The Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Referring to the case of Mr. Jaime Ricaurte Hurtado González and Mr. Pablo Vicente Tapia Farinango, a member and substitute member respectively of the National Congress of Ecuador, who were murdered in broad daylight in the centre of Quito on 17 February 1999 along with a legislative assistant, Mr. Wellington Borja Nazareno, as outlined in the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/185/11(b)-R.1), and to the resolution adopted at its 184th session (April 2009),

Taking into account the information provided by the President of the National Assembly of Ecuador at the hearing with the Committee on 18 October 2009 and in his letter of 12 October 2009; also taking into account the information provided by the source,

Recalling that the Special Commission of Inquiry (CEI) set up immediately after the murder to help elucidate the crime has from the outset sharply criticized the conduct of the investigation and the prosecution authorities, including their scant consideration of the serious leads it has presented linking Mr. Hurtado's murder to his uncovering of a web of corruption involving high-profile figures,

Recalling that the 16-year prison sentences given Mr. Contreras and Mr. Ponce were upheld on appeal on 23 July 2008, that a subsequent cassation petition by Mr. Ponce was dismissed on 31 March 2009, and that they are both serving their sentences,

Considering that, following the arrest of prime suspect Mr. Washington Aguirre in the United States of America, the then Ecuadorian Supreme Court of Justice (today known as the National Court of Justice) made a request for his extradition on 4 December 2008; Mr. Aguirre has thus far been able to delay a judgment by the United States judicial authorities; according to the President of the National Assembly, the Ecuadorian authorities are treating the matter as a priority in the hope that there will soon be a United States court decision leading to his transfer to Ecuador; the President of the National Assembly states that the Assembly is closely monitoring developments in the case; he believes that Mr. Aguirre's trial in Ecuador is crucial to helping shed full light on the murder, in particular as regards identifying the instigators,

1. Thanks the President of the National Assembly for the valuable information and for his spirit of cooperation;

2. Trusts that the extradition process will proceed with the utmost urgency so as to ensure that Mr. Aguirre soon stands trial in Ecuador; would appreciate being kept informed of developments in this regard;

3. Reaffirms its belief that trial proceedings against Mr. Aguirre would provide a crucial and final opportunity to give due consideration to the work of the CEI; stresses in this respect that the CEI’s findings have not only revealed serious contradictions and omissions in the conduct of the competent authorities in this case, but also offer substantive leads for an alternative line of inquiry, enabling the authorities to identify the instigators of the crime and the motive for the murder;

4. Is pleased that the recently elected National Assembly is taking an active interest in the case; and trusts that it will help ensure that the work of the CEI is duly taken into account once Mr. Aguirre stands trial;

5. Requests the Secretary General to inform the competent authorities in Ecuador and the United States of America, the CEI and the source of this resolution, and to seek the requested information from them;

6. Requests the Committee to continue examining this case and report to it at its next session, to be held on the occasion of the 122nd IPU Assembly (March-April 2010).

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