RESOLUTION No 59/81

CASE 1954

URUGUAY

October 16, 1981

BACKGROUND:

1.          In a communication dated March 1, 1980, copies of Resolution No 17/81 in reference to case 1954 were sent to the Government of Uruguay and to the claimant.

2.          On June 5, 1981, the Government of Uruguay requested reconsideration of the above mentioned resolution, stating that it says that Pedro Cribari was fired at three times by the police, when the truth in fact was that he was wounded by a single bullet; that the shooting of Cribari was due to an accident caused by an act of confusion, and that Mr. Cribari never consented to having his case denounced to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

WHEREAS:

1.          The resolution does not state that Mr. Pedro Cribari was wounded by three bullets, but rather that he was fired at three times--a fact never denied by the Uruguayan Government;

2.          A person denouncing an action in violation of human rights before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights does not require authorization from the victim;

3.          The resolution carefully considered the possibility that the event was due to an accident, but that possibility was rejected because of the circumstances in which the police fired on Pedro Cribari;

4.          There is not sufficient reason to alter the content of Resolution 17/81,

THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS,

RESOLVES:

1.          To retain all parts of the content of Resolution 17/81 of March 6, 1981 in connection with case 1954.

2.          To recommend to the Government of Uruguay that it punish those responsible for the act.

3.          To communicate this resolution to the Government of Uruguay and to the claimant.

4.          To include this resolution in the Commission's next Annual Report to the General Assembly of the Organization of American States.