T.
Communication Ho. 401/1990, J.P.K. v. the Netherlands
(decision of 7 November 1991. adopted at the
forty-third session)
Submitted by:
J.P.K, (name deleted) {represented by counsel)
Alleged victim;
The author
State party;
The Netherlands
Date of communication;
11 April 1990 (date of initial letter)
The Human Bights Committee, established under article 28 of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
Meeting on 7 November 1991,
Adopts the following:
Decision on admissibility
1.
The author o£ the communication (initial submission dated 11 April 1990
and subsequent correspondence) is J.P.K., a citizen of the Netherlands, born
on 28 August 1966, residing in Leiden, the Netherlands. He is a conscientious
objector to both military service and substitute civilian service and claims
to be the victim of a violation by the Government of the Netherlands of
articles 6, 7 and 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Bights. He is represented by counsel.
Facts as submitted by the author
2.1 The author did not report for his military service on a specified day.
He was arrested and brought to the military barracks, where he refused to obey
orders to accept a military uniform and equipment on the grounds that he
objected to military service and substitute public service as a consequence of
his pacifist conviction. On 21 May 1987, he was court-martialled and found
guilty of violating articles 23 and 114 of the Military Penal Code (Wetboek
van Militair Strafrecht) by the Arnhem Military Court
IArrondissementskriiasraad) and sentenced to six months' imprisonment a.nd
dismissal from military service.
2.2 The Public Prosecutor appealed to the Supreme Military Court (Hoog
Militair Gerechtshof) which, on 9 September 1987, found the author guilty of
violating articles 23 and 114 of the Military Penal Code and sentenced him to
12 months' imprisonment and dismissal from military service. On 17 May 1988,
the Supreme Court fHoge Raad) rejected the author's appeal.
Complaint
3.1 The author alleges that the proceedings before the courts suffered from
various procedural defects, notably that the courts did not correctly apply
international law and did not consider, among others, the following
conventions and general principles:
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