The Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

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/174/12(b)-R.1), and to the resolution adopted at its 173rd session (October 2003),

Taking account of a communication from the National Commissioner on Human Rights, dated 5 April 2004, and of a communication from the Prosecutor General dated 9 January 2004,

Recalling that the investigation into Mr. Pavón’s murder led to the identification of Mr. Rosales and Mr. Quiñones as presumed culprits; while Mr. Quiñones lost his life in an accident during Hurricane Mitch, an international arrest warrant led to the arrest of Mr. Rosales in Florida on 4 March 2003 and his extradition on 1 August 2003 to Honduras, where he was interrogated and handed over to the Sampedrano Penal Centre; after six days of inquiry, a detention order was issued and on 3 September 2003 a charge of murder (Article 117 of the Penal Code) was formally brought against him; trial proceedings started on 25 September 2003,

Considering that, according to the information provided by the National Commissioner on Human Rights, the Court acquitted Mr. Rosales on 22 March 2004, reportedly despite compelling evidence of his involvement in the murder; an appeal is pending before the Sectional Appeals Court of San Pedro Sula,

1. Thanks the National Commissioner and the Prosecutor General for the information provided;

2. Notes that the Court has returned a verdict acquitting Mr. Rosales;

3. Expresses concern that the judgment may have failed to take account of important evidence;

4. Notes that an appeal is pending; trusts that full justice will be dispensed shortly; would greatly appreciate being kept informed of progress in the appeal proceedings;

5. Requests the Secretary General to bring this resolution to the attention of the National Congress, the Office of the National Commissioner on Human Rights, and the Prosecutor General;

6. Request the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians to continue examining this case and report to it at its next session, to be held on the occasion of the 111th Assembly (September-October 2004).

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