Perez, Juan Evangelista,
José Cristino Hernández, Eligorio Hernández, Rosa Ofelia Hernández, José de la Paz Bonilla, María de
los Ángeles Osorio, Petrolina Abarca Alvarado, José Arístides Bonilla, María Inés Bonilla, María Josefa
Rosales, María Esperanza Alvarado, Luis Alberto Alvarado, Ester Ayala Abarca, Paula Alvarado, Daniel
Abarca, José Humberto Abarca,Osmín Abarca y Manuel Eugenio Salinas..
VI.
CONCLUSIONS
236.
In keeping with the considerations set forth throughout this report, the Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights concludes that the State of El Salvador violated the rights enshrined in
Articles 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17, 19, and 25 of the American Convention on Human Rights, in relation to the
obligations established at Article 1(1) of the same instrument, to the detriment of the disappeared children
José Adrián Rochac Hernández, Santos Ernesto Salinas, Emelinda Lorena Hernández, Manuel Antonio
Bonilla, and Ricardo Ayala Abarca. In addition, the Commission concludes that the State of El Salvador
violated the rights enshrined in Articles 5, 17, 8, and 25 of the American Convention in relation to the
obligations established at Article 1(1) of the same instrument, to the detriment of family members Alfonso
Hernández, Sebastián Rochac Hernández, Estanislao Rochac Hernández, Maria Juliana Rochac
Hernández, María del Tránsito Rochac Hernández, Ana Margarita Rochac Hernández, Nicolas Alfonso
Rochac Hernández, María Adela Iraheta (deceased in 2005), Amparo Salinas, Estela Salinas, Josefina
Salinas, Julio Iraheta, Felipe Flores Iraheta, María Adela Hernández, Juan de la Cruz Sánchez
(deceased), Joel Alcides Hernández, Valentina Hernández, Santiago Perez, Juan Evangelista, José
Cristino Hernández, Eligorio Hernández, Rosa Ofelia Hernández, José de la Paz Bonilla, María de los
Ángeles Osorio, Petrolina Abarca Alvarado, José Arístides Bonilla, María Inés Bonilla, María Josefa
Rosales, María Esperanza Alvarado, Luis Alberto Alvarado, Ester Ayala Abarca, Paula Alvarado, Daniel
Abarca, José Humberto Abarca, Osmín Abarca y Manuel Eugenio Salinas..
VII.
RECOMMENDATIONS
237.
In keeping with the conclusions of this report on the merits, the Inter-American
Commission recommends to the Salvadoran State:
1.
Conduct a thorough, impartial, and effective investigation into the fate or whereabouts of
José Adrián Rochac Hernández, Santos Ernesto Salinas, Emelinda Lorena Hernández, Manuel Antonio
Bonilla, and Ricardo Ayala Abarca and, if they are found, make the necessary efforts to ensure family
reunification. If it is established that any of them is not alive, take the measures necessary to deliver their
remains to their next-of-kin.
186
I/A Court H.R., Case of La Cantuta. Judgment of November 29, 2006 Series C No. 162. Para. 132; I/A Court H.R.,
Case of Goiburú et al. Judgment of September 22, 2006. Series C No. 153. Para. 97; I/A Court H.R., Case of Gómez Palomino.
Judgment of November 22, 2005. Series C No. 136. Para. 61.