Official Statement on European Parliament

Case No. 24/2017: Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) & President Maduro of Venezuela

 

Official Statement on European Parliament

 

The Buddhist Tribunal of Human Rights, on July 06, 2018, decides to reaffirm again that the Buddhist Spirituality does not endorse the Violation of the Constitutional Democratic State of Law, Violation of the International Human Rights Law, Coup d’Etat, Transnational Organized Crime, Crimes against Humanity, Crimes against Peace, and Supreme Offense against International Morality and the Sanctity of Life that are happening in Venezuela under the immoral leadership of the de facto President Nicolás Maduro. These facts can be demonstrated not only because the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights has judged such international crimes, but also because in July 2018 the European Parliament has decided to commit itself to collaborate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in order to investigate the crimes against humanity and acts of repression committed by the Venezuelan dictatorship.

The Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights is proud to perceive that the European Parliament has decided to ask the members of the European Union to urgently provide humanitarian aid to the Latin American countries that are receiving hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan refugees fleeing their country. In this way, it is really formidable that the European Parliament also shares the position of the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights to request Venezuela’s neighboring countries, as is the case of Colombia, to continue intensifying their solidarity aid to the thousands of Venezuelan refugees who desperately search for food and medicine.

Always with spirit of reconciliation (maitri),

Master Maitreya Samyaksambuddha

President and Spiritual Judge of the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights

Proclamation on the Organization of American States (OAS)

 

Case No. 24/2017: Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) & President Maduro of Venezuela

 

Proclamation on the Organization of American States (OAS)

July 3rd, 2018

The International Buddhist Ethics Committee & Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights,

Considering that the Supreme Tribunal of Justice of Venezuela and President Maduro have been sentenced as Responsible for the charges of Violation of the Constitutional Democratic State of Law, Violation of the International Human Rights Law, Coup d’Etat, Crimes against humanity, Organized transnational crime and Crimes against peace;

Recalling that a committee of independent experts selected by Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), prepared a report in agreement with the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights in which there are sufficient grounds to conclude that the Venezuelan government committed Crimes against humanity, which is evident by the systematic and widespread attacks against its civilian population;

Aware that the group of experts convened by Secretary General Luis Almagro recommended that OAS member countries denounce the Venezuelan government of President Maduro before the International Criminal Court (ICC);

Deeply concerned by the situation in Venezuela, since the report of the Committee of experts documents more than 130 extrajudicial executions and more than 200 cases of torture and sexual violence;

Analyzing that the United States government has also publicly accused the government of President Maduro for committing crimes against humanity;

Deploring the false democratic elections that have been held in Venezuela in May 2018, since the participation of most of the opposition politicians was forbidden, which again proves the coup d’Etat of Dictator Nicolás Maduro;

Taking into consideration that the pseudo-democratic elections in Venezuela have not been recognized by many OAS member states and even by the European Union itself;

Affirming that Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, USA, Mexico and Peru have requested the suspension of Venezuela as a member of the Organization of American States (OAS), proposing this State to be applied with the mechanisms of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, since an alteration of the constitutional order that seriously affects its democratic order would have occurred;

Reaffirming that Argentina seems to be willing to support a formal complaint against the dictator Nicolás Maduro and his henchmen in order they can be tried in the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity;

Examining that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has already initiated a preliminary investigation on abuses in Venezuela, although for the time being, it has not opened a formal case, since the International Criminal Court (ICC) has focused solely on judging African countries instead of being a just and equitable global court;

Showing consternation at the fact that some political leaders have expressed the desire that the conflict in Venezuela can be resolved through an uprising of the armed forces, which obviously would not be the appropriate way to resolve conflicts, because only justice would be the Righteous Path;

  • Absolute solidarity is expressed with the Venezuelan people, to which is considered brother of the Buddhic People.
  • It is declared that the Venezuelan government led by the de facto President Nicolás Maduro is violating international laws, developing a systematic and widespread plan of crimes against humanity and peace.
  • It is confirmed that, for purely economic reasons, the governments of China and Russia are providing support to the criminal government of Venezuela.
  • It is established that Buddhism was and will be always on the side of the poor and oppressed, always looking for the Cure of their suffering.
  • This Ethical Proclamation is invoked as an act of justice in the face of the violations of Buddhist Law and Human Rights carried out by the State of Venezuela.
  • It is rejected the fact that international journalism writes hundreds of articles associating the criminal regime of Venezuela with the ideas of Socialism, when actually the dictatorship of President Maduro is really a dictatorial and pseudo-socialist fraud;
  • It is confirmed that violence and murder are ineffective instruments to resolve any type of conflict, only worsening the real causes of social problems.
  • It is affirmed that torture and murder of any Venezuelan human rights activist constitutes an attack against the entire International Human Rights Law.
  • It is stated that the dictatorship of Venezuela has committed a Supreme Offense against International Morality and the Sanctity of life.
  • The teachings of Siddhartha Gautama and the Maitriyana Spirituality, whose compassionate wisdom has the ability to save humanity through supreme ethical leadership, are recalled.

This document was written two thousand six hundred years after the foundation and independence of the Great Buddhist Nation.

President: H.E. Master Maitreya Samyaksambuddha

 

NOTIFICATION to Peru and Colombia

Case No.  24/2017: Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) of Venezuela & President Maduro

NOTIFICATION to Peru and Colombia

 

On February 21, 2018, the International Buddhist Ethics Committee & Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights is communicating with the government of Peru as a result of its prohibition concerning the visit of Venezuelan Dictator Maduro to the country for the eighth Summit of the Americas, declaring him an unwelcome person in Peru, since Dictator Maduro has broken the political dialogue with the Venezuelan opposition and has called elections fraudulently, prohibiting the free participation of the opposition coalition Mesa de la Unidad Democratica (MUD) within the democratic process. Thus, the Peruvian government of Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has withdrawn his invitation to the Venezuelan Dictator Nicolás Maduro.

The International Buddhist Ethics Committee & Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights considers that clearly, in Venezuela, one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in the world is occurring, even though this is denied by Dictator Maduro, because there is ample evidence that a mass exodus of refugees which is comparable to the exoduses recorded in Syria and Myanmar is happening in Venezuela. According to international data, a tenth of the Venezuelan population would have left the country, being a number that is increasing day by day. In fact, according to international experts in immigration, more than 1 million Venezuelan refugees have fled to Colombia in the last 2 years due to lack of food, medicine, security and democracy in Venezuela. For this reason, the International Buddhist Ethics Committee & Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights requests the Colombian government to grant the civil status of refugees to the one million Venezuelans who are fleeing from a humanitarian catastrophe as serious as that of Syria and Myanmar, ensuring full respect for human rights.

With spirit of Reconciliation (Maitri),

H.E. Master Maitreya Samyaksambuddha

President and Judge of the International Buddhist Ethics Committee & Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights

Resolution on International Criminal Court (ICC)

Case 24-2017: Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) of Venezuela & President Maduro

Resolution on International Criminal Court (ICC)

 

February 10, 2018

The International Buddhist Ethics Committee and Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights,

Recalling the principles of Buddhist Law and the International Human Rights Law, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the UN and the Buddhist Convention on Human Rights adopted by the United Buddhist Nations Organization;

Considering that on April 12, 2017 the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) of Venezuela was sentenced for the crimes of Violation of the Constitutional Democratic State of Law and Violation of the International Human Rights Law;

Reaffirming the Legal Opinion of May 4, 2017 against President Maduro of Venezuela on charges of Coup d’état and Crimes against humanity;

Aware that in September 2017 the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, coincided with the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights and publicly requested to initiate an international legal case against Venezuela for crimes against humanity in the context of police forces’ abuses against civilian political demonstrators, including crimes such as arbitrary detentions, excessive use of force and torture;

Deploring the fact that Venezuela is one of the members of UN Human Rights Council, because its presence is an affront against the principles by which the UN was created, so that Venezuela should be expelled as a member, such as was pointed out by former Venezuelan ambassador Diego Arria and also by Hillel Neuer, director of UN Watch;

Taking into consideration that the former Venezuelan ambassador, Diego Arria, has also stated that the International Criminal Court (ICC) should judge Venezuela for crimes against humanity, in addition to considering the murders of civilians as perverse, cruel and criminal acts that are part of a widespread and systematic plan of excessive force against political demonstrations, including the arbitrary detention of opponents, inhumane treatment and torture;

Examining the thousands of arbitrary detentions, many of them children, and the hundreds of extrajudicial killings, within a widespread and systematic use of excessive violence that also includes a tactical and strategic plan of homicides, imprisonment, torture and sexual abuse, according to the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), they constitute crimes against humanity;

Concerned enormously by the fact that in the US justice system there are proofs that the Venezuelan government of President Maduro, together with the high officials Tarek El Aissami, Maikel Moreno, Diosdado Cabello, Vladimir Padrino and Néstor Reverol, would be conforming a transnational criminal organization dedicated to drug trafficking;

Repudiating the fact that Pope Francis I has confirmed that he has always spoken loudly and clearly, and that the Vatican has done much for the Venezuelan government;

Noting that President Maduro has been denounced before the International Criminal Court (ICC) by the former Prosecutor general of Venezuela, Luisa Ortega Díaz, accusing him of crimes against humanity for carrying out a social cleansing plan between the years 2015 to 2017, which included crimes of unofficial executions, torture and incarcerations, being a systematic and widespread attack against the civilian population;

Denouncing before international justice that the former prosecutor general of Venezuela, Luisa Ortega Díaz, presented more than 1000 evidentiary elements to the ICC on the accusation of crimes against humanity committed by the Venezuelan government of President Maduro, existing evidence of medical, psychiatric and technical examinations and identifications, in addition to interviews with victims, where more than 8 thousand deaths and 17 thousand arbitrary arrests can be verified;

Repudiating the inaction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) during the last 4 years, since the complaint of crimes against humanity carried out by the former Prosecutor Ortega against President Maduro is the fourth complaint filed before such court, especially taking into account the complaint of the 2014 presented by two hundred legislators from eight Latin American countries who demanded the ICC to investigate President Maduro for crimes against humanity against peaceful and unarmed demonstrators;

Solemly establishing that it is good news that in 2018 the prosecutor Fatou Bensouda of the ICC has decided to open a preliminary examination on human rights violations committed by the dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, especially because it is a first step to comply with the requirement ruled by the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights in May 2017, when it was manifested: “It is required that Fatou Bensouda, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), begins to work adequately in the case of Venezuela and promptly bring President Maduro before international justice for “Crimes against humanity“, putting on record that indifference or unwarranted delay to give justice to these crimes constitutes an act of complicity by omission”;

  1. Expresses that it is not enough to simply open a preliminary examination on abuses in Venezuela, since this was previously done by the very UN, by hundreds of Latin American legislators and by Venezuelan jurists, who have already studied, analyzed and presented the relevant evidence.
  2. Declares that when health and integrity of millions of lives is involved, preliminary investigations lasting several years should not be carried out, but full and prompt investigations must be carried out in order to proceed with a fair and adequate trial, respecting the human right to justice and the Truth of the thousands of victims, in addition to trying to prevent that conflicts and the number of deaths grow.
  3. Deplores the civil-military regime of President Maduro as illegal, by considering it a transnational criminal organization.
  4. Confirms that the decision of the European Parliament to include President Maduro of Venezuela in the sanctions imposed by the European Union is adequate.
  5. Congratulates the Government of Canada for imposing sanctions on President Maduro of Venezuela, and on 18 other senior officials, for their acts of corruption and serious violations of International Human Rights Law.
  6. Corrects the original Judgment against the Venezuelan regime, where the charge of CRIMES AGAINST PEACE is included, due to the persistent human rights violations that continue even after the multiple denunciations for crimes against humanity against Venezuela.
  7. Implores the International Criminal Court (ICC) to stop being obsessed with only judging African countries, and to start judging States from all over the world, especially those rich and powerful which enjoy impunity.

Always with reconciling spirit (maitri),

H.E. Master Maitreya Samyaksambuddha

Judge and President of the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights

Legal Requirement to National Assembly of Venezuela

 

Case No. 24/2017: Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ)

 

Legal Requirement to National Assembly of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

July 26th, 2017

The Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights requests Mr. Julio Borges that the National Assembly annuls the creation of a Supreme Tribunal of Justice that is parallel to the official Supreme Tribunal of Justice. Although it is probably an idea with very good intentions, in reality this would be a provocation for the dictatorship of Mr. Nicolás Maduro makes arbitrary arrests against the justices of the parallel Supreme Tribunal of Justice by alleging the crime of usurpation of public functions.

The Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) has been sentenced by our Buddhist Tribunal for crimes of VIOLATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTIONAL STATE OF LAW AND VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW. The Buddhist Tribunal has also ruled that Mr. Nicolás Maduro is responsible for “Coup d’état” and “Crimes against Humanity”. Therefore, the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights recommends taking a juridical Path much more appropriate than creating a parallel court, since actually the Venezuelan parliament should create a “Venezuelan Human Rights Court”, which should have the function of investigating and sentencing Human rights violations committed by both the Venezuelan President and the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ). This idea would be the most correct and adequate way for the Venezuelan people.

 

Always with spirit of reconciliation (maitri),

Master Maitreya Samyaksambuddha

President and Judge of the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights

Legal Opinion on President Maduro

 

Case 24-2017: Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ)

LEGAL OPINION ON PRESIDENT NICOLÁS MADURO

May 4, 2017

Following the continuing oppression suffered by the Venezuelan People on the part of the de facto President Nicolás Maduro, who continues to violate the Constitution and International Treaties signed by Venezuela, it will then be determined whether the facts presented constitute an act of perpetuation and a deepening of the crimes carried out by the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) that have already been sentenced by the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights.

Description of the Case

In 2004, the organization Human Rights Watch warned that the Venezuelan government was creating a law that would allow it to control and manipulate the Supreme Tribunal of Venezuela, which implied breaking the independence of the judicial power, breaking the division of powers that is fundamental in a Democratic Constitutional State of Law. Furthermore, during the case of the Supreme Tribunal of Venezuela (TSJ), there were public statements by President Maduro confirming that he was behind the illegal measures taken by said Supreme Tribunal that violated the Constitutional State of Law and the International Human Rights Law, since he said he would quickly cancel such measures to avoid conflicts between the Attorney General and the Supreme Tribunal. A few days after cancelling the measures taken by the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of justice (TSJ), which had been literally a “Coup d’état”, the government of Maduro and its paramilitary groups began a new violent and murderous repression against peaceful demonstrators, causing dozens of dead people with total impunity. International organizations such as the OAS denounced this murderous repression and also the “Coup d’état”, which is why the de facto President Maduro announced the withdrawal of Venezuela as a member of the OAS. At the same time, after receiving no criticism from the Vatican in the face of these illegal acts, on May 1, 2017, President Maduro announced that he would create a new Constitution, but not through convening the Parliament but by convening civil groups allied with his government, which constitutes not only a new violation of the Constitution created by Hugo Chavez but also a new deepening of the “Coup d’état”. In fact, political scientist Nicmer Evans, a member of the ruling political party, has confirmed that President Maduro is making a clear betrayal of Chávez and the people, suspending all the State of Law and initiates a dictatorial period, being a coup against the Constitution Promoted by Chávez. With respect to the deepening of the crimes previously initiated by the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal (TSJ), the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights proceeds to issue the following ethical legal opinion on the Responsibility of President Maduro.

Preliminary Warning

The International Buddhist Ethics Committee & Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights evaluates violations of ethics and human rights, so that its legal framework is Buddhist Tribal Law and International Law. These procedures are millennial and intrinsic to the self-government system of the spiritual commune (sangha), although they have the innovation of the universal jurisdiction that allows analyzing violations of other communities and countries.

The legal cases carried out end with a Judgment. However, when the sentencing conditions worsen, the Judgment acquires an immediate ethical legitimacy to issue legal acts, notices, resolutions, communiqués and legal opinions denouncing such aggravations.

Violations against the Constitution and Human Rights

In order to analyze in the present case the existence of an act of “Coup d’état” by President Nicolás Maduro from Venezuela, it is fundamental to offer precedents of the human rights violations made by the accused. Although President Maduro has been elected through vote, the fact is that he exercises a de facto Presidency in Venezuela for violating the principles of democracy and republican order, maintaining a systematic and widespread scheme of human rights violations. His ambition to maintain the absolute hegemony of political Power, something very common in dictatorial regimes, has led him to violate the right to freedom of thought and expression, threatening, harassing and assaulting journalists and the media, as well as censoring and restricting the right to freedom of information that the Venezuelan people has. In this regard, prestigious international organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have reported that Maduro’s government has intimidated and harassed human rights defenders who were working in Venezuela. This illegal behavior not only violates the international human rights treaties signed by Venezuela, but also violates the very Venezuelan Constitution and betrays the libertarian principles of the socialist revolution. President Maduro has criminalized both the protest of civil society and the actions of opposition political parties, using the judicial power to intimidate and persecute political critics, including the illegal act of having prisoners of conscience, fraudulent trials and violations against due process, systematic and widespread arbitrary detention along with torture and inhuman treatment, in addition to having carried out extrajudicial executions by security forces that illegally deprive people from the right to life, reason by which the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights agrees with the OAS Secretary Almagro in the fact that these practices are characteristic of the beginning of an oppressive State and the end of the Democratic Constitutional State of Law. By depriving the people from accessing justice, truth and reparation, especially in cases of human rights violations, such as the multiple cases of torture and murder against political demonstrators which have gone unpunished, Mr. Maduro has broken the country’s democratic social contract. The way how President Maduro deprives the people from their democratic rights, by refusing to call elections or to accept referendums by popular vote, shows that he does not embody the legitimate function of his office, but Mr. Maduro behaves like a de facto President, which implies that his entire government is nothing more than a military civic dictatorship that concentrates political and juridical power in a non-democratic force. Although President Maduro and the Venezuelan Attorney General have expressed that human rights violations are isolated cases, the evidence shows a broad and widespread pattern of abuses, since the latter were a systematic practice of the security forces and with the complicity of prosecutors and country judges. This environment of impunity is also accompanied by an environment of corruption and drug trafficking, as evidenced in a trial against President Maduro’s nephews, the Venezuelan government and its military forces control all drug trafficking in Venezuela and thanks to the complicity and Corruption of the Venezuelan government, this country transits almost half of the drug of the whole world. Instead of being dedicated to a socialist revolution that brings liberty, equality and fraternity to the all the people, President Maduro’s civic-military government is dedicated to organized crime and human rights abuses.

Crimes against Humanity

After having condemned violations against the Constitution and the International Human Rights Law by the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice, under the leadership of President Maduro, it is an inescapable ethical duty on the part of the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights to establish whether within these violations “Crimes against humanity” were been committed. To this end, a number of complaints that have been submitted before the International Criminal Court (ICC) against President Maduro in 2014, 2015 and 2016 are considered as valid and legitimate. Precisely, in 2014, about two hundred lawmakers from eight Latin American countries denounced President Maduro internationally for “Crimes against humanity”, asking to investigate his massive, widespread and systematic repression against peaceful and unarmed protestors, which included dozens of dead and tortured individuals.

In November 2015, Carlos Vecchio and Juan Carlos Gutierrez, representing a group of victims’ relatives, filed a complaint before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for “Crimes against humanity” carried out by President Maduro to the civilian population, including evidence of systematic and widespread violence such as murders, torture and persecution for political reasons. This second complaint demonstrates that under Article 7 of the Rome Statute, President Maduro would be committing “Crimes against humanity” for carrying out widespread or systematic attacks against the civilian population, such as extrajudicial killings (examples: Genesis Carmona, Guillermo Sánchez and Kluiverth Roa), illegal deprivation of liberty (Examples: Christian Holdack, Luis Augusto Matheus Chirinos, Marcelo Crovato and Rosmit Mantilla), torture (example: Gloria Tobón), persecution of groups for political reasons (examples: Antonio Ledezma, Leopoldo López, Daniel Ceballos and Enzo Scarano) and other Inhuman acts (example: Juan Manuel Carrasco). The Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights has found that in 2014 President Maduro adopted a state system of attack against the politically dissident civilian population, restricting and punishing opposition political demonstrators through human rights violations that include the commission of “Crimes Against humanity” perpetrated in a widespread and systematic way by state security forces and paramilitary groups under the de facto control of Mr. Maduro. In a short period of time, in 2014, more than 33 murders against civilians, imprisonment of over 3300 demonstrators, torture of more than 400 demonstrators, and inhumane treatment of more than 800 people were carried out, all of this being an event that, due to the impunity sustained by the Vatican and the international courts, has occurred again during April 2017 with the same repressive intensity on the part of the dictatorial government of Maduro.

Also in 2015, the Colombian Attorney General, Mr. Alejandro Ordóñez, presented to the International Criminal Court (ICC) a report on “Crimes against humanity” committed by President Maduro against Colombian citizens, including crimes of forced displacement of 15,000 people, forced disappearances and torture against Colombian citizens living on the border within Venezuelan territory, in a clear systematic and widespread attack.

In 2016, social activist Lilian Tintori, wife of political prisoner Leopoldo López, filed a new complaint before the International Criminal Court (ICC) against President Maduro for “Crimes against humanity”, denouncing torture against political prisoners along with harassment and persecution of political parties. President Maduro has led a plan of intimidation, confrontation and punishment against political dissidents, systematically threatening the civilian population through violent repression and judicial persecution, so that the de facto President Maduro punishes the political opposition with a system of oppression where the paramilitary security forces, paramilitary groups, prosecutors, judges and the Venezuelan Supreme Court (TSJ), in an accomplice way, are all involved in a civic-military dictatorship that provides impunity to widespread crimes of brutal, indiscriminate and disproportionate violence that affects all social classes in the country, since the victims are politicians, students, lawyers, social activists, businessmen and ordinary citizens.

The Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights sends a message of solidarity to the entire people of Venezuela, by promising them not to ignore their suffering as well as it does not go unpunished in oblivion. Therefore, beyond punishments, it is indispensable that the Truth is denounced and clearly established. It is confirmed that the victims of President Maduro are recognized here and now through the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights, which states that Dictator Maduro has generally committed “Violations of International Human Rights Law”, and that he has specifically committed “Crimes against humanity”. As the international courts seem to be slowly disappearing within the framework of an international community of increasingly populist and authoritarian States, the work of the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights acquires great value so that international crimes do not go unpunished. Although the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights does not have any kind of police force to punish or detain the crimes led by President Maduro, certainly the Buddhist Tribunal has supreme ethical and spiritual power to dictate his Responsibility in the “Coup d’état” and in “Crimes against humanity “. In the weeks previous to the last election that the government lost, President Maduro had warned that if they lost those legislative elections then Venezuela would enter one of the most turbid and poignant stages of its political life because its revolution would become civic-military. History has shown that he fulfilled his promise.

Conclusion

After describing the case together with the backgrounds of human rights violations carried out by the accused, the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights is in a position to pronounce Nicolás Maduro’s Responsibility in the “Coup d’état” in Venezuela, as well as in the Commission of “Crimes against humanity”. The Venezuelan people is suffering a violation of its constitutional order by a regime that has violated the fundamental principles of human rights. The violation of human rights is the great problem of Venezuela. Maduro’s dictatorial regime is the end of democracy in that country, ending with the Constitution and initiating a new fraudulent order legitimized only by his political party. Maduro’s dictatorial regime has already violated judicial independence, taking ownership of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) to uphold its conducts of arbitrary detention, political prisoners, annulment of Parliament, breach of social rights to food and health, annulment of the democratic rights to convene regional elections and recall referendum, violent repression of peaceful demonstrators and unpunished killings by security forces and paramilitary groups. This system of corruption and impunity has consolidated the Presidency of Maduro as an authoritarian and dictatorial regime that violates the guidelines provided in the Venezuelan Constitution, calling for the creation of a new Constitution but without resort to Parliament or to universal suffrage of People which is the basis of national sovereignty. The de facto president of Venezuela is turning a republic system into a dictatorship ignoring the constituent power of the Venezuelan people, since without the direct approval of the electors – or indirect approval through their representatives – any process of a new Constitution would be invalid, Illegal, unconstitutional and fraudulent. The nation is integrally formed by all citizens, and not only by the sector of those who follow the governing party. When a government only provides rights to its followers, this populism system becomes a perverse tool of political, economic, cultural and environmental oppression. The deepening of the “Coup d’état” carried out by President Maduro, through the illegal creation of a new Constitution, violates the fundamental principles of liberty, equality and fraternity, being convened on the basis of political discrimination and the antidemocratic form, usurping the original constituent power of the Venezuelan people. Maduro’s presidency violates the elementary principles recognized in international human rights standards, as well as in the democratic system of Venezuela’s own national Constitution, by carrying out a “Coup d’état” promoted from its presidency in order to usurp and annul definitively the power of the people, simultaneously intimidating the national and international community with violence and assassinations. The Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights expresses its solidarity with the Venezuelan people and accompanies them in their quest for Independence, Human Rights and Democracy. In defending liberty, equality and fraternity of the whole humanity, promoting respect for the dharmic nature or intrinsic dignity of all human beings, the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights has found sufficient evidence to confirm a legal Opinion against Nicolas Maduro for “Coup d’état” and “Crimes against humanity”, being an Opinion that is a consequence of the deepening of the previous Judgment for “Violation of the Democratic Constitutional State of Law” and “Violation of the International Human Rights Law”. In accordance with international treaties, the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights has the absolute duty to enforce the right to life, the right to peace, the right to justice and the right to health, all of which have been violated widespreadly and systematically by the de facto President Nicolás Maduro.

Ergo, the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights rules as the following:

  1. It is declared as illegal and a “Coup d’état” to call for a new Constitution in Venezuela.
  2. It is stated that President Maduro violates the human rights of the Venezuelan people by not providing full access to health, work, justice, democracy and peace.
  3. It is required all neighboring countries of Venezuela to receive and not to expel the thousands of future Venezuelan refugees who might flee from the “Crimes against humanity” carried out by Maduro, even with a possibility that Venezuela may suffer a civil war.
  4. It is required that Fatou Bensouda, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), starts working properly in the case of Venezuela and she promptly brings President Maduro to the international justice for “Crimes against humanity”, hereby putting on record the fact that indifference or unjustified delay in giving justice to these crimes constitutes an act of complicity by omission.

Always in a spirit of reconciliation,

Master Maitreya Samyaksambuddha

President of the International Buddhist Ethics Committee & Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights

 

Legal Act on Adolfo Perez Esquivel

 

Case 24/2017: Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ)

 

LEGAL ACT ON ADOLFO PEREZ ESQUIVEL – NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATE

On April 19, 2017, an Act of International Repudiation was made regarding a letter signed by Mr. Perez Esquivel entitled Solidarity with Venezuela against the OAS Coup and Intervention. In the context of our recent case against Venezuelan Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), which was sentenced for Violation of the Democratic Constitutional State of Law and Violation of International Human Rights Law, the statement of support for the Venezuelan government is scandalous. In addition, after issuing the Judgment, the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights has perceived that the Venezuelan people have begun to peacefully march in protest of the lack of democratic quality of the country, before which the government of President Maduro has responded with violent repression which resulted in several people dead. This kind of episode is not new, because few years ago Maduro’s government carried out a tremendous repression, killing more than forty protesters, which obviously has remained totally unpunished. Faced with a government that is producing a political, economic and cultural disaster, it is unfortunate that Mr. Perez Esquivel (Nobel Peace Prize laureate) is an ideological accomplice of this situation by providing support and solidarity to a government that systematically and widespreadly violates human rights, ignoring the democratic will of the Venezuelan people. This situation is silently supported by the Vatican, which has interfered in the internal affairs of other State trying to sustain a regime that is increasingly becoming more tyrannical, authoritarian and undemocratic. The fact that Mr. Perez Esquivel’s Communiqué highlights the Venezuelan government’s advances in education, housing, health and labor is quite derisory and regrettable, because Venezuela is a country that is in a deep humanitarian crisis caused by government policies, reason by which it recently requested humanitarian aid to the UN. Perez Esquivel’s Communiqué deforms reality in an unacceptable way, because beyond the fact that there is freedom of expression, his words have an essentially negationist tinge. Faced with an unfair and illegitimate government, it should be remembered the fact that democratic systems are not dictatorships of majorities, and that winning elections is not to provide a blank check for politicians to do what they want without accountability for their actions. Governments must respect national Constitutions and International Human Rights Treaties, and when this is not complied, one is faced with unjust and illegitimate governments that violate the Constitutional State of Law and the International Law. Therefore, Perez Esquivel’s words in support of President Maduro are irrational and irresponsible, betraying any kind of humanitarian legacy that the Nobel Peace Prize had in the past. The Venezuelan government is an absolute betrayal of any socialist orientation, pretending to be a fraternal, sovereign and revolutionary country, when it is actually a violent and dictatorial government that is allied to genocidal and terrorist countries such as Iran. The Statement of Perez Esquivel is shameful and is an affront to Human Rights, justifying violence under the pretext that there is a possible and unlikely pursuit of destabilization and overthrow against the government of Maduro. In Venezuela there is no socialist revolution, but only a rich and powerful governmental elite manipulating and impoverishing the people through Populism. Perez Esquivel’s attitude to justify the violence against the Venezuelan people calling for democracy and liberty is repudiated by the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights as a grievance to World Peace, which paradoxically goes in tune with the illegal behavior of many other Nobel Peace Prize laureates. The pursuit of democracy and liberty is not an internal affair of Venezuela, but rather constitutes a supreme human right that can and must be defended by the entire international community. In this sense, Perez Esquivel’s statements in support of a regime that carries out crimes against humanity are despicable and worrisome. While the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights condemns the international crimes committed by the United States, this does not necessarily imply that the Tribunal is in favor of the enemies of the United States. This fact demonstrates that the great mistake of political activists like Perez Esquivel is that they often incur dualism, not being able to keep a position that is critical, detached and empty of ideology, because for this kind of activists, making a criticism to governments like Venezuela automatically implies supporting governments such as the United States, and vice versa. The Communiqué of Perez Esquivel demands unrestricted respect for the sovereignty of Venezuela, but he ignores that sovereignties of States are not absolute, but they are limited by the values and principles of International Human Rights Law. Thus, when the international community requires the Venezuelan government to respect democracy and human rights, this act obviously does not constitute aggression and intrusion. The real external interference is that of States such as the Vatican, which supports Venezuela’s dictatorial regime instead of working for democracy and liberty of the people. The Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights expresses solidarity and condolences to the relatives of the demonstrators killed by the Venezuelan government, assuming the commitment so that their voices are not totally silenced by tyrannical presidents, abusive religions and false Nobel Peace Prize laureates.

 

Master Maitreya

Presidente of Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights

Judgment on Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice

 

Case  24/2017: Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Tribunal Supremo de Justicia de Venezuela or TSJ)

 

 ETHICAL JUDGMENT

 

Dear Prosecutor, Public Defender, Ambassador and Jury Members of the International Buddhist Ethics Committee (IBEC) & Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights (BTHR), concerning the Case 24-2017 against the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ), on April 12, 2017, it is put on record that the trial of the Buddhist Tribunal has been concluded in order to analyze the Human Rights violation by the accused. This Case has been carried out as a consequence of “Case 21: Captain Strauss”.

After analyzing the presentation of the case and the validation of the enormous amount of evidence, there has been a unanimous vote of 6 members of the Jury, all of whom have sentenced the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) as “Responsible” for the serious crimes of VIOLATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTIONAL STATE OF LAW AND VIOLATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW. The actions of Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) when carrying out a coup d’état have produced enormous damage against the Democracy and Justice of the Venezuelan people, but also a huge damage against the Rule of Law at the international level by systematically breaching the global standards in matter of Human Rights. These terrible acts demonstrate that members of the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) have violated both the Human Rights treaties and the ethical precepts of Buddhist Spirituality, which is the constitutional guardian of the world. Although during the framework of this trial the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) has theoretically annulled the coup d’état, giving back the faculties of immunity and the creation of laws to the Venezuelan Parliament, actually the Coup continues to exist because the Venezuelan Tribunal systematically annuls all Parliament’s decisions when declaring it in contempt. In addition, the Venezuelan Tribunal must be held accountable for having violated International Law and the very Venezuela’s Constitution inspired by the values of the liberator Simon Bolivar, thus forgetting that the behavior of judges must be ethically exemplary anytime and anywhere. In this sense, the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights establishes that the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) is not only disrespectful to the International Courts, but also has a lack of impartiality, lack of independence or separation of powers, lack of transparency, lack of legitimacy, a presence of precariousness and presence of nepotism.

The international legal reform carried out by the Buddhist Law has as its core the defense of fundamental rights, and therefore exercises its Ethical Power as a supreme body to oversee compliance with the human rights Treaties, which are systems of juridical order that are superior to any local Constitution. Maitriyana also opened up to the defense of other fundamental rights that constitute an external human rights source, since its pluralism expands the fundamental rights by additionally incorporating the rights of non-human beings. By doing this task, the Buddhist Law interprets all existing instruments, also validating the Customary Law of the Tribal Peoples. Precisely the Maitriyana’s ethics committees and tribunals of conscience are international tribal courts whose function is to resolve cases of violations of Buddhist Ethics and Fundamental Rights contemplated in both the human rights treaties and the ancient practices of aboriginal peoples. In the constitutional relationship between countries with international Treaties, a president or a local court under no circumstances is able to interpret the international functions of the Buddhist Tribunal, primarily because they do not have the competence to do so, since there would be a radical lack of knowledge in the way how Buddhist Law works, which is as legitimate as the International Human Rights Law. When Maitriyana finds a violation against Buddhist Ethics or Fundamental Rights it can condemn a subject, an institution or a State, and there should be no material or legal obstacle that leaves this Ethical Judgment without effect, otherwise, a situation of injustice and impunity would be perpetuated. The Buddhist Civilization of ancient times developed an expansive jurisprudence of the collective rights of the spiritual commune (sangha), enforcing the ethical judgments of Buddhist Law against the State and opening the doors to a tripartite republican relationship in which the spiritual commune was privileged (Sangha) as an Ethical Power or supervisory organ of State Power and People’s Power. Therefore, Maitriyana reminds that Buddhist Spirituality is the oldest human rights and animal rights defending movement in the history of humankind. This juridical and republican status that the spiritual commune (sangha) had in Buddhist Civilization of the past undoubtedly allows and legitimizes the Buddhist Law’s international capability to investigate and prosecute cases of human rights violations, such as crimes against humanity, having the duty to protect democracy, equality, the right to peace and also freedom of expression and information of peoples. In this sense, the Maitriyana nourishes the processes of fulfillment of the political, economic, cultural and environmental rights. Buddhist Law rules judgments that imply a justifiable evolution of Law, which is a development that would be the envy of great jurists of history, like Marcus Tullius Cicero, Jeremy Bentham, John Marshall and Hans Kelsen. Although individuals, institutions and states may decide not to comply with the ethical rulings of the Maitriyana courts, this does not necessarily de-legitimize the Ethical Power of the spiritual commune (sangha), which has been de facto transformed into the Supreme Court of Planetary Justice, and at the same time has replaced the UN as an ethical and constitutional guardian of the fundamental rights of all humanity. This Power comes undoubtedly from the life impulse of the Free and Enlightened Beings (Arhats-Bodhisattvas) running through the veins of the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights. Although States have not voluntarily submitted themselves to comply with the judgments of Buddhist Law, they have certainly committed themselves internationally to comply with fundamental rights through Human Rights Treaties and Conventions which are within the legal framework of the Maitriyana. In this pluralistic understanding, the Buddhist Law considers that if its faculties are the defense of human dignity and fundamental rights, then any State that is governed by Human Rights Treaties is indirectly under the special and international jurisdiction of the courts of Maitriyana. After making a legal interpretation based on Tribal Law and the doctrine of international human rights organizations, the Buddhist Law interprets it has legitimacy and validity to keep and develop its legal institutions at the national and international level. Thus, even if the binding character of the decisions of Maitriyana’s international courts are denied, States have a moral and humanitarian obligation to circumscribe themselves to decisions on those matters in which Buddhist Law has competence. This reinterpretation regarding the reception and enforceability of the fundamental rights contemplated in international human rights treaties shows the obligations that the States have to the ethical judgments of Maitriyana as the maximum defender of human dignity. The Buddhist Law is part of the republican structure of the ancient Buddhist Civilization, whose form of co-government was composed of the authorities of the Executive Power, the People and the Spiritual Commune (Sangha). Consequently, States cannot fail to respect the decisions of the international courts of Maitriyana by claiming that these are invalid, since Buddhist Law is a millennial institution that precedes the very existence of States. Nor can States fail to respect these ethical judgments by claiming that Maitriyana does not have legitimacy in the present, for at present this community heads the supreme organ of the Global Ethical Power that is the United Buddhist Nations Organization. Moreover, in case States fail to respect the ethical judgments of Buddhist Law, they would be ignoring the role of spiritual masters as representatives of human dignity. Therefore, States have a legal duty to observe and comply with international human rights Treaties, not being able to invoke local provisions to breach their duties, which must always be progressively in favor of persons. Thus, the States have the obligation to refrain from dictating acts that may frustrate the purpose and end of the human rights protected by the Maitriyana. States then have a legal duty that their actions do not conflict with the values, principles or attributions of Buddhist Law, which develops architectural principles of a new civilization of human rights, which would not only come from the international rule of Law but also from the constitutional and customary rules of the spiritual community (sangha). The international courts of Maitriyana not only have a collaborative or complementary nature of the domestic Law of countries, but also have a status of transcending instance that can review the decisions of the local States and Courts when they may be violations of Ethics and Human Dignity, which is an absolute competence of Buddhist Law. Although Maitriyana’s international courts do not have binding power to revoke decisions of States, they can certainly supervise them ethically, judging them when States do not take the necessary measures to remedy violations of fundamental rights analyzed according to the principles of Ethics and Human Dignity. Buddhist Law uses non-restrictive or non-literary interpretive guidelines with respect to international human rights instruments, which allows it to develop peak knowledges (satoris) that are always expansive, virtuous and humanitarian. Consequently, the use of international human rights Treaties, which have a higher hierarchy than national laws, validates the Maitriyana international courts as a supreme trans-sovereign body. The broad, dynamic and virtuous utilization and interpretation made by Buddhist Law on international treaties and conventions make that its decisions have a rank of supralegality. Indeed, Maitriyana’s international courts have been conceived as institutions that are used to apply on States a view based on the sources of International Human Rights Law, including the ethical jurisprudence of Buddhist Law. This ethical control of conventionality states that all organs of a State that are subject to human rights Treaties or Conventions must comply with and apply the decisions of international courts defending or protecting such Treaties. It is here where the Maitriyana in a contemporary way exercises an Ethical Power of supervision or control of conventionality, which paradoxically was the old role of the spiritual commune (Sangha) in the Buddhic Civilization, being able to review the issuance and application of legal norms and administrative decisions of the State, only by granting validity to any action that is compatible with Ethics and Human Dignity. This interpretation on the legitimacy of Buddhist Law results in an evolution in the institutionality and legal security of the international community, strengthening and advancing the achievements gained in the defense of human rights and fundamental freedoms built on the basis of two thousand six hundred years of peaceful struggle and social commitment. Hence, the collective right of the spiritual community (sangha) to its juridical self-determination is effective and non-illusory, being broadly protected by international human rights Treaties and also by the defense of fundamental rights in the local Constitutions. It results also fundamental the international duty of States toward the right to Truth and the right of review of the victims of human rights violations. The international courts of Maitriyana recover the ancient role of the spiritual community (Sangha) during the Buddhic-Civilization, acting as an Ethical Power or Supreme Ombudsman, a guardian of the fundamental rights of sentient beings, so that the individual and collective rights owned by the spiritual community (sangha) are obligatory for all the States of the world.

For two thousand six hundred years the Buddhist Law was constituted as a revolutionary social movement that gradually developed a Civilization system throughout Southeast Asia, providing a response to the lack of values that suffers much of society. Indeed, in the Buddhic Civilization system, the spiritual commune (sangha) functioned as a Republican Ethical Power, overseeing the righteous behavior of both the people and the government. This Ethical Power regulating the executive, legislative, judicial and electoral powers is the historical origin of the great spiritual renewal that the Maitriyana currently leads, promoting a political, economic, cultural and environmental revolution. This process of transformation of the human community is a process of Liberation, Egalitarianism and Fraternity, raising the voice of mutual support to save the world from the onslaughts of immorality, which affects the internal and external world. Therefore, the Buddhist Law provides an ethic that acts from the field of what is personal and the linkages to the field of what is social, institutional and political. Faced with a world with war crises, social injustice, ignorance of values and environmental corruption, the Maitriyana expresses that it seeks the democratic development of human life, promoting the participation of every human being in decision making on the welfare of the entire planet. Certainly, humanity will not be able to survive and evolve if political, economic, cultural and environmental actions are not guided by the ethical principles of Buddhist Law, which develops its activity not to seize power or to enrich itself selfishly but with the aim of serving the international community. In the Maitriyana’s Analytical-Existential-Libertarian Discourse (Buddha-Dharma-Sangha) it is noted that the loss of the essential values that characterize contemporary civilization is a process of increasing desacralization of life, so that it is fundamental seeking to transform the ways of cultural transmission and production, abandoning materialism, consumerism and superficialism in pursuit of the advent of the ethics of solidarity, mutual support and detachment. In seeking to displace the psychic and social evils of greed, hatred and deceit, the Buddhist Law creates and produces a new human being. This ethical revolution of Maitriyana is the development of spiritual values, reaffirming once again the millenarian republican Power that the spiritual commune (sangha) played in the ancient Buddhist Civilization: the Ethical Power. Therefore, the Buddhist Tribunal would not only be a new creation in Asia, but would also exist a precedent in America, because the great revolutionary Simon Bolivar proposed to develop a Moral Power as a social institution directed both to the formation of a responsible citizenship and to ensure the ethical exercise of public offices. Thus, the proposal of Buddhist Law as an Ethical Power in republican States results no stranger to the historical experience of the peoples of East and West, which thanks to Siddharta Gautama and Simon Bolivar know that it must be avoided to be dominated by deceit and to be degraded by vice. Without the presence of this Republican Ethical Power, governments are neither free nor enlightened, falling into corruption, warmongering and manipulation. To restore the old form of ethical and altruistic civilization, the Maitriyana is proposed as a Supranational Power that educates and keeps humanity in the field of ethical and spiritual values. In short, the spiritual masters are the only ones who reflect deeply on the future of humanity, while at the same time working daily for their event. Natural resources are often a source of economic development for States, so that spiritual resources, that are the Free and Enlightened Beings (Arhats-Bodhisattvas), are essential sources for enabling a cultural growth and evolution of the world. Buddhist law, as the supervisor of the international community, is then a true ethical revolution that offers the antidote to the main poisons of society. Although corruption in Latin America, war in America, xenophobia in Europe, marginalization in Africa, terrorism in the Middle East, authoritarianism in Asia and depredation in Oceania seem to be structural behaviors of contemporary civilization, the Maitriyana teaches righteous actions and adequate measures to prevent or evade these evils, cultivating the seeds of a better world for the sake of present and future generations.

Although the mass media often transmit a world that has lost the values of contemplation, knowledge and solidarity, the Buddhist Law develops the vision of Gautama and Bolivar on the Republican Ethical Power in order to build a more equal, democratic and harmonious society. This vision is drawn daily from the experience and reflection of the spiritual masters of the last two thousand six hundred years, who constitute the main paths towards the realization of the Supreme Purpose (Dharma) of humanity. This effort of Maitriyana is linked to the system of Buddhic Civilization in which there was a form of republican co-government between the king, the people and the spiritual commune (sangha). This shows that the future always has precedents in the past. Like the Vatican during the medieval era, in the contemporary world, the United Nations has attempted to exercise the role of Supervisory Ethical Power proposed by Gautama and Bolivar, although undoubtedly both the Vatican and the UN have failed in this mission by maintaining a system of corruption and impunity. Buddhist Law, instead, has the fundamental ethical guidelines to be able to guide the nations of the world with purity in pursuit of a common action between different States and organizations in favor of the collective interests of humanity and Mother Earth (Pachamama), avoiding any kind of corruption, warmongering and deceit. This Ethical Power should not be installed, since it actually has already existed for two thousand six hundred years. Maitriyana’s ethical commitment is nothing more than the Discourse attempting to reveal the true nature of society, by regulating the conduct of the international community by nurturing and becoming transparent the available mechanisms of Ethical Power that already exist in the governments of the world. The Ethical Power of Buddhist Law encompasses politics, economics, culture and environment, having universal jurisdiction over the defense of the rights of all sentient beings. Therefore, this rectification and evolution of individual and social behaviors must be supported, strengthening the foundations of the Path toward a new human life. Maitriyana’s tradition takes care of values and virtues, because its work and spirit of service promotes and develops the growth of a healthy and educated society. The strong engagement of Buddhist Law with the ethical and spiritual values strengthens mechanisms of Ethical Power that ensure the fulfillment of the righteousness in the subject and in society.

In conclusion, the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights has the Purpose (Dharma) to save all sentient beings through the Supreme Law, which implies a direct criticism of corrupt Courts attempting against Justice. Therefore, it is established that the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) is violating human rights, especially violating the constitutional democratic State of Law. Undoubtedly, national and international Courts should be working together in creating a civilization governed by the Rule of Law, thinking of bringing righteousness to society instead of creating ways to corrupt it. Without an ethical and spiritual guidance the Courts become corrupt and partial, leading the sacred practice of Justice through a Pathway of totalitarian and antidemocratic perversion whose consequences are no less than the perversion of the Social Contract. Only by practicing the Way of Ethics and Liberty, as prescribed by Master Gautama, the Courts will not only be able to avoid damaging human dignity and fundamental rights, but they also will be able to develop Justice as a form of social evolution. In this way, the Case on the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) is a great teaching for the international community, proving perfectly that if Courts operate lacking of ethics and righteousness – as happens in the Justice of dictatorial countries – then the Courts become an evil in the world, because they only provide greed, hatred and deceit instead of providing solidarity, empathy and Truth. Instead, when Courts are guided by the Ethical Power of human rights and the Buddhist Spirituality, then they remain free of all destructive power, being able to help the human being is liberated by means of righteousness.

It is also recorded that during the framework of the Ethical Judgment against the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ), the government of such country has violently suppressed manifestations carried out by the citizens in protest of the antidemocratic situation. The Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights demands respect for the civil and political rights of demonstrators in order to meet peacefully and express freely without discrimination on the grounds of political orientation, so that any kind of police repression against public political demonstrations should be prohibited. This type of human rights violations are also being carried out in another country in Latin America, because in Argentina violent repressive techniques are also being used and even the right to strike by teachers seeking a living wage is being attacked. All this shows that in both Venezuela and Argentina there is a lack of understanding about what a democratic constitutional State of Law really is, since democracy is associated only with the act of voting rather than associating democracy with ethical principles that put limits on governmental Power by intervening in decision-making. In short, true democracy does not happen in the illusions of electoral processes, but when the people perform an ongoing ethical supervision of government decisions, because otherwise democracies are perverted into dictatorships of majorities.

Following the Path of Master Gautama, who developed the most righteous and restorative Justice system in the history of humankind, the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights oversees that national and international courts not to pervert and commit violations against ethics and human rights, so that the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) has been sentenced as “Responsible” for VIOLATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTIONAL STATE OF LAW AND VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW.

With spirit of reconciliation (maitri),

Master Maitreya Samyaksambuddha

President and Spiritual Judge of the International Buddhist Ethics Committee (IBEC) and Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights (BTHR)

 

Evidences of Case of Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice

 

Case 24-2017: VENEZUELAN SUPREME TRIBUNAL OF JUSTICE (TSJ)

 

 

By Master Yan Maitri-Shi, Prosecutor

 

HONORABLE JURY OF INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST ETHICS COMMITTEE (IBEC) & BUDDHIST TRIBUNAL ON HUMAN RIGHTS (BTHR)

After Legitimating and Validating Evidences and Charges by Master Maitreya, President and Spiritual Judge of IBEC-BTHR, it is addressed the case against the accused party “VENEZUELAN SUPREME TRIBUNAL OF JUSTICE”. This investigation was initiated by the Maitriyana Buddhist University.

The Charges by which the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights is accusing “VENEZUELAN SUPREME TRIBUNAL OF JUSTICE” are enumerated below:

  • Violation of the Democratic Constitutional State of Law
  • Violation of International Human Rights Law

Therefore, it is detailed a series of EVIDENCES that support the Charges referred so that the Jury members decide about the possible “Responsibility”, “Innocence” or “Insanity” of the accused. Such evidence come from graphic and audiovisual media that have been gathered, sorted and confirmed in their order and context as Means of Proof in order to know, establish, dictate and determine the Responsibility of the Accused for committing the aforementioned Charges.

The procedure established in the Statute of INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST ETHICS  COMMITTEE & BUDDHIST TRIBUNAL ON HUMAN RIGHTS provides both bodies the ostentation to enjoy independence and liberty from state and national regulation and control, besides having the legality and acting as a Buddhist People in order to assert its customs, traditions, practices, procedures, judgments and rights as well as acting in pursuit of the development of Spirituality, of Buddhist Ethics, and of the defense of International Human Rights. This procedure has the particularity, singularity and distinction of having “Special Jurisdiction of the Tribal Law” and “Universal Jurisdiction of the International Law”, thus having the Character, Juridical validity, Legal Powers, infrastructure, Training and Capability necessary to be Actor, Administrator and Executor of Justice in this realm and exercise, by judging of the Accused by means of an Ethical Judgment whose Purpose is Truth, Reconciliation and Learning.-

 

 

DETAILS OF EVIDENCES

 

Overview of the Case

BUDDHIST TRIBUNAL ON HUMAN RIGHTS: “In 2016 the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice declared the Parliament in contempt, since its majority was composed of members of the opposition, affirming that its decisions were invalid. But in 2017, the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal has not only annulled all the decisions of the Legislative Power but also made a coup d’état by assuming the exercise of parliamentary competences, such as creating laws, by violating the Rule of Law and the Constitution of Venezuela. This illegal, unconstitutional and undemocratic action is similar to what Fujimori did, the President of Peru in 1992. This is a coup d’etat at the level of the dictatorships of the twentieth century, in an attempt to destroy the republican democratic order. By governing from the state of emergency, the government sets limits to fundamental freedoms by means of its repressive and military forces. As a result, a number of Latin American countries and organizations have denounced this fact as a total rupture of the constitutional and democratic order in Venezuela, which is incompatible with the norms of the inter-American human rights system that Venezuela has signed and that it is legally obliged to comply with. In addition, these actions are being led by the new President of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice of Venezuela, Mr. Maikel José Moreno Pérez, who is a former Intelligence Service police officer who was convicted for homicide, which explicitly demonstrates the level of immorality emanating from this institution. In fact, the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) is not only blocking access to justice for thousands of citizens, but has decided to repeatedly violate the decisions of International Human Rights Courts, despite the fact that its Constitution obliges compliance with international human rights instruments. Faced with this situation, the Prosecutor General of Venezuela has denounced these events as a breach of the Constitutional order of the country. After a few hours later that the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights presented the Case, Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice canceled its sentences that had been a Coup d’état.”

 

Evidence 1: Criminal background of the President of the Supreme Tribunal

Susana Campo: “Otra polémica decisión en Venezuela pone en tela de juicio el sistema judicial bolivariano. La Sala Plena del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (TSJ) de Venezuela ha designado como nuevo presidente del Poder Judicial al magistrado chavista Maikel José Moreno Pérez, quién ha pisado la cárcel en dos ocasiones por asesinato. (…) El oscuro pasado del magistrado ha vuelto a la actualidad tras su nombramiento. Durante los años 80, Maikel José Moreno trabajaba como oficial de la policía política venezolana, ahora Servicio Bolivariano de Inteligencia Nacional (Sebin), y estuvo dos años en prisión por varios crímenes cometidos durante esa época. El primer crimen del que fue acusado ocurrió en 1987, en el estado de Bolívar, donde una mujer habría sido asesinada a balas por el nuevo presidente del TSJ. El segundo sucedió en 1989, cuando Moreno era oficial de Dirección de los Servicios de Inteligencia y Prevención (DISIP) y fue declarado culpable de la muerte de Rubén Gil Márquez. ”[1]

Maolis Castro: “Moreno es un hombre de peso en el chavismo. Este abogado fue designado agregado comercial de Caracas en Roma, tras ser destituido como juez por desacato a una orden de la Sala Constitucional del TSJ en 2007.”[2]

Diputado Lester Toledo: “Hemos pedido con fuerza a las autoridades (italianas) que tienen que negar la nacionalidad al magistrado Maikel Moreno, porque el primer requisito que pide cualquier país para otorgar la nacionalidad es no tener antecedente penales y este señor los tiene de sobra: juzgado por homicidio y un violador de derechos humanos” [3]

 

Evidence 2: Antecedents of the Tribunal attacking against the Parliament

Abogado Juan Manuel Raffalli: “El objetivo es que al final la Sala Constitucional (TSJ), que se ha convertido en una especie de poder constituyente permanente, tenga maniatada a la Asamblea Nacional (AN)” (…) “la sentencia equivale a una reforma constitucional (y) la Sala no tiene esa competencia”.”Han dejado a la AN prácticamente solo con su función legislativa para que apruebe leyes. Han reducido a su mínima expresión el control político por vía de la contraloría y de las investigaciones del Parlamento. Esto implica una alteración de las disposiciones constitucionales que establecen las competencias de la AN y la deja como pintada en la pared en temas cruciales”.  “Esto no se puede seguir viendo como una batalla jurídica. A la AN lo que le queda es tratar de activar los mecanismos de los organismos multilaterales, como la Carta Democrática Interamericana y ejercer la presión interna con el caudal de votos que tiene”[4]

Asdrúbal Aguiar, exmagistrado de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos: “Esto significa una grave alteración del ordenamiento constitucional y democrático, para no hablar de una suerte de golpe de Estado, de acuerdo con lo previsto en la Carta Democrática Interamericana. Es una situación totalmente anormal. En la práctica está ocurriendo una suerte de disolución de la soberanía popular, una suerte de cierre de la AN”[5]

Raúl Arrieta:El gobierno está preparando una ofensiva contra algunos diputados de la Asamblea por la vía penal para inhabilitarlos, juzgarlos y encarcelarlos”[6]

 

Evidence 3: Coup d’etat

Tribunal Supremo de Justicia de Venezuela: (Sentencia 155) “proceda a ejercer las medidas internacionales que estime pertinentes y necesarias para salvaguardar el orden constitucional, así como también que, en ejercicio de sus atribuciones constitucionales y para garantizar la gobernabilidad del país, tome las medidas civiles, económicas, militares, penales, administrativas, políticas, jurídicas y sociales que estime pertinentes y necesarias para evitar un estado de conmoción; y en el marco del Estado de Excepción y ante el desacato y omisión legislativa continuada por parte de la Asamblea Nacional”

Tribunal Supremo de Justicia de Venezuela: (Sentencia 156) “mientras persista la situación de desacato y de invalidez de las actuaciones de la Asamblea Nacional, esta Sala Constitucional garantizará que las competencias parlamentarias sean ejercidas directamente por esta Sala o por el órgano que ella disponga, para velar por el Estado de Derecho”

Diputado venezolano Julio Borges:Es un golpe de Estado y quiero que el mundo nos ayude y los medios nos ayuden a decirlo con todas sus letras: en Venezuela (el presidente) Nicolás Maduro dio un golpe de Estado”. “Es la primera vez que estas sentencias le otorgan todo el poder a Nicolás Maduro para hacer las leyes que le dé la gana, para dar los contratos que le da la gana y para endeudar al país como le dé la gana (…) es un golpe de Estado con todas sus letras, es una dictadura”[7]  “Este parlamento se rebela y desconoce esta sentencia de la Sala Constitucional”.[8] “Esto es simplemente basura de quienes han secuestrado la Constitución y quienes han secuestrado los derechos y la libertad del pueblo venezolano”. “Es un golpe de Estado con todas sus letras, es una dictadura que la comunidad internacional tiene que ayudar a que se prendan las alarmas para apoyar la decisión del pueblo venezolano para que cambiemos esta dictadura por una Venezuela de libertad, justicia y democracia”

Diputado venezolano Freddy Guevara: “Ésta no es una sentencia más, es una sentencia que marca un punto de no retorno de la dictadura que requiere iniciar un nuevo proceso de movilización y resistencia para enfrentar esta arremetida”

Luis Almagro, Secretario General de la Organización de Estados Americanos: “Aquello que hemos advertido lamentablemente se ha concretado”, “(es un) auto-golpe de Estado”. “Las normas internacionales regionales y universales a las que Venezuela soberanamente ha adherido, y que por ello la obligan a su cumplimiento, reafirman el respeto a la separación de poderes como garantía ineludible para la protección de los derechos de los ciudadanos y la defensa del sistema democrático y del estado de derecho”. “Las dos sentencias del TSJ de despojar de las inmunidades parlamentarias a los diputados de la Asamblea Nacional y de asumir el Poder Legislativo en forma completamente inconstitucional son los últimos golpes con que el régimen subvierte el orden constitucional del país y termina con la democracia”. “Asumir la restauración de la democracia es tarea de todos”[9]

Departamento de Estado de USA, Mark Toner:Esta ruptura de las normas democráticas y constitucionales daña en gran medida las instituciones democráticas de Venezuela y niega al pueblo venezolano el derecho de moldear el futuro de su país a través de sus representantes electos. Lo consideramos un grave revés para la democracia en Venezuela (…) las democracias del Hemisferio Occidental, reunidas esta semana en el Consejo Permanente de la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA), pidieron a Venezuela que respete sus instituciones democráticas mientras busca una solución negociada a sus crisis políticas, económicas y humanitarias”. (…) “Pedimos al Gobierno de Venezuela que permita a la Asamblea Nacional democráticamente elegida desempeñar sus funciones constitucionales, celebrar elecciones lo antes posible e inmediatamente liberar a todos los presos políticos” (…) “en lugar de socavar las instituciones democráticas de Venezuela, el Gobierno venezolano debe cumplir con los compromisos que asumió durante el diálogo de 2016, sus obligaciones con su propio pueblo y sus compromisos bajo la Carta Democrática Interamericana“.[10]

Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores peruano: “Frente a la gravedad de estos hechos, el Gobierno de Perú ha decidido retirar de manera definitiva a su embajador en la República Bolivariana de Venezuela” (…) “arbitraria medida que violenta el Estado de Derecho y constituye una ruptura del orden constitucional y democrático en la República Bolivariana de Venezuela” (…) “Un flagrante quebrantamiento del orden democrático en ese país” (…) “la separación, independencia y respeto recíproco de los poderes públicos es un elemento esencial de la democracia representativa, que todos los miembros de la Organización de Estados Americanos se encuentran obligados a respetar”.

Presidente de Perú, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski: “América Latina es democrática. Es inaceptable lo que ocurre en Venezuela.”[11]

Cancillería del Gobierno de Brasil:El gobierno brasileño repudia la sentencia del Tribunal Superior de Justicia (TSJ) de Venezuela que retiró de la Asamblea Nacional sus prerrogativas, en una clara ruptura del orden constitucional (…) El pleno respeto al principio de la independencia de poderes es un elemento esencial para la democracia. Las decisiones del TSJ violan ese principio y alimentan la radicalización política[12]

Henrique Capriles: “La decisión del tribunal es un golpe de Estado. ¿Qué cambia? Que hasta ahora el Tribunal anulaba las decisiones en la Asamblea. Ahora asumió las competencias de la Asamblea Nacional. Cerró el Parlamento. (…)Tenemos dos escenarios. Uno internacional, donde exigir, obviamente, pedir un apoyo firme de la comunidad internacional, con un solo planteamiento, que se restituya el hilo constitucional en Venezuela, que se reconozca la Asamblea Nacional que es el poder más democrático, porque es elegido y representa todas las fuerzas políticas. En lo interno, la organización y la movilización que es la presión interna, que somos nosotros, los venezolanos en desacuerdo con lo que ha hecho el Gobierno. (…) Si conoces mi trayectoria, sabes que aquí hay que lidiar todos los días con las arbitrariedades. Podríamos hablar por horas de todos los atropellos con los que he tenido que lidiar. Hasta la cárcel, sabes que ya estuve en la cárcel. Pero no se trata de mí, sino del atropello que hay todos los días con el pueblo venezolano, las violaciones de todos los días a los derechos humanos del pueblo venezolano.[13]

Unión Europea:“La Unión Europea recuerda que el total respeto de la Constitución, los principios democráticos, el Estado de derecho y la separación de poderes es crucial para que el país logre un resultado pacífico de la actual difícil situación y recupere la estabilidad política (…) (Es) de suma importancia establecer un claro calendario electoral y respetar a la Asamblea Nacional y a todos sus miembros, como prevé la Constitución (…) (Se) debe trabajar junto con todos los actores e instituciones nacionales dentro del marco constitucional y con total respeto a los derechos humanos y las libertades fundamentales, para hacer frente a los muchos desafíos a los que se enfrenta el país[14]

 

Evidence 4: Accusation of the Prosecutor General concerning the rupture of the Constitutional Order

Fiscal General de Venezuela, Luisa Ortega: “En dichas sentencias se evidencian varias violaciones del orden constitucional y desconocimiento del modelo de Estado consagrado en nuestra Constitución(…), lo que constituye una ruptura del orden constitucional (…) Es mi obligación manifestar ante el país mi alta preocupación por tal evento (las sentencias) (…) llamo a la reflexión para que tomemos caminos democráticos, y para que respetando la Carta Magna propiciemos un ambiente de respetó y pluralidad[15]

Jurista José I. Hernández: “La ruptura del orden constitucional compromete la responsabilidad penal de quienes llevaron a esa situación, lo que justifica el inicio de una investigación”[16]

Constitucionalista Pedro Alfonso del Pino: “¿Hay espacio para solicitar un antejuicio de mérito de algunos magistrados ante la Sala Penal? Esa es una pregunta que debe responder la fiscal”[17]

General Miguel Rodríguez Torres: “Ante la degradación institucional que aceleradamente vive el país. La posición valiente (de la Fiscal) que asumió seguramente será atacada, pero esta posición tiene que hacernos reflexionar”.[18]

Julio Borges, Presidente del Parlamento: “El gobierno está fracturado por dentro, dividido entre los que quieren seguir su conciencia y los que quieren seguir mintiendo. Este es el momento en el que Maduro debería tener la grandeza de convocar unas elecciones generales y de construir esa transición en paz que todo el mundo está pidiendo”[19]

Politólogo Luis Salamanca: “El gran paso de quiebre dentro de la estructura de poder lo acaba de dar la fiscal, la garante de la legalidad. Eso significa el agrietamiento, y cuidado si no el rompimiento de la estructura interna del poder chavista. La cohesión de la estructura de poder se empieza a perder, se está agrietando. Podría producirse una crisis interna en el régimen”[20]

 

Evidence 5: Rectification of Coup d’état

BBC: “En dos sentencias emitidas este sábado, la Sala Constitucional del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (TSJ) suprimió dos puntos de sus polémicas decisiones de esta semana, en las que asumía todas las competencias correspondientes a la Asamblea Nacional (AN) y despojaba de inmunidad a los parlamentarios venezolanos.”[21]

Tribunal Supremo de Justicia de Venezuela: (Sentencia 158) “Se Aclara de Oficio la sentencia N° 156 de fecha 29 de marzo de 2017, en lo que respecta al punto 4.4 del dispositivo referido a que la Sala Constitucional garantizará que las competencias parlamentarias sean ejercidas directamente por ésta o por el órgano que ella disponga, para velar por el Estado de Derecho; cuyo contenido se suprime

Tribunal Supremo de Justicia de Venezuela: (Sentencia) “Se Aclara de Oficio la sentencia N° 155 de fecha 28 de marzo de 2017, en lo que respecta a la inmunidad parlamentaria. Se suprime dicho contenido. Se suprime la cautelar 5.1.1 de dicho fallo”

Presidente Maduro: “Hemos llegado a un acuerdo de solución de esta controversia y puedo decir que con la lectura de este comunicado y la publicación de la aclaratoria y las correcciones respectivas de las sentencias 155 y 156 queda superado esta controversia, demostrando las capacidades de diálogo y resolución que se pueden activar por nuestra Constitución”

Gobernador Henrique Capriles: “¡Con ‘aclaratorias’ no está resuelto el golpe de Estado, ni han solucionado nada! ¡Deben anularse las sentencias, respeto a la Constitución y pleno funcionamiento de la AN, liberación de presos políticos y cese de persecuciones, canal humanitario de medicinas y alimentos y convocatoria de elecciones!”

 

Evidence 6: Non-compliance with Constitutional Obligations and with Judgments of International Courts

Secretario General de la OEA: “El Estado de Derecho no está vigente en Venezuela; ha sido eliminado por un Poder Judicial completamente controlado por el Poder Ejecutivo, que ha anulado cada ley aprobada por la Asamblea Nacional así como sus potestades constitucionales o los derechos del pueblo, especialmente sus derechos electorales. Hoy en Venezuela ningún ciudadano tiene posibilidades de hacer valer sus derechos; si el Gobierno desea encarcelarlos, lo hace; si desea torturarlos, los tortura; si lo desea, no los presenta a un juez; si lo desea, no instruye acusación fiscal. El ciudadano ha quedado completamente a merced de un régimen autoritario que niega los más elementales derechos”.

Secretario general de la OEA, Luis Almagro: “No hay ninguna manera en que un ciudadano venezolano pueda defender sus derechos” (…) “La Constitución se ha reducido a palabras sobre papel. El Poder Judicial ha anulado de facto a la Asamblea Nacional”. “todos los venezolanos necesitan justicia, desde los 43 que fallecieron en las protestas de 2014 hasta aquellos a los que se les negó su derecho a votar”, (…) “la convocatoria a elecciones generales es un primer paso para restituir el Estado de Derecho”.

Directora de Transparencia Venezuela, Mercedes De Freitas: “El TSJ ha suspendido todas las decisiones que fueron presentadas para la defensa de derechos y no ha permitido presionar a los órganos de justicia para que investiguen los casos de corrupción (…). “La corrupción es endémica en Venezuela. ¿Qué significa eso? Que no hay espacio en la vida nacional en el que no se aplique como un mecanismo a través del cual las personas intentan obtener lo que necesitan: desde alimentos hasta contratos, como los gigantescos que se le otorgaron a Odebrecht y que representaron en facturación 11 mil millones de dólares”.

Declaración de los Estados partes del Mercosur sobre la República Bolivariana de Venezuela: “1. Instar al gobierno de Venezuela a adoptar inmediatamente medidas concretas, concertadas con la oposición, de acuerdo a las disposiciones de la Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela y demás normas aplicables, para asegurar la efectiva separación de poderes, el respeto al Estado de derecho, a los derechos humanos y a las instituciones democráticas. 2. Exhortar al Gobierno de Venezuela a respetar el cronograma electoral que se deriva de su normativa institucional, restablecer la separación de poderes, garantizar el pleno goce de los derechos humanos, las garantías individuales y las libertades fundamentales y liberar a los presos políticos.”

Resolución del Consejo Permanente de la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA): “(Expresa) preocupación por la grave alteración inconstitucional del orden democrático (…) apoyo continuo al diálogo y la negociación para dar lugar a una restauración pacífica del orden democrático (…). las decisiones del Tribunal Supremo de Venezuela de suspender los poderes de la Asamblea Nacional (el Parlamento) y arrogárselo a sí mismo son incompatibles con la práctica democrática y constituyen una violación del orden constitucional (…) (se debe) actuar para garantizar la separación e independencia de los poderes constitucionales y restaurar la plena autoridad de la Asamblea Nacional, incluyendo la restitución de las inmunidades y privilegios parlamentarios. (…) Seguir ocupándose de la situación en Venezuela y emprender, en la medida que sea necesario, gestiones diplomáticas adicionales para fomentar la normalización de la institucionalidad democrática, de conformidad con la Carta de la Organización de los Estados Americanos y la Carta Interamericana, incluyendo la convocatoria de una reunión a nivel ministerial”

Nicolás Maduro – Presidente de Venezuela: “(La OEA dio) un golpe de Estado contra Bolivia, no les importa nada, han llegado en un nivel de exasperación y locura (…) un tribunal de inquisición antivenezolano (…) Se reunieron 13 países e impusieron a Honduras como presidente. ¿De dónde sacan a Honduras? Dieron un golpe a la institución interna de la OEA y dieron por aprobado un documento intervencionista, plagado de mentiras contra Venezuela (…). Vade retro Satanás, vade retro OEA, vete de aquí OEA, saca tus manos inmundas llenas de sangre de la Venezuela y la patria bolivariana, repudiamos y rechazamos el golpe de Estado en la OEA. (…) Aquí va a estar Venezuela siempre unida de corazón y de mente con los pueblos de aquellos países que traicionan la unión latinoamericana y se prestan a agredir (…) concepción golpista de ultraje permanente (…) linchamiento mediático orquestado y pagado por el imperio”

Gonzalo Himiob, Foro Penal Venezolano: “(En la justicia venezolana) No interesa la verdad. Lo que interesa es hacer sentir el poder del Estado ante quienes deciden alzar la voz (y) no estar de acuerdo con el Gobierno”,

Inti Rodríguez, Provea: “Luego de la derrota en las elecciones del 6 de diciembre de 2015 parece que el Gobierno que decidió no celebrar nuevas hasta que pueda ganarlas” (…) “la dictadura de Nicolás Maduro es fundamentalmente una fábrica de pobres”.[22]

Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela: “Artículo 19. El Estado garantizará a toda persona, conforme al principio de progresividad y sin discriminación alguna, el goce y ejercicio irrenunciable, indivisible e interdependiente de los derechos humanos. Su respeto y garantía son obligatorios para los órganos del Poder Público de conformidad con la Constitución, los tratados sobre derechos humanos suscritos y ratificados por la República y las leyes que los desarrollen. (…) Artículo 23. Los tratados, pactos y convenciones relativos a derechos humanos, suscritos y ratificados por Venezuela, tienen jerarquía constitucional y prevalecen en el orden interno, en la medida en que contengan normas sobre su goce y ejercicio más favorables a las establecidas por esta Constitución y la ley de la República, y son de aplicación inmediata y directa por los tribunales y demás órganos del Poder Público. (…) Artículo 49. Toda persona podrá solicitar del Estado el restablecimiento o reparación de la situación jurídica lesionada por error judicial, retardo u omisión injustificados. Queda a salvo el derecho del particular de exigir la responsabilidad personal del magistrado, del juez; y el derecho del Estado de actuar contra éstos”.

El Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (TSJ): “Aun cuando se hubiere comprometido algún derecho del accionante, tal circunstancia habría cesado al finalizar la medida privativa de libertad que pesaba sobre el accionante”[23]

Sala Constitucional del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia de Venezuela: “(Se) declaró inejecutable el fallo de la Corte IDH (…) en el caso Granier y otros (Radio Caracas Televisión) vs. Venezuela (…)contradice la Convención Interamericana de Derechos Humanos y la Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, atentando contra el propio sistema de protección internacional de los derechos humanos (…) (La CIDH) pretendió erradamente proteger derechos humanos de una empresa como lo es RCTV; desconoció la necesidad de agotar los recursos de la jurisdicción venezolana para poder recurrir a instancias internacionales (…) en desprecio de la soberanía nacional” (…) (la Corte IDH) expone al mundo el empleo indiscriminado y parcializado de las herramientas de un sistema que, en teoría, fue instalado para la protección de los derechos humanos, pero que en la práctica pareciera perseguir el objetivo de proporcionar cautelas y protecciones a intereses económicos espurios” “(La CIDH) no tiene competencia para pronunciarse acerca de la renovación de la concesión (…) ya que toda decisión al respecto compete, en primer orden, al derecho interno venezolano, que en ningún caso ha sido agotado previamente”[24]

Gladys Gutiérrez – Tribunal Supremo de Justicia de Venezuela (TSJ): “(Criticando a Corte Suprema de Chile) condena la manifiesta injerencia con que se ha sorprendido al foro jurídico nacional e internacional (…) nunca (se) atenderá a exigencias fuera de lugar provenientes de otras naciones”. “Se rechaza por igual la ofensa a la institucionalidad, a la democracia y a la soberanía de nuestro país, al situar infundadas afirmaciones al margen de la verdad y del Derecho Internacional”. “Venezuela exige respeto a las decisiones soberanas emanadas de las instituciones que conforman el Poder Público”. “carece de validez y es absolutamente inejecutable en el orden internacional y en el interno, por violentar principios y normas universales del derecho internacional”. (…) “son notorios los intentos de debilitamiento de las instituciones en la proximidad de un proceso electoral”.[25]

Magistrada de la Sala Penal, Blanca Rosa Mármol de León: (la decisión busca) “evadir la responsabilidad de cumplir con sus obligaciones internacionales”.[26]

Mesa de la Unidad Democrática (MUD): “desacato flagrante (…) pues dibuja de cuerpo entero el talante antidemocrático y antijurídico de quienes nos gobiernan. En cuanto corresponde a nuestro deber como venezolanos, vemos esta deplorable sentencia como otra razón para producir un cambio, pacífico, democrático y constitucional en nuestro país”. (TSJ confirma) “otra vergonzosa muestra de dependencia política de los poderes públicos (en el Ejecutivo) contra lo dispuesto en la Constitución” [27]

Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (TSJ): “exhortar al Ejecutivo Nacional para que ejerzan todas las acciones nacionales e internacionales a los fines de garantizar el respeto a la Constitución y a la soberanía (…) considere la posibilidad de proponer la remoción del actual secretario general de la OEA, Luis Almagro, a la Asamblea General, según lo establece el artículo 116 de la Carta de la OEA dada la reiterada agresión contra Venezuela y sus instituciones”.[28]

Allan R. Brewer-Carías, Profesor de la Universidad Central de Venezuela: “En el caso de Venezuela, la Sala Constitucional del Tribunal Supremo, como Jurisdicción Constitucional, tiene asignadas las competencias que se enumeran en el artículo 336 de la Constitución y en el artículo 25 de la Ley Orgánica del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia de 2010, no estando prevista en ninguna de esas normas una supuesta competencia para someter a control de constitucionalidad, mediante el ejercicio ante ella de una acción e incluso de oficio, de las sentencias de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos. (…) es contrario al propio texto de la Constitución venezolana que en su artículo 31 prevé como obligación del propio Estado el adoptar, conforme a los procedimientos establecidos en la Constitución y en la ley, las medidas que sean necesarias para dar cumplimiento a las decisiones emanadas de los órganos internacionales de protección de derechos humanos.  Sin embargo, la Sala Constitucional del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia mediante sentencia No 1.547 de fecha 17 de octubre de 2011 (Caso Estado Venezolano vs. Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos), procedió a conocer de una acción innominada de control de constitucionalidad de la sentencia de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos dictada en el 10 de septiembre de 2011 (caso Leopoldo López vs. Estado de Venezuela), que no existe en el ordenamiento constitucional venezolano, ejercida por el Procurador General de la República, condenada en la sentencia. Dicha sentencia de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, por lo demás, había decidido, conforme a la Convención Americana de Derechos Humanos (art. 32.2), que la restricción al derecho pasivo al sufragio (derecho a ser elegido) que se le había impuesto al Sr. Leopoldo López por la Contraloría General de la República de Venezuela mediante una decisión administrativa, no judicial, era contraria a la Convención, pues dichas restricciones a derechos políticos sólo pueden establecerse mediante imposición de una condena dictada mediante sentencia judicial, con las debidas garantías del debido proceso (…). En tal virtud, el Sr. López recurrió mediante denuncia ante la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, para ante la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, denunciando su derecho, resultando la decisión de esta última condenando al Estado venezolano por violación de dicho derecho al ejercicio pasivo al sufragio en perjuicio del Sr. Leopoldo López, ordenando la revocatoria de las decisiones de la Contraloría General de la República y de otros órganos del Estado que le impedían ejercer su derecho político a ser electo por la inhabilitación política que le había sido impuesta administrativamente. Debe decirse que ya la Sala Constitucional del Tribunal Supremo, con anterioridad, y en franca violación de la Constitución, ya había resuelto en su sentencia No 1.265 de 5 de agosto de 2008 (caso Ziomara Del Socorro Lucena Guédez vs. Contralor General de la República), que el artículo 105 de la Ley Orgánica de la Contraloría General de la República no era violatorio de la Constitución ni de la Convención Americana de Derechos Humanos, admitiendo que mediante ley se podían establecer sanciones administrativas de inhabilitación política contra ex funcionarios, impidiéndoles ejercer su derecho político a ser electos, como era el caso de las decisiones dictadas por la Contraloría General de la República.  En todo caso, frente a la decisión de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos de condena al Estado Venezolano por violación del derecho político del Sr. Leopoldo López, el Procurador General de la República, como abogado del propio Estado condenado, recurrió ante la Sala Constitucional del Tribunal Supremo solicitándole la revisión judicial por control de constitucionalidad de la misma, de lo cual resultó la sentencia mencionada No 1.547 de 17 de octubre de 2011 de la Sala Constitucional mediante la cual decidió conocer de una acción innominada de control de la constitucionalidad de la sentencia de la Corte Interamericana, y declarar que la sentencia dictada por la misma en protección del Sr. López era inejecutable en Venezuela, ratificando así la violación de su derecho constitucional a ser electo, y que le impedía ejercer su derecho a ser electo y ejercer funciones públicas representativas.  Todo esto ha originado una bizarra situación de violación de derechos políticos por parte de los órganos del Estado venezolano, incluyendo la Sala Constitucional del Tribunal Supremo, y de formal desconocimiento de las sentencias dictadas por la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos contra el Estado, a requerimiento del abogado del propio Estado condenado, al declararlas como inejecutables en el país. (…)  A tal efecto, la Corte Interamericana constató que el artículo 23.1 de la Convención establece que todos los ciudadanos deben gozar de los siguientes derechos y oportunidades, los cuales deben ser garantizados por el Estado en condiciones de igualdad: i) a la participación en la dirección de los asuntos públicos, directamente o por representantes libremente elegidos; ii) a votar y a ser elegido en elecciones periódicas auténticas, realizadas por sufragio universal e igual y por voto secreto que garantice la libre expresión de los electores, y iii) a acceder a las funciones públicas de su país (Párr. 106). (…) Ahora bien, en el caso sometido a su consideración, que se refería a una restricción impuesta por vía de sanción, la CIDH consideró que debería tratarse de una condena, por juez competente, en proceso penal, estimando que en el caso: ninguno de esos requisitos se ha cumplido, pues el órgano que impuso dichas sanciones no era un ‘juez competente’, no hubo ‘condena’ y las sanciones no se aplicaron como resultado de un ‘proceso penal’, en el que tendrían que haberse respetado las garantías judiciales consagradas en el artículo 8 de la Convención Americana” (Párr. 107). (…)  La Corte Interamericana, en su decisión, reiteró su criterio de que el ejercicio efectivo de los derechos políticos constituye un fin en sí mismo y, a la vez, un medio fundamental que las sociedades democráticas tienen para garantizar los demás derechos humanos previstos en la Convención y que sus titulares, es decir, los ciudadanos, no sólo deben gozar de derechos, sino también de oportunidades; término este último que implica, al decir de la Corte Interamericana, la obligación de garantizar con medidas positivas que toda persona que formalmente sea titular de derechos políticos tenga la oportunidad real para ejercerlos. En el caso decidido en la sentencia, la Corte Interamericana precisamente consideró que si bien el señor López Mendoza ha podido ejercer otros derechos políticos, está plenamente probado que se le ha privado del sufragio pasivo, es decir, del derecho a ser elegido (Párr. 108). (…)  Consecuencialmente, la CIDH declaró que el Estado debía dejar sin efecto las Resoluciones Nos. 01-00-000206 de 24 de agosto de 2005 y 01-00-000235 de 26 de septiembre de 2005 emitidas por el Contralor General de la República (supra párrs. 58 y 81), mediante las cuales se declaró la inhabilitación para el ejercicio de funciones públicas del señor López Mendoza por un período de 3 y 6 años, respectivamente” (Párr. 218) (…) Como consecuencia de ello, el Procurador General de la República solicitó de la Sala Constitucional que admitiera lo que llamó la acción innominada de control de constitucionalidad, a los efectos de que la Sala declarase inejecutable e inconstitucional la sentencia de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos del 1 de septiembre de 2011. (…) Es bien sabido en el mundo de la justicia constitucional, que el juez constitucional como todo órgano del Estado está, ante todo, sometido a la Constitución, por lo que debe ceñirse a ella no sólo en la emisión de sus sentencias, sino en el ejercicio de sus propias competencias. Para que el juez constitucional sea garante de la Constitución tiene que ejercer las competencias que la Constitución le atribuye, pues de lo contrario si ejerciera competencias distintas estaría actuando como Poder Constituyente, modificando la propia Constitución, en violación a la misma. Eso es precisamente lo que ha ocurrido en este caso, al inventar la Sala Constitucional una nueva acción para el control de constitucionalidad (…). La Sala Constitucional actuó como poder constituyente al margen de la Constitución.[29] (…) afirmando entonces de oficio, que: el Estado (y, en concreto, la Asamblea Nacional) ha incurrido en una omisión de dictar las normas o medidas indispensables para garantizar el cumplimiento de esta Constitución (…)  Es decir, la Sala Constitucional, no sólo desconoció la voluntad del Legislador en eliminar una norma del ordenamiento jurídico, sino que calificó dicha decisión como una“omisión de la Asamblea Nacional de dictar las normas necesarias para dar cumplimiento a las decisiones de los organismos internacionales y/o para resolver las controversias que podrían presentarse en su ejecución, siendo la consecuencia de ello, la declaratoria de la Sala, de oficio, de asumir la competencia, que ni la Constitución ni la ley le atribuyen (…). La violación al debido proceso y a la necesaria contradicción del proceso constitucional fue evidente, sólo explicable por la urgencia de decidir y complacer al poder. (…)Quedó en esta forma formalizada en la jurisprudencia de la Sala Constitucional en Venezuela, actuando como Jurisdicción Constitucional, y sin tener competencia constitucional alguna para ello, la existencia de una acción innominada de control de constitucionalidad destinada a revisar las sentencias de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos. Es decir, el Estado venezolano, con esta sentencia, estableció un control de las sentencias que la Corte Interamericana pueda dictar contra el mismo Estado condenándolo por violación de derechos humanos, cuya ejecución en relación con el Estado condenado, queda a su sola voluntad, determinada por su Tribunal Supremo de Justicia a su propia solicitud (del Estado condenado) a través del Procurador General de la República. Se trata, en definitiva, de un absurdo sistema de justicia en el cual el condenado en una decisión judicial es quien determina si la condena que se le ha impuesto es o no ejecutable. Eso es la antítesis de la justicia. (…)  La Sala Constitucional del Tribunal Supremo en fecha 17 de octubre de 2011, en franca violación de la Constitución, pasó a conocer de inmediato la acción innominada intentada por el Procurador General de la República en nombre del Estado condenado (…)  La Corte Interamericana dijo: Pero cuando un Estado es parte de un tratado internacional como la Convención Americana, todos sus órganos, incluidos sus jueces y demás órganos vinculados a la administración de justicia, también están sometidos a aquél, lo cual les obliga a velar para que los efectos de las disposiciones de la Convención no se vean mermadas por la aplicación de normas contrarias a su objeto y fin. Los jueces y órganos vinculados a la administración de justicia en todos sus niveles están en la obligación de ejercer ex officio un ‘control de convencionalidad’, entre las normas internas y la Convención Americana, en el marco de sus respectivas competencias y de las regulaciones procesales correspondientes. En esta tarea, los jueces y órganos vinculados a la administración de justicia deben tener en cuenta no solamente el tratado, sino también la interpretación que del mismo ha hecho la Corte Interamericana, intérprete última de la Convención Americana. (…)  La afirmación de la Sala (del TSJ) de que es ella la que tiene el monopolio en la materia de aplicación en el derecho interno de los tratados internacionales mencionados, contradiciendo el texto del artículo 23 de la Constitución que dispone que dichos tratados son de aplicación inmediata y directa por los tribunales y demás órganos del Poder Público, afirmando, al contrario, que ella es la única instancia judicial llamada a determinar cuáles normas sobre derechos humanos de esos tratados, pactos y convenios, prevalecen en el orden interno; competencia esta última que supuestamente emanaría de la Carta Fundamental -sin decir de cuál norma- afirmando que la misma no puede quedar disminuida por normas de carácter adjetivo contenidas en Tratados ni en otros textos Internacionales sobre Derechos Humanos suscritos por el país. (…) En definitiva, la Sala Constitucional decidió que las sentencias de los tribunales internacionales sobre derechos humanos no eran de aplicación inmediata en Venezuela (…) Por tanto, no existe órgano jurisdiccional alguno por encima del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (TSJ), y si existiera, por ejemplo, en materia de integración económica regional o de derechos humanos, sus decisiones no pueden menoscabar la soberanía del país, ni los derechos fundamentales de la República (…)La interpretación de la Constitución conforme al proyecto político del gobierno y el rechazo a los valores universales sobre derechos humanos: Adicionalmente la Sala se refirió a otro fallo anterior, N° 1.309/2001, en el cual había considerado que el derecho es una teoría normativa puesta al servicio de la política que subyace tras el proyecto axiológico de la Constitución, de manera que la interpretación constitucional debe comprometerse “con la mejor teoría política que subyace tras el sistema que se interpreta o se integra y con la moralidad institucional que le sirve de base axiológica. Por supuesto, dicha política que subyace tras el proyecto axiológico de la Constitución o la teoría política que subyace tras el sistema que le sirve de base axiológica, no es la que resulta de la Constitución propia del Estado democrático social de derecho y de justicia, que está montado sobre un sistema político de separación de poderes, democracia representativa y libertad económica, sino el que ha venido definiendo el gobierno contra la Constitución y que ha encontrado eco en las decisiones de la propia Sala, como propia de un Estado centralizado, que niega la representatividad, montado sobre una supuesta democracia participativa controlada y de carácter socialista (…)precisando que no deben afectar la vigencia de dicho proyecto con elecciones interpretativas ideológicas que privilegien los derechos individuales a ultranza o que acojan la primacía del orden jurídico internacional sobre el derecho nacional en detrimento de la soberanía del Estado. (texto cursivo de la Sala) Concluyó así, la sentencia, que no puede ponerse un sistema de principios supuestamente absoluto y suprahistórico por encima de la Constitución, siendo inaceptables las teorías que pretenden limitar so pretexto de valideces universales, la soberanía y la autodeterminación nacional’ (texto cursivo de la Sala). (…) De ello concluyó la Sala que la opción por la primacía del Derecho Internacional es un tributo a la interpretación globalizante y hegemónica del racionalismo individualista (…) En la sentencia N° 1309/2001 la Sala también había afirmado que “el ordenamiento jurídico conforme a la Constitución significa, en consecuencia, salvaguardar a la Constitución misma de toda desviación de principios y de todo apartamiento del proyecto que ella encarna por voluntad del pueblo“, procediendo a rechazar todo sistema de principios supuestamente absoluto y suprahistórico, por encima de la Constitución, y que la interpretación pueda llegar a contrariar la teoría política propia que sustenta. Por ello, la Sala negó la validez universal de los derechos humanos, es decir, negó cualquier teoría propia que postule derechos o fines absolutos, o cualquier vinculación ideológica con teorías que puedan limitar, so pretexto de valideces universales, la soberanía y la autodeterminación nacional (texto cursivo de la Sala). (…) Ahora, al resolver la posible antinomia entre el artículo 23.2 de la Convención Interamericana y la Constitución, la Sala señaló que la prevalencia del tratado internacional no es absoluta ni automática (…)De ello concluyó sobre el fondo del tema resuelto por la Corte Interamericana que la restricción de los derechos humanos puede hacerse conforme a las leyes que se dicten por razones de interés general, por la seguridad de los demás integrantes de la sociedad y por las justas exigencias del bien común, (…) La denuncia de usurpación contra la Corte Interamericana y la declaración de “inejecución” de su sentencia: Finalmente la Sala Constitucional (del TSJ) acusó a la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos de persistir en desviar la teleología de la Convención Americana y sus propias competencias, emitiendo órdenes directas a órganos del Poder Público venezolano (Asamblea Nacional y Consejo Nacional Electoral), usurpando funciones cual si fuera una potencia colonial y pretendiendo imponer a un país soberano e independiente criterios políticos e ideológicos absolutamente incompatibles con nuestro sistema constitucional (…) (Se declara) inejecutable el fallo de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, de fecha 1 de septiembre de 2011, en el que se condenó al Estado Venezolano (…)La presidenta del TSJ de Venezuela, Luisa Estella Morales, (…) ratificó que la sentencia de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos que ordena restituir los derechos políticos al ex alcalde del municipio Chacao del Estado Miranda, Leopoldo López, no puede ser cumplida por la justicia venezolana, indicando, sin embargo, que dicho ciudadano contaba con todos sus derechos políticos lo que no era cierto, pues se le había negado el derecho pasivo al sufragio, agregando que podía hacer campaña o fundar partidos, [pero] lo que no puede es ejercer cargos de administración pública.  La presidenta del Tribunal Supremo indicó, además, que la sentencia de la Corte Interamericana confundía la inhabilitación política con la inhabilitación administrativa, sin percatarse que cuando dicha inhabilitación administrativa impide a un funcionario electo ejercer el cargo para el cual fue electo, se convierte en una inhabilitación política; pues aunque la Magistrada parecía ignorarlo, el derecho a ejercer cargos públicos de elección popular es un derecho político. (…)De todo ello, lo que quedaba claro era que independientemente de si el Sr. López iba o podía resultar o no electo, respecto de él, y del propio futuro del país, la situación política subsiguiente no dependía de la voluntad del pueblo soberano, sino de la decisión de un Tribunal Supremo que además de usurpar el poder constituyente y rebelarse contra las decisiones del tribunal internacional encargado de la protección de los derechos humanos en América, se reservaba en definitiva el derecho de anular o no la voluntad popular de acuerdo con las circunstancias que se presentasen en el futuro.”[30]

Eduardo Meier García, Profesor de Posgrado de la Universidad Metropolitana: “En este artículo se analizan las sentencias del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia venezolano que desconocen el Derecho internacional de los derechos humanos, al realizar un inusual control de constitucionalidad sobre las sentencias de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, desestimar sus efectos directos e indirectos y solicitar la denuncia de la Convención Americana sobre Derechos Humanos. (…)La Sala Constitucional del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia venezolano (SC/TSJ) tiene más de una década intentando retroceder a la concepción estatocéntrica de la soberanía, del Estado nacional soberano como poder supremo que no reconoce autoridad superior (superiorem non recognocens) y, por ende, no se ve sometido a la obligación jurídica internacional, general y frente a todos (omnium et erga omnes) de respetar los derechos fundamentales de la persona y grupos humanos que se encuentren bajo su jurisdicción.  (…) (En) La Sala Constitucional del TSJ y nada más, se desconoce de plano y se viola el –constitucionalizado– Derecho internacional de los derechos humanos. Por su parte, la Constitución de la república Bolivariana de Venezuela desde sus normas de apertura (artículos 19, 22, 23, 30 y 31 CrBV), contempla que los instrumentos internacionales sobre derechos humanos, suscritos y ratificados por Venezuela tienen jerarquía constitucional; y prevalecen en el orden interno, en la medida en que contengan normas sobre su goce y ejercicio más favorables a las establecidas por la Constitución y en las leyes de la república, con lo cual se interpretarán y aplicarán de forma que suponga una mayor efectividad de los derechos reconocidos en la Constitución o en los tratados (efecto útil); que son de aplicación inmediata y directa por los tribunales (incluyendo a la Sala Constitucional del TSJ) y demás órganos del Poder Público (self executing); otorgan el derecho a dirigir peticiones ante los órganos internacionales con el objeto de solicitar protección a los derechos humanos, y a exigir, conforme a los procedimientos establecidos en la Constitución y la ley (y a fortiori, en los términos establecidos en la CADh, y según la interpretación y aplicación de sus órganos competentes), las medidas que sean necesarias para dar cumplimiento a las decisiones emanadas de los órganos internacionales, como es el caso de las sentencias estimatorias de la Corte IDH.  A pesar de la claridad de las normas constitucionales y de la doctrina del Sistema Interamericano de promoción y protección de los derechos humanos, que constituye en la región un referente obligatorio, la Sala Constitucional del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia, como denuncian Faúndez Ledesma, Ayala Corao, Brewer-Carías y Nikken, atrapada en la literatura jurídica del siglo XVI, impuso su rancia doctrina de la soberanía nacional y absoluta, de la interpretación constitucional autónoma, más bien su novedosa interpretación política de la Constitución, y en su larga carrera al servicio del autoritarismo continuó, como veremos, con su concebido plan de incumplimiento de las decisiones de la Corte IDH, ejecutando una autentica crónica de la muerte anunciada del CIDH en Venezuela. (…)  Como veremos, la posición que impuso la SC/TSJ como precedente con pretendidos efectos verticales sobre todo el sistema de justicia, es incongruente desde la perspectiva que se vea, tanto desde (i) los mecanismos de protección articulados por la propia Constitución como por (ii) el Derecho internacional de los derechos humanos. (…) En este sentido, el canon de interpretación (interamericano) establece un vínculo prescriptivo, sistemático y estructural con un derecho común estandarizado y organizado fundamentalmente por la Corte IDH, que desarrolla un vínculo judicial obligatorio con sus sentencias estimatorias, pero que no sólo tienen eficacia inter partes, esto es, relacionada con la cosa juzgada, sino que desde la perspectiva del sistema de garantías, la actuación conforme de los Estados y concretamente la interpretación conforme de los jueces nacionales, garantiza que no se generen diferencias interpretativas, múltiples criterios de protección y grados de cumplimiento de los fallos. El canon americano iría cimentando una especie de acervo prospectivo que incorpora procesos, contenidos y criterios de interpretación con la finalidad inicial y final de garantizar los derechos humanos y promover los principios democráticos. Asimismo, todo fallo de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos será motivado, definitivo e inapelable (artículos 66 y 67 de la CADH). (…) Como lo ha señalado la propia Corte Interamericana la obligación de cumplir con lo dispuesto en las decisiones del Tribunal corresponde a un principio básico del derecho de la responsabilidad internacional del Estado, respaldado por la jurisprudencia internacional, según el cual los Estados deben cumplir sus obligaciones convencionales internacionales de buena fe (pacta sunt servanda) y, …como lo dispone el artículo 27 de la Convención de Viena sobre el Derecho de los Tratados de 1969, no pueden, por razones de orden interno, dejar de atender la responsabilidad internacional ya establecida. Aun cuando Venezuela alegó no ser parte de la Convención de Viena, la obligación internacional del pacta sunt servanda, es norma de derecho consuetudinario de obligatorio cumplimiento. (…)  De modo tal que las sentencias estimatorias de la Corte IDH tienen eficacia inter partes para el Estado, que debe poner fin a la violación, indemnizar y restablecer la situación jurídica vulnerada y además debe compatibilizar su actuación, su legislación o estándares internos conforme a los estándares internacionales fijados en el control in concreto realizado por el fallo interamericano. Pero además, la Corte IDH previene a los demás Estados Parte para evitar que nuevas demandas por la misma causa o por otra similar sean ventiladas ante el Sistema Interamericano, es lo que se conoce como efectos indirectos o prospectivos de las sentencias, que responden al efecto de la cosa interpretada, al que se le reconoce eficacia erga omnes, general y pro futuro en la medida que la Corte IDH es intérprete último, auténtico y supremo de la CADH y al desempeñar su función con plena jurisdicción (…), establece el alcance y el contenido de los derechos y garantías que forman parte del acquis conventionnel al que los Estados Parte –y especialmente sus jueces y tribunales– deben seguir en su interpretación conforme. (…) Mal puede un órgano interno de un Estado Parte subrogarse la función de interpretar y controlar la vigencia de la CADH o lo que decidan sus órganos internacionales, únicos autorizados para ello. (…) Así, los Estados Parte, y especialmente sus tribunales constitucionales y similares, debe tener en cuenta que los derechos, conjuntamente con los valores y principios, entre ellos, los principios democráticos, que se amalgaman y conforman el contenido de justicia de una sociedad democrática y pluralista no se agotan en la Constitución, ni en las interpretaciones que de ella hagan los jueces nacionales. Por el contrario, la dignidad humana y la universalización de los derechos constituyen el punto en que convergen derecho interno y derecho internacional para superar esa garantía mínima de los derechos humanos, y ofrecer paladinamente un régimen de protección de mayor alcance, debiendo aplicarse siempre la disposición más favorable a la persona humana (pro personae o pro homine), bien se produzca por la actuación de la jurisdicción internacional o por una decisión de la jurisdicción interna o constitucional, en cuyo caso, la interpretación constitucional será norma de cierre del sistema únicamente si se alcanza con ella la tutela iusfundamental adecuada. (…) La Sala Constitucional del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (SC/TSJ) de la república Bolivariana de Venezuela inició en el año 2000 un proceso de desconocimiento paulatino de la vigencia del Sistema Interamericano de Derechos humanos, por ende, del Derecho internacional de los derechos humanos. (…) Es hasta paradójico, por no decir risible o grotesco, que se invoque una interpretatio favor Constitutione, (…) para negarse a un sistema de principios supuestamente absoluto y suprahistórico por encima de la Constitución, esto es, negar la vigencia universal del principio de aplicación preferente de los derechos humanos y rechazar los principios democráticos y la democratización internacional, cuando es la propia Constitución venezolana de 1999 que los coloca en lugar preferente, al establecer como valores superiores de su ordenamiento jurídico y de su actuación: la democracia, la preeminencia de los derechos humanos y el pluralismo político, entre otros (art. 2º) y como fines esenciales del Estado – inter alia – la defensa y el desarrollo de la persona y el respeto a su dignidad, y la garantía del cumplimiento de los principios, derechos y deberes reconocidos y consagrados en la Constitución (art. 3º), que además deberá garantizar a toda persona, conforme al principio de progresividad y sin discriminación alguna, el goce y ejercicio irrenunciable, indivisible e interdependiente de los derechos humanos, siendo su respeto y garantía obligatorios para los órganos del Poder Público de conformidad con la Constitución, con los tratados sobre derechos humanos suscritos y ratificados por la república y con las leyes que los desarrollen (art. 19). También resulta absurdo que se invoque una interpretatio favor Constitutione para negar el Derecho internacional de los derechos humanos, cuando la misma Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela (1999), contempla – expressis verbis – que los tratados, pactos y convenciones relativos a derechos humanos, suscritos y ratificados por Venezuela, tienen jerarquía constitucional y prevalecen en el orden interno, en la medida en que contengan normas sobre su goce y ejercicio más favorables a las establecidas por la Constitución y en las leyes de la República, y que la enunciación de los derechos y garantías contenidos en la Constitución y en los instrumentos internacionales sobre derechos humanos no debe entenderse como negación de otros que, siendo inherentes a la persona, no figuren expresamente en ellos, que son además de aplicación inmediata y directa por los tribunales y demás órganos del Poder Público, no obstante su falta de desarrollo legal (arts. 22 y 23). (…) la propia Constitución ha facultado (más bien, confirmado) a toda persona el derecho (convencional, ahora constitucional), en los términos establecidos por los tratados, pactos y convenciones sobre derechos humanos ratificados por la república, a dirigir peticiones o quejas ante los órganos internacionales creados para tales fines, con el objeto de solicitar el amparo a sus derechos humanos y ha obligado al Estado a adoptar, conforme a procedimientos establecidos en la Constitución y la ley, las medidas que sean necesarias para dar cumplimiento a las decisiones emanadas de los órganos internacionales (art. 31). (…) ¿Cómo puede un ordenamiento constitucional [que]privilegia los intereses colectivos sobre los particulares o individuales concordar con el artículo 3 de la propia Constitución, por ende, parte fundamental del mismo ordenamiento, que contempla que: [e]l Estado tiene como fines esenciales la defensa y el desarrollo de la persona y el respeto a su dignidad, el ejercicio democrático de la voluntad popular, la construcción de una sociedad justa y amante de la paz, la promoción de la prosperidad y bienestar del pueblo y la garantía del cumplimiento de los principios, derechos y deberes reconocidos y consagrados en esta Constitución? (…) Incluso, el artículo 30 de la C r BV contempla la obligación del Estado de indemnizar integralmente a las víctimas de violaciones de los derechos humanos que le sean imputables, o a su derechohabientes, incluido el pago de daños y perjuicios, para lo cual adoptará las medidas legislativas y de otra naturaleza, para hacer efectivas las indemnizaciones y el artículo 31, el derecho de toda persona, en los términos establecidos por los tratados, pactos y convenciones sobre derechos humanos ratificados por la república, a dirigir peticiones o quejas ante los órganos internacionales creados para tales fines, con el objeto de solicitar el amparo a sus derechos humanos, conjuntamente con la obligación en cabeza del Estado de adoptar, conforme a procedimientos establecidos en esta Constitución y la ley, las medidas que sean necesarias para dar cumplimiento a las decisiones emanadas de los órganos internacionales. Se trata del derecho al amparo internacional y sus lógicos corolarios: el derecho de acceso a la justicia internacional, el derecho de tutela judicial internacional efectiva y el derecho de ejecución de los fallos y demás decisiones estimatorias. (…)  Sorprende que la Sala Constitucional del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia en vez de realizar el control o auto-control de convencionalidad, esto es, el test de compatibilidad con el canon o estándar americano y exhortar a la aplicación de las sentencias interamericanas, declare ‘inejecutable’ un fallo de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, y solicite al Ejecutivo Nacional proceda a denunciar la Convención Americana sobre Derechos Humanos. Es conocido que los jueces constitucionales están llamados especialmente a implementar las normas de producción externa, lo que quiere decir, hacerlas idóneas y viables, o lo que es lo mismo, a compatibilizar y armonizar el derecho interno con la CADH y demás tratados sobre derechos humanos, así como las decisiones de la Corte IDH y las recomendaciones de la CIDH, porque en una democracia constitucional los sujetos dedicados a desarrollar tareas neutrales no pueden o no deben comprometer su legitimidad de desempeño por actuar políticamente, menos aún si su actividad central es, como la de los tribunales constitucionales y supremos, el reconocimiento y garantía de los derechos fundamentales al más alto nivel.  Un Estado democrático, un juez democrático, en fin, un operador jurídico o político que quiera se le repute como democrático, jamás apelaría a la razón de Estado y a las demás prerrogativas conferidas al Estado, colocándolas como última ratio en la protección de un derecho a la soberanía, a la autodeterminación o a la no interferencia –entre otros principios atinentes al Estado, a la Nación o al Estado nación–, cuando la verdad es que el Derecho pretende penetrar y transforma positivamente al Poder, y en su caso el Derecho internacional de los derechos humanos está dispuesto para reconocer derechos y libertades a las personas y no a facultar a los Estados para hacerlo. (…)(…) se olvida con relativa facilidad que el concepto de soberanía moderna debe entenderse precisamente como limitada por principios tales como democracia y los derechos humanos, principios que deben ser protegidos por el Estado en todo momento y circunstancia. Además, la potestad jurisdiccional de la Corte IDH sobre los actos u omisiones verificables en territorio venezolano, nace del consentimiento del Estado, al negociar, aprobar y ratificar libremente el tratado [en este caso la CADH]; por tanto, dicho Estado de buena fe no podrá alegar interferencia o vulneración de una soberanía o potestad estatal, la cual conscientemente y constitucionalmente se ha cedido parcialmente (…). La negación del Derecho internacional de los derechos humanos por la Sala Constitucional del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia es un monumental despropósito, que compromete al Estado venezolano y contraría los principios democráticos y la tutela judicial real y efectiva de los derechos humanos. (…) La actuación de los poderes públicos nacionales será materia de revisión por un órgano objetivo y neutral en la tarea de verificar el cumplimiento del canon americano, estándar mínimo de los derechos humanos internacionalmente reconocidos. Por lo que no puede quedar ilusoria la garantía del control jurisdiccional externo por la falta de compromiso o de voluntad ejecutoria de los Estados, de modo que se vean frustradas las garantías de (i) eficacia directa (self executing) de las sentencias regionales estimatorias, (ii) de investigación y esclarecimiento de los hechos constitutivos de la violación de los derechos humanos, (iii) de persecución y sanción a los culpables y (iv)de integralidad de la reparación (restitutio in integrum), esto es: restitución en el goce de los derechos y garantías conculcados, rehabilitación de la esfera jurídica lesionada, incluyendo garantías institucionales y democráticas propias del funcionamiento interno del Estado, indemnización a las víctimas y no repetición de las violaciones. Así, el artículo 30 de la Cr BV contempla la obligación del Estado de indemnizar integralmente a las víctimas de violaciones de los derechos humanos, para lo cual adoptará las medidas legislativas y de otra naturaleza, para hacer efectivas las indemnizaciones y el artículo 31, el derecho de toda persona, en los términos establecidos por los tratados, pactos y convenciones sobre derechos humanos ratificados por la república, a dirigir peticiones o quejas ante los órganos internacionales creados para tales fines, con el objeto de solicitar el amparo a sus derechos humanos, conjuntamente con la obligación en cabeza del Estado de adoptar, conforme a procedimientos establecidos en la Constitución y la ley, las medidas que sean necesarias para dar cumplimiento a las decisiones emanadas de los órganos internacionales. Se trata del derecho al amparo internacional y sus lógicos corolarios: el derecho de acceso a la justicia internacional, el derecho de tutela judicial internacional efectiva y el derecho de ejecución de los fallos y demás decisiones estimatorias. La vigente Constitución venezolana instituye algo más que una simple deferencia del Estado de Derecho con el orden jurídico internacional, dada las explícitas cláusulas de la primacía del Derecho internacional de los derechos humanos sobre el derecho nacional. El artículo 23 de la Constitución de la república Bolivariana de Venezuela prevé que los tratados sobre derechos humanos tienen jerarquía constitucional y prevalecen en el orden interno, si las normas internacionales suponen mayor efectividad o un plus de tutela, a fortiori, las decisiones de la Corte IDH que conforme al artículo 29 de la CADh jamás interpretaría en forma que reduzca, limite o relativice los derechos humanos que figuren en la propia Convención o en otros ordenamientos –nacionales o internacionales–, o bien sean inherentes al ser humano o deriven de la forma democrática representativa de gobierno.”[31]

Sentencia Nº 386/2000 del TRIBUNAL SUPREMO DE JUSTICIA DE VENEZUELA (caso: faitha nahmens y ben ami fihman o revista ‘exceso’) contra los poderes cautelares de la CIDH: “…inaceptable la instancia de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos de la Organización de los Estados Americanos en el sentido de solicitar la adopción de medidas que implican una crasa intromisión en las funciones de los órganos jurisdiccionales del país, como la suspensión del procedimiento judicial en contra de los accionantes, medidas que sólo pueden tomar los jueces en ejercicio de su competencia e independencia jurisdiccional, según lo disponen la Carta Fundamental y las leyes de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, aparte lo previsto en el artículo 46, apartado b) de la Convención Americana de Derechos Humanos o Pacto de San José (Costa Rica), que dispone que la petición sobre denuncias o quejas de violación de dicha Convención por un Estado parte, requerirá que “se haya interpuesto y agotado los recursos de jurisdicción interna”.

Sentencia Nº 1.013/2001 del TRIBUNAL SUPREMO DE JUSTICIA DE VENEZUELA (Caso: Elías Santana y Asociación civil ‘Queremos Elegir’) contra el canon americano sobre derecho de rectificación: “(…) Consecuencia de las normas citadas, todas de rango constitucional, es que la libertad de expresión genera responsabilidades, que deben ser expresamente fijadas por la ley, y que deben asegurar: 1. El respeto a los derechos o a la reputación de los demás (artículos 444 y 446 del Código Penal, 1196 del Código Civil, por ejemplo). 2. La protección de la seguridad nacional (artículo 144 del Código Penal), el orden público, o la salud o la moral pública. (…) Una serie de delitos y hechos ilícitos que pudieran cometerse mediante la libertad de expresión, irrespetando los derechos de los demás […]  (i) el derecho a la réplica y a la rectificación no lo tienen ni los medios, ni quienes habitualmente ejercen en ellos el periodismo, ni quienes mantienen en ellos columnas o programas, ni quienes mediante remitidos suscitan una reacción en contra, y que igualmente: (ii) radio Nacional de Venezuela les otorgó [a los accionantes] el derecho a réplica […], pero que éstos, sin base legal alguna, quisieron imponer al medio las condiciones de ejercicio del derecho, lo que equivale a obligar a un medio que, por ejemplo, publicó una noticia en primera página, a publicar en esa misma página la respuesta o la rectificación; proceder que no aparece en las leyes citadas en este fallo“.

Sentencia Nº 1.942/2003 del TRIBUNAL SUPREMO DE JUSTICIA DE VENEZUELA (Caso: Rafael Chavero) contra el canon americano sobre leyes de desacato: “A las decisiones de esos organismos se les dará cumplimiento en el país, conforme a lo que establezcan la Constitución y las leyes, siempre que ellas no contraríen lo establecido en el artículo 7º de la vigente Constitución […] Debido a ello, a pesar del respeto del Poder Judicial hacia los fallos o dictámenes de esos organismos, éstos no pueden violar la Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, así como no pueden infringir la normativa de los Tratados y Convenios, que rigen esos amparos u otras decisiones […]. por encima del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia y a los efectos del artículo 7º constitucional, no existe órgano jurisdiccional alguno, a menos que la Constitución o la ley así lo señale, y que aun en este último supuesto, la decisión que se contradiga con las normas constitucionales venezolanas, carece de aplicación en el país “ (…) …el artículo 2º [de la CADH señala que] las medidas de cualquier índole destinadas a hacer cumplir en el país con los deberes y obligaciones en materia de derechos humanos, deben tomarse con arreglo a los procedimientos constitucionales, y por ende a la Constitución misma. Ahora bien, si tal es la posición de la Sala [Constitucional], con relación a la decisión de los organismos internacionales que por tener la competencia amparen derechos humanos, con mayor razón, […] rechaza las declaraciones de esos organismos que no se corresponden a dispositivos de fallos, sentencias u otro tipo de providencia jurisdiccional, como lo son recomendaciones, advertencias y manifestaciones similares; […] observa que los fallos o decisiones de organismos internacionales, supranacionales o transnacionales, que violen el derecho de defensa y otras garantías de naturaleza constitucional, como el debido proceso, son inaplicables en el país, a pesar de emanar de tales organismos internacionales reconocidos por la República (…) si en la mayoría de los Convenios, debe agotarse conforme al derecho interno, las vías judiciales, en Venezuela, tal agotamiento debe cumplirse previamente, incluso para el decreto de medidas cautelares por organismos internacionales, si ellas son posibles conforme al derecho interno, a fin de no burlar la soberanía del país, y a su vez para cumplir con los Tratados y Convenios Internacionales. Si con esta tramitación no se cumple, Venezuela no puede quedar obligada por la decisión, que nace írrita. (…) Por otra parte, dado que la sociedad internacional como sistema de Estados soberanos carece de órgano jurisdiccional central omnicompetente, las decisiones de los órganos judiciales internacionales existentes, institucionales o ad hoc (arbitrales), de carácter sectorial, para su ejecución en el Estado destinatario, no pueden obviar impunemente la soberanía nacional de estos. Esto significa que, para su ejecución, los fallos deben atravesar el sistema jurídico interno que, sólo en el caso de que la sentencia no vulnere principios y normas constitucionales, podría darle pasavante y proceder a su cumplimiento. En caso de menoscabo de la Constitución, es posible sostener que, aun en esta hipótesis, no hay lugar a responsabilidad internacional por la inejecución del fallo, por cuanto éste atenta contra uno de los principios existenciales del orden internacional, como es el debido respeto a la soberanía estatal (…). Planteado así, ni los fallos, laudos, dictámenes u otros actos de igual entidad, podrán ejecutarse penal o civilmente en el país, si son violatorios de la Constitución, por lo que por esta vía (la sentencia) no podrían proyectarse en el país, normas contenidas en Tratados, Convenios o Pactos sobre Derechos Humanos que colisionen con la Constitución o sus Principios rectores. (…) Si lo recomendado debe adaptarse a la Constitución y a las leyes de los Estados, es porque ello no tiene naturaleza obligatoria, ya que las leyes internas o la Constitución podrían colidir con las recomendaciones. Por ello, el articulado de la Convención nada dice sobre el carácter obligatorio de la recomendación, lo que contrasta con la competencia y funciones [de la Corte IDH], la cual –según el artículo 62 de la Convención– puede emitir interpretaciones obligatorias sobre la Convención siempre que los Estados Parte se la pidan, lo que significa que se allanan a dicho dictamen. (…) Si la Corte tiene tal facultad, y no la Comisión, es forzoso concluir que las recomendaciones de ésta, no tienen el carácter de los dictámenes de aquélla y, por ello, la Sala, para el derecho interno, declara que las recomendaciones de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, no son obligatorias. (…) las recomendaciones tienen un valor doctrinario que debe ser ponderado por el juzgador, ya que la recomendación particular a que se refiere el accionante, alerta a los Estados miembros para que, a futuro, deroguen o reformen las llamadas leyes de desacato, con el fin de adecuarlas a las leyes internacionales, pero la recomendación no es más que un punto de vista de la Comisión y una exhortación a los países miembros para que actúen en el orden interno, sin que tenga carácter imperativo. (…) una interpretación diferente es otorgarle a la Comisión un carácter supranacional que debilita la soberanía de los Estados miembros, y que […] lo prohíbe la Constitución vigente.

Sentencia Nº 1.411/2004 del TRIBUNAL SUPREMO DE JUSTICIA DE VENEZUELA (Caso: Ley del Ejercicio del Periodismo) contra el canon americano sobre colegiación obligatoria de periodistas: “el establecimiento de un sistema de colegiación obligatoria para los periodistas profesionales, no puede conducir a implementar un marco jurídico que sea excluyente del resto de la colectividad, circunscribiendo ciertos actos como propios del ejercicio profesional del periodismo. Sin embargo, lo afirmado no debe interpretarse en el sentido de que las personas que no hayan cumplido con formación universitaria y que ejerzan la actividad periodística sólo con base en los conocimientos obtenidos por su propia experiencia, puedan acceder al Colegio Nacional de Periodistas, pues evidentemente, este Ente sólo agrupa a los licenciados universitarios en esta área. Por tanto, el ejercicio empírico y no profesional del periodismo no puede llevar a que sean colegiados por esa entidad, ni tampoco que el ejercicio no profesional de la actividad pueda dirigirse al detrimento de las potestades que tiene el Colegio Nacional de Periodistas establecidas en la Constitución y en la ley que rige su materia, las cuales abarcan la potestad para agrupar y organizar a sus asociados (periodistas profesionales), así como el ejercer su potestad organizativa y reglamentaria, e inclusive, la potestad disciplinaria sobre sus agremiados. Todos pueden de una u otra manera ejercer el derecho a la libertad de expresión, aunque ello trastoque tangencialmente la actividad propia del periodismo, pero tampoco puede considerarse que su desenvolvimiento sea equiparable al ejercicio profesional realizado por licenciados especializados en esta área de la comunicación social. (…) colegiación obligatoria no constituye per se contravención a los derechos relativos a la libertad de expresión, establecidos en nuestra Constitución, así como en el anteriormente referido ordenamiento supranacional.”

Sentencia de la CIDH incumplida por el TRIBUNAL SUPREMO DE JUSTICIA DE VENEZUELA (Caso: Pedro Colmenares Gómez o “el caracazo”) contra el canon americano sobre impunidad.  El 29 de agosto de 2002 la Corte IDH sentencia: “El Estado (venezolano) debe emprender, […] una investigación efectiva de los hechos de este caso, identificar a los responsables de los mismos, tanto materiales como intelectuales, así como a los eventuales encubridores, y sancionarlos administrativa y penalmente según corresponda[…]. El Estado debe […] abstenerse de recurrir a figuras como la amnistía, la prescripción y el establecimiento de excluyentes de responsabilidad. En ese sentido, el Tribunal ya ha señalado [ya] que […] son inadmisibles las disposiciones de amnistía, las disposiciones de prescripción y el establecimiento de excluyentes de responsabilidad que pretendan impedir la investigación y sanción de los responsables de las violaciones graves de los derechos humanos tales como la tortura, las ejecuciones sumarias, extralegales o arbitrarias y las desapariciones forzadas, todas ellas prohibidas por contravenir derechos inderogables reconocidos (…) Los funcionarios públicos y los particulares que entorpezcan, desvíen o dilaten indebidamente las investigaciones tendientes a aclarar la verdad de los hechos, deberán ser sancionados, aplicando al respecto, con el mayor rigor, las previsiones de la legislación interna”

Sentencia Nº 1265/2008 del TRIBUNAL SUPREMO DE JUSTICIA DE VENEZUELA (Caso: Ziomara del Socorro Lucena Guédez) contra la CADH: “La Convención Americana sobre Derechos Humanos, suscrita en San José el 22/11/69 y ratificada por nuestro país el 09/08/1977, es una declaración de principios, derechos y deberes de corte clásico que da preeminencia a los derechos individuales, civiles y políticos dentro de un régimen de democracia formal. Obviamente, como tal, es un texto que contiene una enumeración de libertades de corte liberal que son valiosas para garantizar un régimen que se oponga a las dictaduras que han azotado nuestros países iberoamericanos desde su independencia. […] en ella no hay norma alguna sobre derechos sociales (sólo hay una declaración de principios acerca de su desarrollo progresivo en el artículo 26), ni tampoco tiene previsión sobre un modelo distinto al demócrata liberal, como lo es la democracia participativa, ni contempla un tipo de Estado que en lugar de construir sus instituciones en torno al individuo, privilegie la sociedad en su conjunto, dando lugar a un Estado social de derecho y de justicia. (…) la restricción de los derechos humanos puede hacerse conforme a las leyes que se dicten por razones de interés general, por la seguridad de los demás integrantes de la sociedad y por las justas exigencias del bien común, de conformidad con lo dispuesto en los artículos 30 y 32.2 de la Convención Americana sobre derechos humanos. Esta prescripción es en un todo compatible con lo dispuesto en los artículos 19 y 156, cardinal 32 de la Constitucional Nacional. Lo previsto en elartículo 23.2 no puede ser invocado aisladamente, con base en el artículo 23 de la Constitución Nacional, contra las competencias y atribuciones de un Poder Público Nacional, como lo es el Poder Ciudadano o Moral. (…) Se estableció que en caso de evidenciarse una contradicción entre la Constitución y una convención o tratado internacional (…) deben prevalecer las normas constitucionales que privilegien el interés general y el bien común, debiendo aplicarse las disposiciones que privilegien los intereses colectivos… (…) sobre los intereses particulares… (…) El ordenamiento constitucional […], sin duda, privilegia los intereses colectivos sobre los particulares o individuales, al haber cambiado el modelo de Estado liberal por un Estado social de derecho y de justicia”.

Sentencia Nº 1939/2008 del TRIBUNAL SUPREMO DE JUSTICIA DE VENEZUELA (Caso: Venezuela contra la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos) que declara inejecutable el fallo de la corte de 5 de agosto de 2008 y solicita al ejecutivo nacional proceda a denunciar la CADH: “controversia entre la Constitución y la ejecución de una decisión dictada por un organismo internacional fundamentada en normas contenidas en una Convención de rango constitucional, lo que excede los límites de ese especial recurso, pues la presunta colisión estaría situada en el plano de dos normas de rango constitucional, (…) …se aclare una duda razonable en cuanto a la ejecución de un fallo dictado por la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, que condenó a la República Bolivariana de Venezuela a la reincorporación de unos jueces y al pago de sumas de dinero (y) …ante la presunta antinomia entre la Convención Internacional y la Constitución Nacional, supuesto expresamente contemplado en el aludido fallo [de la propia SC/TSJ] (Nº 1.077/2000) como justificativo de la procedencia de la acción de interpretación; y tratándose además de una competencia expresamente atribuida a la Sala Constitucional conforme al cardinal 23 del artículo 5º de la Ley Orgánica del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia, se declara competente para conocer del recurso de interpretación. (…) el preámbulo de la [CADH] aclara que la protección internacional que de ella se deriva es coadyuvante o complementaria de la que ofrece el derecho interno de los Estados americanos. Es decir, que la Corte IDH no puede pretender excluir o desconocer el ordenamiento constitucional interno, pues la Convención coadyuva o complementa el texto fundamental que, en el caso de nuestro país, es la norma suprema y el fundamento del ordenamiento jurídico  (artículo 7 constitucional). (…) artículo 23 de la Constitución no otorga a los tratados internacionales sobre derechos humanos rango supraconstitucional, por lo que, en caso de antinomia o contradicción entre una disposición de la Carta Fundamental y una norma de un pacto internacional, correspondería al Poder Judicial determinar cuál sería la aplicable, tomando en consideración tanto lo dispuesto en la citada norma como en la jurisprudencia de [esa] Sala Constitucional del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia, atendiendo al contenido de los artículos 7, 266.6, 334, 335, 336.11 [de la Constitución] y el fallo número 1077/2000 de [esa] Sala. (…) “entre otras, aclara que el derecho es una teoría normativa puesta al servicio de la política que subyace tras el proyecto axiológico de la Constitución y que la interpretación debe comprometerse, si se quiere mantener la supremacía de la Carta Fundamental cuando se ejerce la jurisdicción constitucional atribuida a los jueces, con la mejor teoría política que subyace tras el sistema que se interpreta o se integra y con la moralidad institucional que le sirve de base axiológica (interpretatio favor Constitutione). Agrega el fallo citado: “en este orden de ideas, los estándares para dirimir el conflicto entre los principios y las normas deben ser compatibles con el proyecto político de la Constitución (Estado Democrático y Social de Derecho y de Justicia) y no deben afectar la vigencia de dicho proyecto con elecciones interpretativas ideológicas que privilegien los derechos individuales a ultranza o que acojan la primacía del orden jurídico internacional sobre el derecho nacional en detrimento de la soberanía del Estado, porque según la Sala “… no puede ponerse un sistema de principios supuestamente absoluto y suprahistórico por encima de la Constitución y que son inaceptables las teorías que pretenden limitar so pretexto de valideces universales, la soberanía y la autodeterminación nacional. (…) A juicio de la Sala, dos elementos claves se desprenden del artículo 23: 1) Se trata de derechos humanos aplicables a las personas naturales; 2) Se refiere a normas que establezcan derechos, no a fallos o dictámenes de instituciones, resoluciones de organismos, etc., prescritos en los Tratados, sino sólo a normas creativas de derechos humanos. (…) que es la Sala Constitucional quien determina cuáles normas sobre derechos humanos de esos tratados, pactos y convenios, prevalecen en el orden interno; al igual que cuáles derechos humanos no contemplados en los citados instrumentos internacionales tienen vigencia en Venezuela.(…) Esta competencia de la Sala Constitucional en la materia, que emana de la Carta Fundamental, no puede quedar disminuida por normas de carácter adjetivo contenidas en Tratados ni en otros textos Internacionales sobre Derechos Humanos (…) Entiende la Sala que, fuera de estas expresas áreas, la soberanía nacional no puede sufrir distensión alguna por mandato del artículo 1 constitucional, que establece como derechos irrenunciables de la Nación: la independencia, la libertad, la soberanía, la integridad territorial, la inmunidad y la autodeterminación nacional. Dichos derechos constitucionales son irrenunciables, no están sujetos a ser relajados, excepto que la propia Carta Fundamental lo señale, conjuntamente con los mecanismos que lo hagan posible, tales como los contemplados en los artículos 73 y 336.5 constitucionales, por ejemplo.(…) Consecuencia de lo expuesto es que en principio, la ejecución de los fallos de los Tribunales Supranacionales no pueden menoscabar la soberanía del país, ni los derechos fundamentales de la República (…) No se trata de interpretar el contenido y alcance de la sentencia de la [Corte IDH], ni de desconocer el tratado válidamente suscrito por la república que la sustenta o eludir el compromiso de ejecutar las decisiones según lo dispone el artículo 68 de la [CADH ], sino de aplicar un estándar mínimo de adecuación del fallo al orden constitucional interno. (…) (La CIDH) afectaría principios y valores esenciales del orden constitucional de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela y pudiera conllevar a un caos institucional en el marco del sistema de justicia, al pretender modificar la autonomía del Poder Judicial constitucionalmente previsto y el sistema disciplinario instaurado legislativamente, así como también pretende la reincorporación de los hoy ex jueces de la Corte Primera de lo Contencioso Administrativo por supuesta parcialidad de la Comisión de Funcionamiento y reestructuración del Poder Judicial […] …declara inejecutable el fallo de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, de fecha 5 de agosto de 2008, en la que se ordenó la reincorporación en el cargo de los ex-magistrados de la Corte Primera de lo Contencioso Administrativo […]; con fundamento en los artículos 7º, 23, 25, 138, 156.32, el Capítulo III del Título V de la Constitución de la República y la jurisprudencia parcialmente transcrita de las Salas Constitucional y Político Administrativa (…) …con fundamento en el principio de colaboración de poderes (artículo 136 eiusdem), se insta a la Asamblea Nacional para que proceda a dictar el Código de Ética del Juez […], en los términos aludidos en la sentencia de esta Sala Constitucional Nº 1048 del 18 de mayo de 2006. (…) con base en el mismo principio y de conformidad con lo dispuesto en el artículo 78 de la [CADH], se solicita al Ejecutivo Nacional proceda a denunciar esta Convención, ante la evidente usurpación de funciones en que ha incurrido la [Corte IDH] con el fallo objeto de la presente decisión; y el hecho de que tal actuación se fundamenta institucional y competencialmente en el aludido Tratado”.

Sentencia Nº 745/2010 del TRIBUNAL SUPREMO DE JUSTICIA DE VENEZUELA (caso: asociación civil espacio público) contra el canon americano sobre acceso a la información: “la parte accionante no acredita cómo la información solicitada sería de utilidad para la participación ciudadana en pro de la transparencia de la gestión pública. En otras palabras, no parece proporcional la magnitud de la información solicitada en pro de la transparencia de la gestión fiscal, ni siquiera las acciones concretas para las cuales se utilizaría la información solicitada. Razón por la cual […] no existe un título legítimo para tolerar la invasión en el derecho constitucional a la intimidad del Contralor General de la República y el resto de los funcionarios adscrito al órgano contralor” (…)” ESTABLECE COMO CRITERIO VINCULANTE que en ausencia de ley expresa, y para salvaguardar los límites del ejercicio del derecho fundamental a la información, se hace necesario: i) que el o la solicitante de la información manifieste expresamente las razones o los propósitos por los cuales requiere la información, y ii) que la magnitud de la información que se solicita sea proporcional con la utilización y uso que se pretenda dar a la información solicitada”

Sentencia Nº 796/2010 del TRIBUNAL SUPREMO DE JUSTICIA DE VENEZUELA (Caso: Asociación Civil Súmate) contra el canon americano sobre financiación de las ONG’S:  “una típica manifestación de la política intervencionista de una potencia extranjera para incidir en los asuntos internos del Estado venezolano, toda vez que la aportación de recursos, es sin duda, una de las modalidades a través de las cuales se sirven los distintos centros de poder (entre ellos otros Estados), para el fomento de sus intereses, incluso, fuera de sus fronteras […] En el presente caso, los recursos que de manera mediata asignó el Congreso de los Estados Unidos a la “Asociación Civil Súmate”, a los fines de “liderizar” a un sector de la población que se presenta opositor al gobierno legítimo y democrático de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, representa una franca lesión de la autonomía funcional que demanda la actuación pública y, dentro de ésta, a los procesos políticos internos del Estado venezolano, concretamente los actos preparatorios del proceso de enmienda constitucional […] Por ello, en salvaguarda de la plena soberanía de la República, de su independencia y del deber que tienen los órganos del Estado de no someterse a un poder extranjero (artículos 1º y 5º del Texto Fundamental), esta Sala, a los fines de garantizar que las funciones del Estado se desarrollen de forma unilateral en provecho de los particulares y no de intereses de otro Estado, […]desestima la cualidad de la “Asociación Civil Súmate” para interponer la presente demanda de nulidad, por carecer de legitimidad para actuar en defensa de intereses extranjeros sobre asuntos de política interna”.

Sala Constitucional del TRIBUNAL SUPREMO DE JUSTICIA DE VENEZUELA: “la ejecución de los fallos de los Tribunales Supranacionales no pueden menoscabar la soberanía del país, ni los derechos fundamentales de la República (…) las decisiones pueden resultar obligatorias respecto a lo decidido, creando responsabilidad internacional por el incumplimiento (…), pero nunca en menoscabo de los derechos contenidos en el artículo 1 constitucional, disminuyendo o enervando las competencias exclusivas de los órganos nacionales a quienes la Constitución atribuye determinadas competencias o funciones”.  “…la soberanía nacional no puede sufrir distensión alguna por mandato del artículo 1 constitucional, que establece como derechos irrenunciables de la Nación: la independencia, la libertad, la soberanía, la integridad territorial, la inmunidad y la autodeterminación nacional. Dichos derechos constitucionales son irrenunciables, no están sujetos a ser relajados” 

Eduardo Meier García, Profesor de Posgrado de la Universidad Metropolitana: “Esta serie de fallos en el ámbito de la jurisdicción constitucional venezolana, que tienen su máxima expresión en la Sentencia SC/TSJ Nº 1.939 de 18 de diciembre de 2008, que pretende sustraer a Venezuela del Sistema Interamericano de Protección de los Derechos Humanos, en fin, del Derecho internacional de los derechos humanos, carecen de toda coherencia con el sistema normativo, de allí su irracionalidad, por la ruptura de la lógica intrínseca de un ordenamiento constitucional tuitivo de los derechos, que los privilegia con una vis expansiva de alcance incluso supraconstitucional, y que trasciende a la soberanía estatocéntrica. La Sala Constitucional del TSJ venezolano con su interpretación inconvencional e inconstitucional (…), concretamente con su pretensión de control de constitucionalidad de las decisiones de la Corte IDH, no sólo ha faltado a la primera y última fidelidad de los jueces (como es la fidelidad a la Constitución) y se ha dejado llevar por fidelidades impropias (las fidelidades político-partidistas), sino que ha creado un problema artificial con graves consecuencias reales, consistente en priorizar la concepción del Estado como soberano enfrentado con una realidad jurídica distinta: la sujeción del Estado al Derecho Internacional de los derechos humanos, generando con ello, no sólo una inconstitucional interpretación de la C r BV, sino una inconvencional e inconstitucional aplicación de la CADh, con la ‘inejecución’ de la Sentencia de la Corte IDH de fecha 5 de agosto de 2008 que ordenó la reincorporación en el cargo de los ex-magistrados de la Corte Primera de lo Contencioso Administrativo venezolana (CPCA) y el exhorto al Ejecutivo Nacional para que denuncie la CADh, todo lo cual constituye no sólo un precedente nefasto contrario a la tradición y al cariz democrático y de promoción y respeto de los derechos humanos que caracterizó en el hemisferio americano a la Venezuela de la segunda mitad del siglo XX, sino que es manifestación del irrespeto general del consentimiento de los Estados miembros mediante la celebración y ratificación de la CADh, que sustenta la obligatoriedad del sistema y de las normas que derivan de él y del principio pacta sunt servanda, dado que todo tratado en vigor obliga a las partes y debe ser cumplido por ellas de buena fe, y los Estados miembros no pueden invocar disposiciones de Derecho interno como justificación del incumplimiento de la CADh (arts. 27 y 46 Convención de Viena). En fin, el Estado venezolano no supondrá el sometimiento pleno del poder al Derecho y a la razón y, por ende, su funcionamiento efectivo, o lo que es lo mismo, no supondrá un Estado de Derecho si antes no se somete al Derecho internacional de los derechos humanos en todas sus dimensiones, bien (i) al cumplimiento de los efectos directos inter partes que se derivan de las sentencias regionales estimatorias (ejecución stricto sensu) y también por medio del (ii) seguimiento de sus efectos indirectos o interpretativos que son pro futuro, erga omnes y obligatorios, lo que ya envuelve las obligaciones jurídicas internacionales cuyo incumplimiento genera consecuencias jurídicas y políticas ineludibles. Así, no sólo es posible, sino deseable, la conjunción de un modelo de Estado ampliado hacia un derecho supranacional, que fundamentalmente incorpore sin fisuras en los ordenamientos nacionales el Derecho internacional de los derechos humanos que suponga un método articulador del diálogo judicial racional e intrasistemático, los cuales deben iniciar un proceso de compatibilización, de armonización y de concurrencia con el estándar de protección cuando una sentencia hace patente tal necesidad, lo que ha llevado a la doctrina a referirse a un bloque de constitucionalidad en materia de derechos fundamentales formado por la Constitución, por la jurisprudencia constitucional y por el canon de tutela (que incluye el estándar mínimo), el denominado acquis conventionnel conformado por el texto convencional y la jurisprudencia de sus órganos.”[32]

 

[1] http://www.lainformacion.com/mundo/expolicia-unanimidad-presidente-Supremo-Venezuela_0_1002799930.html

[2] http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2017/02/25/america/1487985942_931972.html

[3] http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2017/02/25/america/1487985942_931972.html

[4] http://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias/2016/03/160303_venezuela_tsj_asamblea_nacional_poderes_ab

[5] http://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias/2016/03/160303_venezuela_tsj_asamblea_nacional_poderes_ab

[6] http://segundoenfoque.com/venezuela-polemica-designacion-en-el-tsj-02-329660/

[7] http://www.lanacion.com.ar/2001627-que-significa-que-el-tribunal-supremo-de-venezuela-asuma-las-funciones-de-la-asamblea-nacional

[8] http://www.laizquierdadiario.com/El-Tribunal-Supremo-de-Justicia-de-Venezuela-asume-competencias-del-Parlamento

[9] http://www.lanacion.com.ar/2001613-venezuela-la-oea-denuncia-un-auto-golpe-de-estado

[10] http://www.clarin.com/mundo/condena-unidos-paso-venezuela-grave-reves-democracia_0_S1w6Mgine.html

[11] http://www.clarin.com/mundo/venezuela-peru-retira-manera-definitiva-embajador_0_HJcXWCc3g.html

[12] http://www.clarin.com/mundo/brasil-repudio-ruptura-orden-constitucional-venezuela_0_rkkh0Jjhx.html

[13] http://www.lanacion.com.ar/2002094-henrique-capriles-en-venezuela-se-ha-dado-un-madurazo

[14] http://www.clarin.com/mundo/union-europea-advierte-regimen-maduro-reclama-calendario-electoral-claro_0_BkP6Pxonl.html#cxrecs_s

[15] http://tn.com.ar/internacional/la-fiscal-general-de-venezuela-denuncio-una-ruptura-del-orden-constitucional_783031

[16] http://www.lanacion.com.ar/2002534-el-autogolpe-divide-al-chavismo-y-crece-el-rechazo-de-la-region

[17] http://www.lanacion.com.ar/2002534-el-autogolpe-divide-al-chavismo-y-crece-el-rechazo-de-la-region

[18] http://www.lanacion.com.ar/2002534-el-autogolpe-divide-al-chavismo-y-crece-el-rechazo-de-la-region

[19] http://www.lanacion.com.ar/2002534-el-autogolpe-divide-al-chavismo-y-crece-el-rechazo-de-la-region

[20] http://www.lanacion.com.ar/2002534-el-autogolpe-divide-al-chavismo-y-crece-el-rechazo-de-la-region

[21] http://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-39466474

[22] https://supremainjusticia.org/2017/03/21/transparencia-venezuela-acuso-al-tsj-de-facilitar-la-corrupcion/

[23] https://supremainjusticia.org/2017/01/17/porque-el-afectado-ya-esta-libre-el-tsj-rechazo-revisar-una-denuncia-de-detencion-arbitraria/

[24] http://www.infobae.com/2015/09/10/1754495-venezuela-tribunal-supremo-justicia-declara-inejecutable-fallo-la-corte-idh/

[25] https://mundo.sputniknews.com/americalatina/201511201053863485-venezuela-chile-tribunal/

[26] http://www.abc.es/20111018/internacional/abci-tribunal-venezuela-201110180014.html

[27] http://www.abc.es/20111018/internacional/abci-tribunal-venezuela-201110180014.html

[28] https://supremainjusticia.org/2017/03/27/tsj-insto-al-gobierno-a-impulsar-la-remocion-de-almagro-al-frente-de-la-oea/

[29] Daniela Urosa M, Maggi, La Sala Constitucional del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia como Legislador Positivo, Academia de Ciencias Políticas y Sociales, Serie Estudios No 96, Caracas 2011

[30] Allan R. Brewer-Carías, EL ILEGÍTIMO “CONTROL DE CONSTITUCIONALIDAD” DE LAS SENTENCIAS DE LA CORTE INTERAMERICANA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS POR PARTE LA SALA CONSTITUCIONAL DEL TRIBUNAL SUPREMO DE JUSTICIA DE VENEZUELA: EL CASO LEOPOLDO LÓPEZ VS. VENEZUELA, SEPTIEMBRE 2011.

[31] Eduardo Meier García, Nacionalismo constitucional y Derecho internacional de los derechos humanos

[32] Eduardo Meier García, Nacionalismo constitucional y Derecho internacional de los derechos humanos

Evidences of Case of Salk Institute for Biological Studies

Case 22-2017: Salk Institute for Biological Studies & Jun Wu

 

By Master Yan Maitri-Shi, Prosecutor

 

HONORABLE JURY OF INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST ETHICS COMMITTEE (IBEC) & BUDDHIST TRIBUNAL ON HUMAN RIGHTS (BTHR)

After Legitimating and Validating Evidences and Charges by Master Maitreya, President and Spiritual Judge of IBEC-BTHR, it is addressed the case against the accused party “Salk Institute for Biological Studies & Jun Wu”. This investigation was initiated by the Maitriyana Buddhist University.

The Charges by which the Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights is accusing “Salk Institute for Biological Studies & Jun Wuare enumerated below:

  • Crimes against Humanity
  • Violation of Animal Rights

Therefore, it is detailed a series of EVIDENCES that support the Charges referred so that the Jury members decide about the possible “Responsibility”, “Innocence” or “Insanity” of the accused. Such evidence come from graphic and audiovisual media that have been gathered, sorted and confirmed in their order and context as Means of Proof in order to know, establish, dictate and determine the Responsibility of the Accused for committing the aforementioned Charges.

The procedure established in the Statute of INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST ETHICS  COMMITTEE & BUDDHIST TRIBUNAL ON HUMAN RIGHTS provides both bodies the ostentation to enjoy independence and liberty from state and national regulation and control, besides having the legality and acting as a Buddhist People in order to assert its customs, traditions, practices, procedures, judgments and rights as well as acting in pursuit of the development of Spirituality, of Buddhist Ethics, and of the defense of International Human Rights. This procedure has the particularity, singularity and distinction of having “Special Jurisdiction of the Tribal Law” and “Universal Jurisdiction of the International Law”, thus having the Character, Juridical validity, Legal Powers, infrastructure, Training and Capability necessary to be Actor, Administrator and Executor of Justice in this realm and exercise, by judging of the Accused by means of an Ethical Judgment whose Purpose is Truth, Reconciliation and Learning.-

 

 

DETAILS OF EVIDENCES

EVIDENCE 1: BACKGROUNDS OF HYBRID CLONING IN OTHER RESEARCHERS

National Geographic News: “Scientists have begun blurring the line between human and animal by producing chimeras—a hybrid creature that’s part human, part animal. Chinese scientists at the Shanghai Second Medical University in 2003 successfully fused human cells with rabbit eggs. The embryos were reportedly the first human-animal chimeras successfully created. They were allowed to develop for several days in a laboratory dish before the scientists destroyed the embryos to harvest their stem cells. In Minnesota last year researchers at the Mayo Clinic created pigs with human blood flowing through their bodies. And at Stanford University in California an experiment might be done later this year to create mice with human brains. Scientists feel that, the more humanlike the animal, the better research model it makes for testing drugs or possibly growing “spare parts,” such as livers, to transplant into humans. (…)But creating human-animal chimeras—named after a monster in Greek mythology that had a lion’s head, goat’s body, and serpent’s tail—has raised troubling questions: What new subhuman combination should be produced and for what purpose? At what point would it be considered human? And what rights, if any, should it have? (…) Biotechnology activist Jeremy Rifkin is opposed to crossing species boundaries, because he believes animals have the right to exist without being tampered with or crossed with another species. He concedes that these studies would lead to some medical breakthroughs. Still, they should not be done. (…)Canada passed the Assisted Human Reproduction Act, which bans chimeras. Specifically, it prohibits transferring a nonhuman cell into a human embryo and putting human cells into a nonhuman embryo. (…) Irv Weissman, director of Stanford University’s Institute of Cancer/Stem Cell Biology and Medicine in California, (…)Weissman has already created mice with brains that are about one percent human. Later this year he may conduct another experiment where the mice have 100 percent human brains. This would be done, he said, by injecting human neurons into the brains of embryonic mice. Before being born, the mice would be killed and dissected to see if the architecture of a human brain had formed. If it did, he’d look for traces of human cognitive behavior.”[1]

Jeremy Rifkin: “There are other ways to advance medicine and human health besides going out into the strange, brave new world of chimeric animals (…) One doesn’t have to be religious or into animal rights to think this doesn’t make sense, It’s the scientists who want to do this. They’ve now gone over the edge into the pathological domain.”

Fergus Walsh (BBC): “(2008) Scientists at Newcastle University have created part-human, part-animal hybrid embryos for the first time in the UK, the BBC can reveal. The embryos survived for up to three days and are part of medical research into a range of illnesses. It comes a month before MPs are to debate the future of such research. The Catholic Church describes it as monstrous. But medical bodies and patient groups say such research is vital for our understanding of disease. They argue that the work could pave the way for new treatments for conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Under the microscope the round bundles of cells look like any other three-day-old embryos. In fact they are hybrids – part-human, part-animal. They were created by injecting DNA derived from human skin cells into eggs taken from cows ovaries which have had virtually all their genetic material removed. So what possible justification can scientists offer for doing what the Catholic Church has branded experiments of Frankenstein proportion?.”

Yaiza Martínez: “Scientists at the University of Rochester (USA) have found that a type of glial cells of the central nervous system, the astrocytes, have not hitherto been considered important in human cognitive functions. And they have discovered it by testing them in the brains of mouse pups, by which these cells expanded. The animals then became four times ‘smarter’ than their equals. The finding would provide a new model for the investigation of a number of diseases in which such cells could be involved. A team of scientists at the University of Rochester in the United States has discovered that a type of human central nervous system cell is very important for cognitive function. And it has discovered it, not with humans, as would be expected, but with mice to which these cells were implanted. Specifically, it is about astrocytes, a type of star-shaped glial cells found in the spinal cord and brain, where they are the most abundant cells. Astrocytes have a high number of key functions for performing nerve activity, and they originate in the early stages of the development of the central nervous system. In humans, they are larger, more abundant, diverse and complex than in other species. In addition, according to the present study and another one also performed with mice in 2013, they would have unique functional advantages. This finding provides “a new model for the investigation of a number of diseases in which these cells could be involved,” the authors of both investigations said last year in a statement from the University of Rochester.  Last year, this same team of scientists, led by neurologist Steve Goldman, injected mature human glial cells into the brains of newborn mice. Astrocytes were then integrated into the brain tissue of animals, making them more intelligent, as evidenced by tests performed on the speed of information processing by their brains and on their responses to electrical brain stimulation.   The difference between this study and that of 2013 is that researchers have recently implanted into the brain of these animals glial progenitor cells capable of dividing and multiplying, taken from donated human fetuses. These cells were injected into the brains of mouse pups, in which they developed astrocytes, reports NewsScientist.   One year later, the glial cells of the mice had been completely displaced by intrusive human cells: the 300,000 glial cells of our species implanted in each mouse multiplied in that period to reach 12 million, displacing the native cells. Astrocytes are vital for conscious thinking because they help strengthen the connections between neurons or synapses. Its extensions in the form of tendril are involved in the coordination of the transmission of electrical signals.  Human astrocytes are between 10 and 20 times the size of mouse astrocytes and have 100 times more extensions. This means that they can coordinate all the neuronal signals of an area much more skillfully than the astrocytes of a mouse. Tests performed with mice with implanted glial cells demonstrated that they were much smarter than their non-manipulated equals. The scientists found this by measuring the ability of both groups of animals in order to remember a sound associated with an electric shock, for example. In this case, the ‘humanized’ mice were paralyzed four times longer than the other mice when they heard the sound, suggesting that the memory of the first mice was about four times higher than the second. We can say that, statistically, these mice were significantly smarter than the mice in the control group, says Goldman. Genetic ‘Humanization’ of Mice Last September, as part of another study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), an international team of scientists also tried to ‘humanize’ mice, in this case through genetic manipulation.  The organisms of these animals were prepared at MIT to express a human mutation of a gene that, since the 1990s, has been linked to language: FoxP2. As a result, these animals learned much faster than other mice, the ordinary ones, to go through a labyrinth. From this fact, the researchers deduced that the human version of the FoxP2 gene makes it easier to transform new experiences into a habit, which implies conceptualizing. At the brain level, researchers found that humanized FoxP2 had activated genes involved in the regulation of synaptic connections between neurons in transgenic mice. A greater activity of dopamine was also recorded in the brain of these animals in a part of the striated body involved in habit formation. This other study was based on a 2009 experiment, conducted by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, where it was revealed that the vocalizations of mice genetically manipulated to express the human version of the FoxP2 gene became more similar to those of the crying of human babies. It was also found that transgenic mice had dendrites – those thin extensions of the neurons they use to communicate with one another – in the striated body, which is a part of the brain involved in habit formation. Genetically modified animals were also better than ordinary mice in the formation of new synapses or neural connections. ”[2]

 

EVIDENCE 2: BACKGROUNDS OF HIBRIDS CREATION AT SALK INSTITUTE

Rick Weiss (Washington Post): “By injecting human embryonic stem cells into the brains of fetal mice inside the womb, scientists in California have created living mice with working human brain cells inside their skulls. The research offers the first proof that human embryonic stem cells — vaunted for their potential to turn into every kind of human cell, at least in laboratory dishes — can become functional human brain cells inside a living animal, reaching out to make connections with surrounding brain cells. The human cells had no apparent impact on the animals’ behavior. About 100,000 cells were injected into each animal and just a fraction survived in their new hosts. That means the animals’ brains were still more than 99 percent mouse — a precaution that helped avoid ethical objections to creating animals that were too human. (…) More immediately, mice with humanized brains could be a boon for research, providing a living laboratory where scientists can study human brain diseases and drug companies can test the safety of experimental medicines. Let’s say you’re in the last stages of research before testing a new drug in humans, said lead researcher Fred Gage of the Salk Institute for Biological Sciences in La Jolla, California. This could help tell you what effect it will have on human neurons inside a brain. The work, published in today’s issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the latest in the ethically challenging field of human-animal chimera research (…). In previous studies, scientists had injected brain cells from aborted human fetuses into the brains of rodents and shown that the human cells could survive and migrate to various brain regions. But because those human brain cells were relatively mature, they were larger than their rodent counterparts and it often was unclear whether they were working. The new work, which started with human embryonic stem cells instead of cells that had already become brain cells, showed that those human cells developed into all the major kinds of cells normally found in mammalian brains, namely neurons and nerve-nurturing glial cells. It also showed that the neurons are biologically active and make what appear to be good connections, or synapses, with adjacent mouse cells. It’s the best evidence yet that they are integrating and functioning, said Irving Weissman, a Stanford University stem cell scientist. It’s a nice advance. Reflecting growing concerns about the ethics of making animal-human hybrids, the National Academy of Sciences earlier this year released voluntary guidelines on chimera research that have been adopted by major research institutes and have been made mandatory in California for state grant recipients. (…) The guidelines allow for a slow scale-up of the proportion of human cells in animals’ brains. Gage estimated that in the latest work as few as 100 of the 100,000 injected cells survived and became integrated with the mouse brains, which typically contain 75 million to 90 million mouse cells. Henry Greely, a Stanford law professor and ethicist who has reviewed proposals to create human-mouse chimeras, said the work looked interesting, good and ethical by current standards. Stem cell therapies will only work if the transplanted cells will make those connections, Greely said, and there’s no better place to test that but in an animal model. (…) Nor were they rejected by the mice’s immune systems, perhaps because they were injected so early that they were perceived as self rather than other. The cells migrated into the forebrain, where they grew only to the size of mouse neurons. Most extraordinary, Gage said, was that they connected to others.”[3]

 

EVIDENCE 3: CREATION OF HUMAN-PIG HYBRID by SALK INSTITUTE

National Geographic: “In a remarkable—if likely controversial—feat, scientists announced today that they have created the first successful human-animal hybrids. The project proves that human cells can be introduced into a non-human organism, survive, and even grow inside a host animal, in this case, pigs. (…) That’s now one step closer to reality, an international team of researchers led by the Salk Institute reports in the journal Cell. The team created what’s known scientifically as a chimera: an organism that contains cells from two different species. In the past, human-animal chimeras have been beyond reach. Such experiments are currently ineligible for public funding in the United States (so far, the Salk team has relied on private donors for the chimera project). Public opinion, too, has hampered the creation of organisms that are part human, part animal.  But for lead study author Jun Wu of the Salk Institute, we need only look to mythical chimeras—like the human-bird hybrids we know as angels—for a different perspective. In ancient civilizations, chimeras were associated with God, he says, and our ancestors thought the chimeric form can guard humans. In a sense, that’s what the team hopes human-animal hybrids will one day do. There are two ways to make a chimera. The first is to introduce the organs of one animal into another—a risky proposition, because the host’s immune system may cause the organ to be rejected. The other method is to begin at the embryonic level, introducing one animal’s cells into the embryo of another and letting them grow together into a hybrid. (…) At first, Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, a professor in the Salk Institute’s Gene Expression Laboratory, thought the concept of using a host embryo to grow organs seemed straightforward enough. However, it took Belmonte and more than 40 collaborators four years to figure out how to make a human-animal chimera. To do so, the team piggybacked off prior chimera research conducted on mice and rats. (…) But pigs have a notable similarity to humans. Though they take less time to gestate, their organs look a lot like ours. Not that these similarities made the task any easier. The team discovered that, in order to introduce human cells into the pigs without killing them, they had to get the timing just right. (…) When those just-right human cells were injected into the pig embryos, the embryos survived. Then they were put into adult pigs, which carried the embryos for between three and four weeks before they were removed and analyzed. In all, the team created 186 later-stage chimeric embryos that survived, says Wu, and we estimate [each had] about one in 100,000 human cells. (…) The next big step, says Cheng, is to figure out whether it’s possible to increase the number of human cells the embryos can tolerate.”[4]

The Telegraph: “Scientists have created the first human-pig hybrids in a breakthrough which could pave the way for doctors to grow an unlimited supply of organs for transplants. (…) Salk Institute for Biological Studies in the US has combined both concepts and shown it is possible to grow human tissue within a pig. The achievement took four years, 1,500 pig embryos and the stem cells from 40 people. We underestimated the effort involved, said lead investigator Professor Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, of the Salk Institute’s Gene Expression Laboratory. This is an important first step. Our next challenge is to guide the human cells into forming a particular organ in pigs. The ultimate goal is to grow functional and transplantable tissue or organs. (…) The human cells survived and formed a human/pig hybrid embryo which was then implanted into a sow and allowed to develop for between three and four week so that scientists could check they were growing normally. Crucially, the surrogate cells only impacted muscle formation. There have been ethical concerns about human cells may start to form neurons, potentially sparking human consciousness in the animal’s brain. Now the scientists are planning to genetically edit the pig embryos so they cannot produce organs in the hope that the gaps will be filled by human DNA (…). This is an exciting publication. It clearly demonstrates that human stem cells introduced into the early pig embryo can form a human-pig chimera, said Professor Bruce Whitelaw, Interim Director of The Roslin Institute, and Professor of Animal Biotechnology, University of Edinburgh. This is the first scientific publication to achieve this result.  This paves the way for significant advances in our understanding of cell lineage development in the embryo and hints towards future novel biotech applications. Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, Group Leader at the Francis Crick Institute, added: The goals of this study are highly laudable. “An ability to make interspecies chimeras would be valuable in terms of providing basic understanding of species differences in embryo development and organ function, and if human cells are incorporated then this offers the possibility of growing human tissues or organs in animals for transplant.  The chimeras can also be used to help scientists understand early human development and the onset of disease, and even provide a testing platform for new drugs. (…) Prof Darren Griffin, Professor of Genetics, University of Kent, said: The long term aim is further to develop the scientific basis that may, in the future, support xenotransplantation, e.g. growing human organs in large mammals such as pigs as a means of addressing the existing shortage in donor organs. Both xenotransplantation itself and the creation of pig/human chimeras raises complex ethical issues and are rightly subject to robust regulation. (…) However the idea of creating human animal hybrids has met with ethical opposition, with some people claiming scientists are creating ‘monsters.’  I find these experiments disturbing, said Dr David King, Director of Human Genetics Alert, the secular watchdog group. In mythology human-animal chimeras were frightening monsters for good reason. I don’t recall these scientists asking for the public’s opinion before going ahead with such experiments.[5]

 

EVIDENCE 4: VIOLATION OF THE ANIMAL RIGHTS

Dr Julia Baines (science policy adviser at PETA animal rights group): “Not only is the creation of animals containing human material cruel, it’s also an inaccurate science that wastes resources, delays real medical progress and can endanger human life (…). Animal mothers undergo invasive procedures to insert human material into their offspring, and the young often die prematurely or suffer from unpredictable abnormalities, such as malfunctioning organs or rampant tumour growth. The animals used in these experiments are treated as nothing more than laboratory tools, yet they have the same capacity to feel pain and suffer that we do.’[6]

Jeremy Rifkin: “Animals have the right to exist without being tampered with or crossed with another species.”

Universal Declaration on the Rights of Non-Human Beings: “Article 25 – Animals have the right to existence, non-extinction, respect, tolerance and peaceful coexistence between different species. (…) Article 31 – Animals have the right not to be considered as an object, merchandise or private property of any individual, company or State. (…) Article 33 – Animals have the right not to be subjected to experiments or to genetic manipulation.”

 

EVIDENCE 5: VIOLATION OF THE DIGNITY AND GENETIC HERITAGE OF HUMANITY

Catholic Church in Dignitas Personae (2008): “Hybridization attempts. 33. Animal eggs have recently been used for the reprogramming of human somatic cell nuclei – generally called hybrid cloning – in order to extract embryonic stem cells from the resulting embryos, without resorting to the use of human eggs. From an ethical point of view, such procedures constitute an offense to the dignity of the human being, due to the mixture of human and animal genetic elements capable of altering the specific identity of man. The eventual use of stem cells extracted from these embryos may also involve risks not yet known to health, due to the presence of animal genetic material in their cytoplasm. Consciously exposing a human being to these risks is morally and deontologically unacceptable”.

William Cheshire (associate professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic’s Jacksonville, Florida): “This is unexplored biologic territory (…). Whatever moral threshold of human neural development we might choose to set as the limit for such an experiment, there would be a considerable risk of exceeding that limit before it could be recognized. (…) We must be cautious not to violate the integrity of humanity or of animal life over which we have a stewardship responsibility,”

Catholic Church Cardinal Keith O Brien: (The creation of hybrids is) “a monstrous attack against human rights, against human dignity and human life”.

Jom Dobbin: (The creation of hybrids is) “Consciously erasing the boundaries between humans and other species is an attack on the heart of what makes us human”.

 

  1. J. León: “Respect for the dignity of man, for the fact of being a person that is free, is the foundation of all ethics”[7]
  2. González Pérez: “In the name of dignity, attempts are made to justify radically contrary solutions to fundamental issues such as the admissibility of certain forms of genetic manipulation, abortion, the availability of human organs, medical experiments with persons and euthanasia”[8]

Institute of Bioethics at the Foundation for Health Sciences: “The supreme principle of ethics cannot be other than respect for the dignity of each and every human being. That is the criterion that must always direct judgments on the correctness or incorrectness, goodness and evilness of our acts”[9]

Mercedes Alberruche Díaz-Flores: “The dignity of the person is the measure that should guide biological, genetic and medical interventions on man from conception to his last breath”.[10]

UNESCO Declaration on the Responsibilities of the Present Generations Towards Future Generations: “The present generations should strive to ensure the maintenance and perpetuation of humankind with due respect for the dignity of the human person. Consequently, the nature and form of human life must not be undermined in any way whatsoever. (…) The human genome, in full respect of the dignity of the human person and human rights, must be protected and biodiversity safeguarded. Scientific and technological progress should not in any way impair or compromise the preservation of the human and other species.”

UNESCO – Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights: “Article 1: The human genome underlies the fundamental unity of all members of the human family, as well as the recognition of their inherent dignity and diversity. In a symbolic sense, Human Genome is the heritage of humanity. (…) Article 6: No one shall be subjected to discrimination based on genetic characteristics that is intended to infringe or has the effect of infringing human rights, fundamental freedoms and human dignity. (…) Article 10: No research or research applications concerning the human genome, in particular in the fields of biology, genetics and medicine, should prevail over respect for the human rights, fundamental freedoms and human dignity of individuals or, where applicable, of groups of people.  Article 11: Practices which are contrary to human dignity, such as reproductive cloning of human beings, shall not be permitted. States and competent international organizations are invited to co-operate in identifying such practices and in taking, at national or international level, the measures necessary to ensure that the principles set out in this Declaration are respected. (…) The responsibilities inherent in the activities of researchers, including meticulousness, caution, intellectual honesty and integrity in carrying out their research as well as in the presentation and utilization of their findings, should be the subject of particular attention in the framework of research on the human genome, because of its ethical and social implications. Public and private science policy-makers also have particular responsibilities in this respect.”

Council of Europe – Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine: “Parties to this Convention shall protect the dignity and identity of all human beings and guarantee everyone, without discrimination, respect for their integrity and other rights and fundamental freedoms with regard to the application of biology and medicine. (…) The interests and welfare of the human being shall prevail over the sole interest of society or science. ».

Cynthia Cohen (member of Canada’s Stem Cell Oversight Committee): “Creating chimeras by mixing human and animal gametes (sperms and eggs) or transferring reproductive cells, diminishes human dignity. It would deny that there is something distinctive and valuable about human beings that ought to be honored and protected

  1. Habermas: “genetic manipulation affects issues of species identity and self-understanding of the human being as belonging to a species”[11]

WMA Resolution on Cloning (November 1997): “Recognising that there have been recent developments in science leading to the cloning of a mammal, namely a sheep, and because this raises the possibility of such cloning techniques being used in humans, in turn raising concern for the dignity of the human being and protection for the security of human genetic material, the World Medical Association hereby calls on doctors engaged in  research and other researchers to abstain voluntarily from participating in the cloning of human beings until the scientific, ethical and legal issues have been fully considered by doctors and scientists, and any necessary controls put in place..”

The European Parliament of the European Union has spoken on several occasions against human cloning, as in the Resolution on the Cloning of Human Embryos (1993); The Resolution on Cloning (1997); The Resolution on the Cloning of Human Beings (1998); The Resolution on the Decision of the European Patent Office on the cloning of human beings (2000); The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union which states that in the framework of medicine and biology the right to integrity of the person shall be respected, for which human reproductive cloning is prohibited.

Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights: Human cloning experiments are banned in Argentina, France, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland and Tunisia. In 1997 the National Council for the Ethics of Life Sciences stated in Portugal that the cloning of human beings is a problem to human dignity, the balance of the human species and social life, being ethically unacceptable and prohibited. In Article 119 of the Switzerland’s Magna Carta states that all cloning and intervention in the genetic heritage of human germ cells and embryos is inadmissible. The Ministry of Health and the National Committee of Medical Ethics of Tunisia consider that any technology of human cloning constitutes a violation of all frames of reference concerning human reproduction and the dignity of the human species.

  1. Spaemann: (Human Rights) “must be recognized for every being that descends from man and from the first moment of its natural existence, without being lawful to add any additional criterion. If the claim to belong to human society was left to the judgment of the majority, we would have to define in virtue of which properties one has human dignity and the corresponding rights can be demanded. But this would be about completely suppressing the very idea of human rights. These presuppose that every man, as a member of humanity, can assert his rights against others, which in turn means that belonging to the species homo sapiens can only be based on that minimum dignity that we have called human dignity”[12]

A.M. Gonzalez: “Precisely that dignity is at stake when anyone arrogates the right to decide which beings deserve to be called people and which ones do not. Because then they are easily regarded as a mere means, and are subjected to utilitarian calculations. The weak, the unproductive, the crippled, the children, the sick, could be progressively excluded from the definition of person, and that exclusion could easily be justified on the basis of state reasons and, ultimately, of convenience. In the face of this, it is worth to remember that dignity, unlike value, is not commensurable”[13]

European Parliament – Resolution on the ethical and legal problems of genetic manipulation: “As regards chimera and hybrids: 42. Calls for the following to be prohibited as criminal offences: (i) the generation of viable hybrid embryos with various genomes and using human DNA; (ii) fertilization of a human egg cell with animal sperm or the fertilization of an animal egg cell with human sperm to produce a viable embryo; (iii) the transfer of the cell combinations or embryos referred to above to a woman; (iv) all experiments designed to generate chimera and hybrids using human and animal genetic material;”

European Parliament – Report on the ethical and legal problems of genetic engineering: Generation of chimera and hybrids In principle both types of reproduction are conceivable using human gametes, but they conflict particularly crassly with the right of the individual to dignity and self-determination and disregard the specific rights of humans deriving from their biological make-up. The manipulative and contemptuous treatment of human life is carried to unparalleled lengths in such experiments. The mixing of human and animal genes as can occur in the formation of chimera and hybrids must be prohibited categorically. It is incompatible with the rights and values to which humans are entitled under our legal and political system. On the basis of the above observations, the following requirements should apply to any experiments for the production of hybrids and chimera (…) As no distinction can be made between research and application, all experiments designed to generate chimera and hybrids using human and animal genetic material are to be subject to criminal proceedings.”

 

Prof. Dr. Albin Eser – European Parliament – Public hearing on the legal and ethical problems of human genetics: “Interference in man’s genetic heritage Gene transfers into somatic cells to eliminate a disease did not raise any fundamental problems. Gene transfers involving human genetic material must be prohibited. The cloning of human beings — whether by artificially producing multiple births or by the exchange of totipotent cell nuclei — should be prohibited by law. The creation of hybrids or crosses between humans and animals must be prohibited by law.”

 

Profesor Dr. Gonzalo Herranz – European Parliament – Public hearing on the legal and ethical problems of human genetics with particular reference to the problems associated with genetic engineering: “Logical application of the human rights guaranteeing respect for the integrity of the human person requires a ban to be imposed on all research which might lead to a loss of human qualities, both individual and collective, of the subjects undergoing the genetic experiments. This includes not only the techniques for creating hybrids between species involving humans, but also those others which may result in the biological or psychological inferiority of the individuals involved.”

B.M. Knoppers: “In the context of the new genetics, that who is sure and respects human dignity cannot be limited to a conception of the natural rights of the person that determines the genetic immutability of the individual at the time of his birth. Respect for human dignity also means the need to speak about collective responsibility for the human genome”[14]

Report A-2-327 / 88 by the Committee on Legal Affairs and Citizens’ Rights of the European Parliament: ” The use of embryos for research purposes which deny their human nature and subject them to arbitrary goals is an infringement of the dignity of man. (…) A human can, thus, never be a thing, but will always have a personality. (…) It must also be the primary consideration when assessing research on embryos”

LYDIA FEITO GRANDE: “The current discussion about the applications of genetic engineering techniques or cloning repeatedly insists on the appeal to dignity as the foundation of every right and as an absolute limit to any intervention. (…) Attempting against human dignity is undoubtedly the end point that marks the barrier of the unacceptable. Reciprocally, defending dignity is the great ethical task and the ultimate ground of human rights. (…)Speaking about liberty, equality or solidarity is to refer to a basic principle that underpins these concepts: respect for the dignity of people. (…) The Protocol to the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine, on the prohibition of cloning human beings when it states that cloning is contrary to human dignity, due to the fact of instrumentalizing the human being. (…)The human rights documents in relation to biotechnology, genetic engineering and cloning use this concept of dignity in the sense of affirming that there is an intrinsic characteristic to the condition of person, who deserves a respect, understood, in a first sense, as non intervention, that is, in the line of the right to an unmanipulated genetic heritage defended by the Council of Europe. It is a matter of keeping the human being unaltered, at least when there are reasonable doubts that the changes introduced may lead to some kind of change in the genetic identity of the individual; or when the risks associated with the technique undermine a basic element such as the safeguarding of the physical and mental integrity of the person, i.e., contravening the principle of non-maleficence. (…)It is necessary to determine the legitimate purposes of research and the patterns of respect for human dignity. This principle can be broken down into four others which, according to N. Lenoir, would justify an ethics of scientific research, and they are applicable in the field of biotechnologies: 1) respect for the dignity and freedom of the person, 2) prevention of the technological risks on which the future of humanity depends; (3) preservation of the freedom of scientific creation; and 4) the intellectual and moral solidarity of humankind, through the conception of scientific knowledge as a common heritage which must be shared for the benefit of all. (…)  It does not seem reasonable to renounce genetic research and applications of biotechnology, but it can be stated that they must be controlled and must follow criteria of caution and prudence. For this, despite the lack of a solid foundation, the documents discussed (European Convention on Bioethics and Universal Declaration on the Genome and Human Rights), based on the protection of dignity, acts as a guarantee of respect for human rights.”[15]

 

EVIDENCE 6: MEDICAL TORTURE and INHUMANE ACTS

INTERNATIONAL MILITARY TRIBUNAL AT NUREMBERG (1947): “The great weight of the evidence before us to effect that certain types of medical experiments on human beings, when kept within reasonably well-defined bounds, conform to the ethics of the medical profession generally. The protagonists of the practice of human experimentation justify their views on the basis that such experiments yield results for the good of society that are unprocurable by other methods or means of study. All agree, however, that certain basic principles must be observed in order to satisfy moral, ethical and legal concepts: 1. The voluntary consent of the human subject is absolutely essential. This means that the person involved should have legal capacity to give consent; should be so situated as to be able to exercise free power of choice (…); and should have sufficient knowledge and comprehension of the elements of the subject matter involved as to enable him to make an understanding and enlightened decision. This latter element requires that before the acceptance of an affirmative decision by the experimental subject there should be made known to him the nature, duration, and purpose of the experiment; the method and means by which it is to be conducted; all inconveniences and hazards reasonably to be expected; and the effects upon his health or person which may possibly come from his participation in the experiment. (…) 2. The experiment should be such as to yield fruitful results for the good of society, unprocurable by other methods or means of study, and not random and unnecessary in nature (…) 4. The experiment should be so conducted as to avoid all unnecessary physical and mental suffering and injury. 5. No experiment should be conducted where there is an a priori reason to believe that death or disabling injury will occur; except, perhaps, in those experiments where the experimental physicians also serve as subjects. 6. The degree of risk to be taken should never exceed that determined by the humanitarian importance of the problem to be solved by the experiment. 7. Proper preparations should be made and adequate facilities provided to protect the experimental subject against even remote possibilities of injury, disability or death. (…) 10. During the course of the experiment the scientist in charge must be prepared to terminate the experiment at any stage, if he has probable cause to believe, in the exercise of the good faith, superior skill and careful judgment required of him, that a continuation of the experiment is likely to result in injury, disability, or death to the experimental subject.”

International Declaration on Human Genetic Data (UNESCO): “The interests and welfare of the individual should have priority over the rights and interests of society and research. (…) Any collection, processing, use and storage of human genetic data, human proteomic data and biological samples shall be consistent with the international law of human rights. (…) diagnosis and health care, genetic screening and testing of minors and adults not able to consent will normally only be ethically acceptable when it has important implications for the health of the person and has regard to his or her best interest.”

Bioethics Declaration of Gijón: “The use of stem cells for therapeutic purposes should be allowed provided that it does not involve the destruction of embryos. (…) Research on human beings should be carried out taking into account the freedom of science and respect for human dignity and must get the prior approval of independent ethical committees.  Experimental subjects must give their fully informed and free consent.”

Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Human Dignity with respect to the Applications of Biology and Medicine: “Article 18. … 2. The creation of human embryos for research purposes is prohibited.”

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966 (ICCPR): “Article 7. No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In particular, no one shall be subjected without his free consent to medical or scientific experimentation”.

Monsignor Elio Sgreccia (Spokesman for the Pontifical Academy for Life Sciences): “A monstrous act against human dignity (…) moral condemnation for this reason must be total, above all in the name of reason and in the name of justice and science, which must be put at the service of man and respect human nature (…) experimentation on the living human being with its subsequent suppression until now had only been carried out in concentration camps, a fact that was condemned unanimously throughout the world. These experiments are prohibited by the Nuremberg Code and the Helsinki Declaration. It is important to emphasize that now that some laboratories are going to carry out them, it does not mean that they become licit”.

Statute of the International Criminal Court: “1. For the purpose of this Statute, “crime against humanity” means any of the following acts when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack: (…) f) Torture; (…) k) Other inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health”.

Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment: (torture is) “an offence to human dignity”.

International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY): (sanctions) “torture or inhumane treatments, even biological experiments (…) on persons”  “(Inhumane treatment is) any action or intentional omission, i.e., an act which, objectively, is deliberate and not accidental that causes serious mental damage or physical suffering or constitutes a serious attack on human dignity.”[16]

International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR): “(Article 4 of the Statute establishes that) “The International Tribunal for Rwanda shall have the power to prosecute (…) Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder as well as cruel treatment such as torture, mutilation or any form of corporal punishment (…) Outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment (…)”

Prosecutor v. Musema, First Instance Chamber of the ICTR: “(Atrocities against the dignity of the person) can be considered less serious forms of torture; even more, those in which it is not necessary to prove the existence of the reasons required for an act to constitute the crime of torture, or that it is not necessary for such acts to have been perpetrated by a state authority.”

Prosecutor v. Blaškic, First Chamber of ICTY: “(Violence against life, health or physical or mental integrity of persons) is contemplated in Article 3 (1) (a) common to the Geneva Conventions, (…) it is a broad crime that … includes homicide , Mutilation, inhuman treatment and torture, and which is therefore defined by an accumulation of elements specific to these crimes. The offense is related to those referred to in Article 2 (a) (intentional homicide), Article 2 (b) (inhuman treatment) and Article 2 (c) (serious injury to physical integrity) of the Statute.

Buddhist Tribunal on Human Rights (BTHR): According to the Statute of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), the crime of torture can be considered as part of the broader crime of violence against life.[17]

Prosecutor v. Vasiljevic: “(There are inhuman acts if the offender, at the time of the act or omission, was intended to cause serious physical or mental suffering or to seriously undermine the human dignity of the victim, or [was aware] that the act or omission would probably cause serious physical or mental suffering or would infringe upon the dignity of the person and [have acted] recklessly.”[18]

Prosecutor v. Akayesu, First Instance Chamber of ICTR: “(an inhuman act is) a serious injury to the physical or mental integrity that includes, among others, any act of torture, whether persecution, inhuman or degrading treatment or attempting against the physical or mental integrity of the person.”

Prosecutor v. Kayishema and Ruzindana: “(an inhumane act is) any injury that causes disfigurement, serious damage to health or to the senses or external [or] internal organs of a person.”

 

[1] National Geographic News, Animal-Human Hybrids Spark Controversy. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/01/0125_050125_chimeras.html

[2] Yaiza Martínez, Ratones cuatro veces más listos gracias a un implante de células del cerebro humano.  http://www.tendencias21.net/Ratones-cuatro-veces-mas-listos-gracias-a-un-implante-de-celulas-del-cerebro-humano_a39092.html

[3] Rick Weiss, Human Brain Cells Are Grown In Micehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/12/AR2005121201388.html

[4] Erin Blakemore, Human-Pig Hybrid Created in the Lab—Here Are the Facts http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/01/human-pig-hybrid-embryo-chimera-organs-health-science/

[5] Sarah Knapton, Human-pig embryos created by scientists in breakthrough for organ transplants   http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/01/26/human-pig-hybrids-created-scientists-breakthrough-organ-transplants/

[6] C. Macdonald, Researchers reveal controversial experiments to grow part-animal part-human ‘Frankenstein’ organs for transplant patients are still going onhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3599408/Researchers-reveal-controversial-experiments-grow-animal-human-Frankenstein-organs-transplant-patients-going-on.html#ixzz4WwNhe2cR

[7] F. J. León, Dignidad Humana, Libertad y Bioética, en “Persona y Bioética” núm. 1.

[8] J. González Pérez, La dignidad de la persona.

[9] Vid I. Bravo, La clonación de seres humanos a debate, “Mundo científico“, 1998

[10] Mercedes Alberruche Díaz-Flores. La clonación y selección de sexo.

[11] Habermas, El Futuro de la naturaleza humana. ¿Hacia una eugenesia liberal?

[12] R. Spaemann, Sobre el concepto de dignidad humana, en “Persona y Derecho“.

[13] A. M. González, Naturaleza y dignidad.

[14] B.M. Knoppers, L’integritá del patrimonio genetico: diritto sogetivo o diritto dell’Umanità , en “Politica del Diritto“.

[15] LYDIA FEITO GRANDE, Los derechos humanos y la ingeniería genética: la dignidad como clave.

[16] El Fiscal c. Delalic y otros (el caso Celebici) (1998), op. cit., párrafo 543. Ver también El Fiscal c. Kordic y Cerkez (2001), op. cit., párrafo 256; El Fiscal c. Kunarac, Kovac y Vukovic (2001), op. cit., párrafo 502.

[17] El Fiscal c. Ntakiruimana, Casos Nº TPIR-96-10 yTPIR-96-17-T, Sala I de Primera Instancia, sentencia del 21 de febrero de 2003, párrafo 859.

[18] Esta definición luego fue confirmada por la Sala de Primera Instancia en El Fiscal c. Simic, Tadic y Zaric (2003), op. cit., párrafo 76; El Fiscal c. Galic, Caso Nº IT-98.29-T, Sala I de Primera Instancia, sentencia del 5 de diciembre de 2003, párrafo 154; El Fiscal c. Dragomir Miloševic, Caso Nº IT-98-29/1, Sala III de Primera Instancia, sentencia del 12 de diciembre de 2007, párrafo 935.)