21
D.
Findings regarding evidence based on supervening facts
62.
On December 4, 2009, the representatives forwarded as evidence based on
supervening facts “recent information on the criminal investigation underway into
the facts of the case.” They indicated that on October 30, 2009, the Office of the
Attorney General for Justice of the state de Guerrero (hereinafter also “Guerrero
Attorney General’s Office) notified the representatives that it had waived
jurisdiction in favor of the Office of the Attorney General for Military Justice
(hereinafter also “Military Attorney General’s Office”), “because those probably
responsible for the facts […] are members of the Mexican Army.”44
63.
In its response to the application, the State confirmed the rejection of
jurisdiction in favor of the Military Public Prosecutor’s Office, outlined the
normative grounds for this action, and indicated that it was in keeping with the
laws in force.
64.
For its part, the Inter-American Commission referred back to its
observations in its Report on Merits and in the application concerning the military
criminal justice system and underscored that “the intervention of the military
criminal justice system in the investigation of a complaint of rape [allegedly]
perpetrated against a civilian” cannot be justified.
65.
The Court considers that this fact, effectively, forms part of the purpose of
this case and, consequently, admits the copy of note No. 345/2009 of October 29,
2009, relating to Preliminary Investigation FEIDS VI/003/2009, provided by the
representatives, under the terms of Article 46(3) of the Rules of Procedure, and
will consider the information contained therein, to the extent pertinent.
66.
Subsequently, on March 23, 2010, the representatives forwarded
information and documents as evidence of alleged supervening facts related to
alleged acts of harassment and threats against witness Eugenio Manuel and one of
the organizations that represent Mrs. Fernández Ortega.45 In their opinion, these
acts would “clearly constitute additional obstacles to the search for justice” in the
present case.
67.
The Commission indicated that “the recent threats are an example of the
vulnerability of the beneficiaries of the provisional measures connected to this case
[…]; not only do they continue to be permanently at risk, but this state of affairs
tends to worsen when one of the cases that originated the situation of risk, which
the measures of protection are intended to counter, is imminent.”
68.
The State indicated that “it is evident that these facts bear no relationship
to the litis of the matter and do not contribute any elements that [the Court] can
take into consideration to help it decide” the case. Furthermore, it indicated that
the representatives “have made unsubstantiated assumptions to try to connect the
[alleged] rape of Mrs. Fernández Ortega with the procedure relating to provisional
measures, initiated owing to the alleged threats against OPIM and the members of
44
Cf. Brief of the representatives of December 4, 2009, and copy of the notification of Order No.
345/2009 of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Common Jurisdiction, attached to the Special
Prosecutor’s Office for Sexual and Domestic Violence of October 29, 2009 (case file on the merits, tome
II, folio 450 and ff.).
45
Cf. Brief of March 23, 2010, and copy of the note that was supposedly found in the OPIM office in
Ayutla de los Libres on March 6, 2010 (case file on the merits, tome III, folio 809) and copy of the
complaint filed on March 11, 2010, by Mrs. Eugenio Manuel before the Public Prosecutor adjoined to the
Commission for the Defense of Human Rights of the state of Guerrero, registered under Preliminary
Investigation GRO/SC/021/2010 (case file on the merits, tome III, folios 811 to 819).