The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) reported this week on its appeal regarding the case of journalist Narciso Gonzalez Medina versus the Government of the Dominican Republic which it submitted on May 2, 2010 to the Inter-American Human Rights Court, dealing with the forced disappearance of this columnist, university professor and opposition leader.

The document about González Medina, bearing the number 11,324, says that “as a consequence of his criticism of the military and the then President Joaquín Balaguer, as well as his participation in the public denunciation of electoral fraud in the context of the 1994 presidential elections, the journalist was deprived of his freedom by government officials on May 26, 1994.”

“During the following days,” the appeal says, “he was seen alive and in a very poor condition at several security agencies in the custody of government officials. To date his fate or whereabouts remain unknown and no serious, diligent and effective investigations have been undertaken to ascertain the facts, identify those responsible and impose the corresponding penalties. Sixteen years have gone by an Narciso González Medina remains missing while the matter continues to go unpunished.”

In this regard, the IACHR asked the Inter-American Court to declare the international responsibility of the Dominican Republic government for failure to comply with its international obligations and violation of guarantees enshrined in the American Convention on Human Rights, among these the right to life, legal guarantees and protection under the law.

The IACHR appealed to the Inter-American Court to order the Dominican Republic government to ascertain the fate or whereabouts of Narciso González Medina or of his bodily remains and to carry out a full, impartial and effective investigation with the objective of solving his forced disappearance and paying reparations to his family members, among other requests.

See the full text in English at: http://www.cidh.org/demandas/11.324%20Narciso%20Gonzalez%20Medina%20Rep%20Dominicana%202mayo10ENG.pdf

ln Spanish: http://www.cidh.org/demandas/11.324%20Narciso%20Gonzalez%20Medina%20Rep%20Dominicana%202mayo10ESP.pdf