ORDER OF THE
INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
OF SEPTEMBER 19, 1997
PROVISIONAL MEASURES ADOPTED BY THE
INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
IN THE MATTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF GUATEMALA
SERECH AND SAQUIC CASE
HAVING SEEN:
1.
The brief of April 12, 1996, and its attachments, through which the Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights (hereinafter "the Commission" or "the Inter-American
Commission") submitted to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (hereinafter "the
Court" or "the Inter-American Court") a request for provisional measures on behalf of
Blanca Margarita Valiente de Similox, Vitalino Similox, Sotero Similox, María Francisca
Ventura-Sican, Lucio Martínez, Maximiliano Solís, Bartolo Solís, Julio Solís-Hernández, María
Magdalena Sunún-González, Héctor Solís, José Solís, Gregoria Gómez, Juan García, Eliseo
Calel, and Víctor Tuctuc, in connection with case No. 11.570 before the Commission against
the State of the Republic of Guatemala (hereinafter "the State" or "Guatemala").
2.
The Order of the President of the Court (hereinafter "the President") of April 24,
1996, in which he decided:
1.
To call upon the Government of the Republic of Guatemala to adopt forthwith such
measures as may be necessary to protect the lives and physical integrity of Blanca Margarita
Valiente de Similox, Vitalino Similoc, Sotero Similox, María Francisca Ventura Sican, Lucio
Martínez, Maximiliano Solís, Bartolo Solís, Julio Solís Hernández, María Magdalena Sunún González,
Héctor Solís, José Solís, Gregoria Gómez, Juan García, Eliseo Calel, and Víctor Tuctuc, and to avoid
irreparable damage to them, in strict compliance with the obligation to respect and guarantee
human rights, which it undertook in accordance with Article 1(1) of the American Convention on
Human Rights.
2.
To call upon the Government of the Republic of Guatemala to investigate the events and
punish those responsible and to use the means at its disposal to execute the warrant for the arrest
of Víctor Román Cotzal.
3.
To call up the Government of the Republic of Guatemala to report to the Court, every
thirty days from the date of notification, on the urgent measures it adopts, and upon the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights to transmit the comments on that information to the Court
within fifteen days of its receipt.
4.
To submit this Order for the Court's consideration and pertinent effects during the next
session.
5.
To summon the parties to a public hearing at the seat of the Court on June 27, 1996, at
10:00 a.m., so that the Court may hear their views on the events and circumstances that led to
this request for provisional measures and to this Order.