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CASE N° HOND/02 - MIGUEL ANGEL PAVÓN SALAZAR - HONDURAS

Resolution adopted without a vote by the Inter-Parliamentary Council
at its 167th session (Jakarta, 21 October 2000)


The Inter-Parliamentary Council,

Referring to the outline of the case of Mr. Miguel Angel Pavón Salazar of Honduras, as contained in the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/167/12(c)­R.1), and to the relevant resolution adopted at its 166th session (May 2000),

Taking account of the information provided by the Office of the National Commissioner for Human Rights on 12 July 2000,

Recalling the following information on file:

  1. Deputy Miguel Angel Pavón Salazar was assassinated in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, on 14 January 1988, and the initial findings of the judicial investigation established a link between his assassination and the evidence he gave in October 1987 before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights about forced “disappearances” in his country, which he blamed on members of the armed forces and, in particular, a “death squad” reportedly existing at the time in Military Intelligence Battalion 3-16;
  2. Owing to the insistence of the National Congress the investigation, which had come to a virtual standstill, was reopened in July 1996 by the Criminal Investigation Branch (DIC) of the Public Prosecutor's Office and brought new evidence to light that resulted in the arrest, on 28 April 1998, of one of the presumed culprits, Lieutenant-Colonel Quiñones;
  3. However, Mr. Quiñones was released on bail on 3 May 1998 and disappeared in October 1998; he reportedly died in a road accident caused by Hurricane Mitch and proceedings are under way with a view to officially declaring his presumed death,

Considering that the Office of the National Commissioner for Human Rights is continuing to monitor the investigation in this case; the Office was informed by the Prosecutor that an international arrest warrant had been issued on 5 June 2000, through Interpol for Mr. Jaime Rosales and that the General Directorate of Population and Migration has been asked for particulars of dates on which he left and re-entered the country,

Recalling further that, in compliance with a ruling of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the President of the Republic ordered the payment of compensation to the families of 12 disappeared or extrajudicially executed persons, including that of Mr. Pavón,

  1. Thanks the Office of the National Commissioner for Human Rights for its consistent cooperation;
  2. Reaffirms that the payment of compensation does not dispense the State from establishing the truth and dispensing justice;
  3. Notes therefore with satisfaction that the investigation into the murder of Mr. Pavón Salazar is being pursued, and would appreciate being kept informed of the progress made and results obtained;
  4. Would appreciate information as to whether Mr. Quiñones has officially been declared dead;
  5. Regrets the failure of the National Congress to respond to the requests for information addressed to it through the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, and calls upon it once more to continue monitoring the relevant proceedings so as to ensure that the murder of one of their former colleagues does not go unpunished; invites the National Congress once again to provide information on any measures it may have taken to this end;
  6. Requests the Secretary General to inform the National Congress and the National Commissioner for Human Rights of this decision, inviting them to keep the Committee informed of progress in the relevant investigations;
  7. Requests the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians to continue examining this case and report to it at its next session (April 2001).


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