THE FAMILY of the Irishman shot dead by police in Bolivia has petitioned the United Nations to investigate what they say was the “extrajudicial execution” of their son by the Bolivian authorities.
In a 28-page submission to the UN’s special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, Michael Dwyer’s family says eyewitness and video evidence, along with autopsy and ballistic reports, contradict the Bolivian government’s claim that their son was killed in an armed confrontation with police. The family renews its call for an independent international inquiry, and says the evidence they have presented to the UN shows “there was no shoot-out, just a cold-blooded execution”. Two other men died alongside Mr Dwyer in their hotel in the city of Santa Cruz on April 16th 2009. Two others were arrested at the scene and have been held without charge ever since.
The submission also highlights alleged irregularities in the official handling of the case, including indications of evidence-tampering by police. This has led the family to conclude that the Bolivian authorities “have no inclination to carry out” an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr Dwyer’s death.
The Bolivian authorities have always claimed Mr Dwyer was part of a group hired by leading opposition figures to assassinate President Evo Morales and foment secessionist violence in Santa Cruz.
In a statement, Caroline Dwyer, speaking on behalf of herself and her husband Martin, said they want those responsible for their son’s death to be held fully accountable. “This is not just in our interest. It is important for human rights in a global context. We strongly hope that our submission to [special rapporteur] Philip Alston will help us establish that truth.”
Their submission, compiled with the assistance of legal and ballistic experts, raises a wide range of questions about the Bolivian government’s version of events.
It quotes hotel staff who said Mr Dwyer and four colleagues were not pursued to the hotel as claimed by officials but were surprised in their beds during a pre-dawn police raid. It also quotes hotel manager Hernan Rossell, who saw no evidence of a shoot-out when he was allowed by police up to the floor where the killings occurred. He said all bullet holes were within the rooms of the three dead men with “no signs of bullets fired from the rooms outwards”.
Photographs taken by the Bolivian forensic team show that Mr Dwyer’s bedroom door had been forced inwards. “The claims that the police were attacked first are not supported,” says the family’s report.
The Bolivian forensic examination failed to corroborate police claims that the group attacked the police with “bombs” – it said the only explosion at the hotel was the device police used to force the door of the room next to Mr Dwyer’s. Photographic and video evidence shows Bolivian intelligence officers were in contact with Mr Dwyer’s group in the months leading up to the raid.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has written to the rapporteur, but a response is not expected until March at the earliest.