Report No. 34 (2010) IACHR. Petition No. 1118-04 (Surinam)

• Court: Inter-American Comission of Human Rights
• Year: 2010
• Petition Number: 1118-04
• Report Number: 34
• Respondent State: Surinam
• Case Type: Archive
• Alleged Victim: Luis Miguel Sánchez Aldana

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REPORT No. 34/10

PETITION 1118-04

DECISION TO ARCHIVE

SURINAME

March 16, 2010

ALLEGED VICTIMS: Luis Miguel Sánchez Aldana

PETITIONER: Yenna Sandra S. Aldana

ALLEGED VIOLATIONS: Articles 4 and 5 of the American Convention on Human Rights (the “American Convention”)

1. POSITION OF THE PARTIES

1. The petitioners

1. On October 22, 2004, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (the “Inter-American Commission” or the “IACHR”) received a petition and a request for precautionary measures from Y.S.S.A. (the “petitioner”), against Suriname (the “S.”), on behalf of her brother L.M.S.A. (the “alleged victim”) a Colombian national, allegedly detained since December 7, 2001, in the Duisburglaan Penal Institution of Suriname. The petition claims that the S. refuses to provide adequate and required medical treatment to M.S., in violation of his right to life and to humane treatment, under Articles 4 and 5 of the American Convention.

2. The petition indicates that Mr. S. was convicted on October 20, 2002, under the Law of Narcotics, but adds no further detail. Allegedly, M.S. urgently required surgery to correct a life-threatening blockage of blood vessels. The petitioner mentions that he previously had surgery in Columbia in June 2000 for the same condition and required further surgery to correct a recurrence. The petitioner claimed that Suriname lacked the facility to treat M.S. adequately. In addition, she alleged that M.S. was sleeping on the floor, resulting in his legs becoming gangrenous due to the lack of blood circulation. U., the petitioner claimed that the alleged victim was at risk of dying from his condition unless he received urgent treatment.

3. In reply to the IACHR request for information, the petitioner confirmed that no domestic remedies were pending or initiated in Suriname on behalf of her brother, but did not inform whether he could have access to such domestic remedies or access to the service of an attorney. The petitioner underscored that Mr. S. cannot communicate effectively with the authorities as he speaks only Spanish and the official language of Suriname is Dutch.

2. The S.

4. Following the request for precautionary measures, the S. informed the...