14
that assumed the functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers and also
exercised the constituent power.
47.
During the dictatorship of Luis García Meza, a policy of intimidation,
harassment and extermination was implemented against members of the
Revolutionary Leftist Movement [MIR] and any group of persons, political or union
organization that could constitute opposition, albeit peaceful, to the purposes of the
Military Junta. The security forces and the paramilitary groups acting on instructions
from and in the charge of the Ministry of the Interior commited serious human rights
violations in an environment surrounded by impunity on the part of State authorities.
48.
In this context, thousand of persons were detained without respecting the
requirements of the Constitution and a regular practice of unlawful duress and
tortures was developed, especially during interrogation. The following were the
principal methods used to conduct interrogations: blindfolded prisoners are beaten;
electric shocks; intimidation of the prisoner or members of his family; mock
executions; cigarette burns; psychological duress and sexual abuse. These abuses
have occurred, among other places, in the facilities of the Army Intelligence Services
(Miraflores headquarters); at the headquarters of the Division of Political Order
(DOP) and in offices of the Ministry of the Interior.
49.
After the return to democracy in 1982, it was agreed by consent to
investigate the crimes committed during the de- facto government of General Luis
García Meza. The investigations conducted made it possible for the National Congress
to bring charges against him before the Supreme Court of Justice on February 25,
1986. The Supreme Court found General Luis Garcia Meza, Colonel Luis Arce Gómez
and their collaborators responsible for the commission of eight groups of crimes:
Sedition and restriction on the rights of the people; armed upbringing; organization
of irregular armed groups; adoption of orders against the Constitution and law;
deprivation of liberty; attempt against the right to freedom of the press; illegal
advantages and violation of the autonomy of the University. The condemnatory
judgment established that the actions done during the de-facto regime were
"prepared and planned acts". In said judgment, Renato Ticona Estrada is mentioned
in the partial list of disappeared people.27
Forced disappearance of Renato Ticona
50.
Renato Ticona was born on November 12, 1954 in Sacaca, Potosí (Bolivia)
and at the moment of his disappearance, he was 25 years old.28 He had a Diploma in
Humanities issued by the Technical University of Oruro, Bolivia and he worked as a
music teacher in Escuela Mariano Baptista.29 Furthermore, he was attending the
seventh semester of Agricultural Engineering at the School of Agricultural and
Livestock Sciences of the Technical University of Oruro.30
27
Cf. Judgment delivered by the Supreme Court of Justice in the trials of responsibility initiated by
the Office of the Public Prosecutor and collaborating parties against Luis García Meza and his cohorts, of
April 21, 1993 - Sucre, Bolivia (Appendices to the answer of the complaint, Appendix 3, Volume 4, p.
2853)
28
Cf. Birth certificate of Renato Ticona Estrada issued on April 6, 2002 by the National Electoral
Court, Civil Registry, Bolivia (appendices to the application, appendix 3, volume I, p. 959).
29
Cf. Certification of Escuela Mariano Baptista, rendering of services in the field of Education of the
Basic course, of May 30, 1978 (Appendices to the brief of requests and motions, Appendix 10, p. 1833).
30
Cf. Certificate UTO.FCAP.CERT Nº 042/04 of January 23, 2004, issued by the School of
Agricultural and Livestock Sciences of the Technical University of Oruro (Appendices to the brief of
requests and motions, Appendix 15, p. 1843).