21 36. In the instant case, as in others6, the Court recognizes the evidentiary value of the documents submitted by the parties at the appropriate procedural stage, which have neither been disputed nor challenged, and whose authenticity has not been questioned. 37. As to the sworn statements which have been rendered before a public official whose acts command full faith and credit (affidavits) by Carlos Marecos-Aponte, Leonardo González, Gladys Benítez, Elsa Ayala, and Mariana Ayala, alleged victims in the instant case (supra para. 34), the Court admits them inasmuch as they are in accordance with the object thereof, as set forth in the Order of the President issued on December 21, 2005 (supra para. 18). The Court has considered that the statements given by the alleged victims cannot be assessed separately for they have an interest in the outcome of the instant case, and therefore, must be assessed as a whole with the rest of the body of evidence, applying thereto the standards of reasonable credit and weight analysis.7 Regarding both the merits of the case and reparations, the statements given by the alleged victims and their next of kin may provide useful information on the alleged violations and the consequences thereof.8 38. Likewise, the Court notes that the State challenged the statement given before a public official whose acts command full faith and credit (affidavit) by Ms. Elsa Ayala and by “the other members of the Sawhoyamaxa [C]ommunity,” regarding the alleged failure to provide medical care at the hospitals of Paraguay, when these lack financial resources. In this regard, it stated that “the Ministry of Public Health provides free medical care to everybody, and particularly, to the poor; furthermore, local Governments have a department for the assistance of indigenous people, to which they can resort and where they are always assisted and advised.” As evidence of the foregoing, the State attached Resolution No. 280/92, “wherein it is established that besides being provided with free medical care, the indigenous people should be exempted from paying for medical tests and other procedures carried out at the Hospital Nacional de Itaugua (Itaugua National Hospital)” and Circular Letter S.G. No. 1/95, issued by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare, on “full, deferential, and free medical care to indigenous groups.” In this regard, the Inter-American Court considers that the statement given by Ms. Elsa Ayala, as well as those given by the other members of the Sawhoyamaxa Community regarding their situation and living conditions, may contribute to the determination of such facts by the Court and this is the reason why it assesses them as a whole with the rest of the body of evidence, applying thereto the standards of reasonable credit and weight analysis and taking into consideration the comments submitted by the State (supra para. 23). 39. As to the expert opinion given before a public official whose acts command full faith and credit (affidavits) by expert witnesses José Marcelo Brunstein and Augusto Fogel (supra para. 34(i) and (k)), as well as the statement given by witness 6 Cf. Case of Acevedo-Jaramillo et al, supra note 3, para. 189; Case of López-Alvarez, supra note 3, para. 41, and Case of Pueblo Bello Massacre, supra note 3, para. 71. 7 Cf. Case of Acevedo-Jaramillo et al, supra note 3, para. 203; Case of López-Álvarez, supra note 3, para. 50, and Case of Pueblo Bello Massacre, supra note 3, para. 73. 8 Cf. Case of Gutiérrez-Soler. Judgment of September 12, 2005. Series C No. 132, para. 45; Case of YATAMA. Judgment of June 23, 2005. Series C No. 127, para. 116, and Case of the Indigenous Community Yakye Axa, supra note 1, para. 43.

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