Yearbook of the European Convention on Human Rights Yearbook of the European Convention on Human Rights the European Commission and European Court of Human Rights

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Yearbook of the European Convention on Human Rights Yearbook of the European Convention on Human Rights the European Commission and European Court of Human Rights YEARBOOK OF THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS YEARBOOK OF THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS THE GREEK CASE MARTINUS NIJHOFF / THE HAGUE / 1972 © I972 by Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, Netherlands Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1972 All rights reserved, including the rights to translate or to reproduce this book or parts thereof in atry form ISBN 978-94-015-1226-8 ISBN 978-94-015-1224-4 (eBook) DOT 10.1007/978-94-015-1224-4 Introduction This Volume contains the Report of the European Commission of Human Rights on the "Greek Case" (Applications No. 3321/67, Den­ mark v. Greece; No. 3322/67, Norway v. Greece; No. 3323/67, Sweden v. Greece; No. 3344/67, Netherlands v. Greece) and the Resolution DH (70) 1 adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 15 April 1970 relating to this case. These four applications, which were filed with the Commission of Human Rights in September 1967, alleged that the Greek Government which had come into power in April of that year had violated its obliga­ tions under the European Convention on Human Rights. They referred to the suspension of certain articles of the Greek Constitution and other legislative measures and administrative practices; they alleged that, re­ gardless of any individual or specific injury, these acts affected the cor­ responding Articles of the Convention on Human Rights. The Applicant Governments also submitted that the derogation made by the Greek Government under Article 15 of the Convention (which permits a government to take measures derogating from its obligations under the Convention in time of war or public emergency) was not justified. The Commission on 2 October 1967, decided to give priority to these cases and, after hearing the submissions of the parties on 23 and 24 January 1968, it declared the applications admissible on 24 January 1968. The decision on admissibility was published in this Yearbook Vol. 11, pages 690 to 728. In March 1968, the three Scandinavian Governments added new allega­ tions, alleging numerous cases of torture or ill-treatment of political prisoners amounting to an administrative practice, contrary to Article 3 of the Convention; alleging that the Constitutional Act "Eta" of 11 July 1967 constituted retroactive penal legislation, contrary to Article 7, and introduced measures of confiscation, contrary to Article 1 of the First Protocol; and, finally, that the absence of free elections, which prevented the people from freely expressing their opinion in the choice of the legis­ lature, was contrary to Article 3 of the First Protocol. On 31 May 1968, the Commission, again after hearing the submissions of the Parties, declared these new allegations admissible. The second decision of the Commission on admissibility was published in Volume 11 of this Year­ book at pages 730 to 780. The Sub-Commission, which was set up to ascertain the facts of the case, held various sessions during 1968 and 1969 and heard a large number of witnesses. (Yearbook Vol. 11, page 58; Yearbook Vol. 12, page 104). VI INTRODUCTION On 18 November 1969 the Commission of Human Rights transmitted to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe the report which it had drawn up in accordance with Article 31 of the Convention. After three months had elapsed without the case being referred to the European Court of Human Rights, the Committee of Ministers, in accordance with Article 32 of the Convention, adopted on 15 April 1970 its Resolution DH (70) 1. At the same meeting, the Committee of Ministers decided to authorise the publication of the Report of the Commission on the above mentioned applications. In the meantime, at the Forty-Fifth Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, on 12 December 1969, when the Committee was discussing certain recommendations of the Consultative Assembly relating to the situation in Greece, the Greek Government denounced the Statute of the Council of Europe and the European Con­ vention on Human Rights (Yearbook Vol. 12, pages 78 to 84). In accordance with Article 65 (1) of the European Convention on Human Rights, the Greek denunciation had the effect that Greece ceased to be a party to the Convention on 13 June 1970. This Volume contains the Report of the European Commission of Human Rights on the "Greek Case" in a slightly abbreviated form, and the Resolution of the Committee of Ministers of 15 April 1970. For reasons of space, several of the Annexes to Chapter IV and several of the Appendices to the Report as a whole are omitted from this edition; their absence, however, will not deprive the reader of any essential information. In accordance with the constant practice of the Committee of Ministers, that part of the Report relating to the attempt to reach a friendly settlement remains confidential and is therefore not published. Departing from the usual practice, and as a quite exceptional measure, this Volume contains only the English text, which is the original text, of the Report. The full text of the French translation, in a roneotyped edition, may be obtained on request from the Directorate of Human Rights, Council of Europe, Strasbourg. A. H. ROBERTSON Strasbourg, Head of the Directorate 30 July, 1971 of Human Rights SUMMARY TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Introduction V REPORT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ON THE "GREEK CASE" 1 INTRODUCTION 5 PART A: History of Proceedings and Points at Issue 9 PART B: Establishment of the Facts and Opinions of the Commission: CHAPTER I: Article 15 of the Convention 29 CHAPTER II: Articles 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 14 of the Convention and Article 3 of the First Protocol 120 CHAPTER III: Article 7 of the Convention and Article 1 of the First Protocol 181 CHAPTER IV: Article 3 of the Convention 186 RESOLUTION DH (70) 1 OF THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE 511 ANNEXES TO CHAPTER IV 519 APPENDICES TO THE REPOR T 673 TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages Introduction V REPORT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ON THE "GREEK CASE" 1 LIST OF PRINCIPAL DOCUMENTS 3 INTRODUCTION 5 PART A HISTORY OF PROCEEDINGS AND POINTS AT ISSUE CHAPTER I - HISTORY OF PROCEEDINGS 11 1. ADMISSIBILITY STAGE 11 2. PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE SUB-COMMISSION 12 3. FURTHER PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COMMISSION 17 4. OPINION OF MR. DELAHAYE 18 CHAPTER II - POINTS AT ISSUE 19 1. FIRST DECISION ON ADMISSIBILITY 19 2. SECOND DECISION ON ADMISSIBILITY 21 3. POINTS AT ISSUE UNDER THE TWO DECISIONS 24 4. SUBMISSIONS BEFORE THE SUB-COMMISSION 25 5. ORDER OF PRESENTATION 26 PART B ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FACTS AND OPINION OF THE COMMISSION CHAPTER I - ARTICLE 15 OF THE CONVENTION 29 A. ISSUES ARISING UNDER ARTICLE 15 29 B. WHETHER A REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT CAN DEROGATE FROM PROVISIONS OF THE CONVENTION UNDER ARTICLE 15 31 I. Submis&ions of the parties 31 1. Respondent Government 31 2. Applicant Governments 31 II. Opinion of the Commission 32 C. WHETHER THE REQUIREMENTS OF ARTICLE 15, PARAGRAPH (3), HAVE BEEN FULLY MET BY THE RESPONDENT GOVERNMENT 33 I. Requirements of Article 15 (3) 33 II. Communications made by the Government of Greece to the Secre- tary-General under Article 15 33 III. Submissions of the parties 39 IV. Opinion of the Commission 41 TABLE OF CONTENTS IX Pages V. Dissenting opinion of Mr. Delahaye 43 VI. Dissenting opinion of Mr. Fawcett 44 VII. Dissenting opinion of Mr. Eustathiades 44 D. WHETHER THERE WAS, ON 21sT APRIL, 1967 A PUBLIC EMERGENCY IN GREECE THREATENING THE LIFE OF THE NATION 44 I. Introduction 44 II. The Communist danger 45 1. General statements of the parties 45 2. Evidence before the Commission 49 3. Examination of the evidence by the Commission 52 III. The crisis of constitutional government 58 1. General statements of the parties 58 2. Evidence before the Commission 60 3. Examination of the evidence by the Commission 61 IV. The crisis of public order 65 1. General statements of the parties 65 2. Evidence before the Commission 66 3. Examination of the evidence by the Commission 67 V. Opinion of the Commission 71 1. The meaning of the term "public emergency threatening the life of the nation" 71 2. The criteria governing the control of a declaration of public emergency 72 3. As to the situation on 21st April, 1967 73 VI. Dissenting opinion of Mr. Busuttil 76 VII. Dissenting opinion of Mr. Delahaye 76 VIII. Dissenting opinion of Mr. Triantafyllides 80 IX. Dissenting opinion of Mr. Eustathiades 81 X. Dissenting opinion of Mr. Siisterhenn 86 E. THE EVOLUTION OF THE SITUATION FROM 21ST APRIL 1967, TO THE PRESENT TIME 92 I. General statements of the parties 92 II. Evidence before the Commission 93 III. Examination of the evidence by the Commission 94 IV. Opinion of the Commission 100 V. Concurring opinion of Mr. Busuttil 100 VI. Opinion of Mr. Delahaye 101 VII. Opinion of Mr. Eustathiades 102 x TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages VIII. Dissenting opinion of Mr. Ermacora 102 IX. Dissenting opinion of Mr. Siisterhenn 103 F. WHETHER THE MEASURES TAKEN BY THE RESPONDENT GOVERNMENT WERE STRICTLY REQUIRED BY THE EXIGENCIES OF THE SITUATION 103 I. Opinion of the Commission 103 II. Opinion of Mr. Busuttil 104 III. Opinion of Mr. Delahaye 104 IV. Opinion of Mr. Eustathiades 104 V. Opinion of Mr. Siisterhenn 110 G. WHETHER ARTICLES 17 AND 18 OF THE CONVENTION EXCLUDE THE PRESENT DEROGATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 15 OF THE CONVENTION 111 I. Submissions of the parties 111 II. Opinion of the Commission 112 H.
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