October 3 β 12, Naturally, this does not imply that note has not been taken of the numerous complaints received by the Commission of violations of the right to life prior to that date and which are being processed according to the normal process. Moreover, given its special seriousness, the disappearance of numerous peasants in recent years is also considered. It has been decided, for reasons of clarity, to divide this chapter into the following categories: Deaths during combat and serial bombings.
Deaths and other incidents involving Red Cross personnel. Deaths after the cessation of hostilities. Deaths during Combat and Bombings. After the start of the armed struggle on Saturday, September 9, several days of intense combat took place in the major cities of Nicaragua.
As happens in every armed conflict of such magnitude, both sides, the National Guard and the Sandinista Front, suffered loss of life and a considerable number of wounded. The Commission deplores the loss of any human life, notwithstanding the circumstances. But, at the same time, it is evident that with regard to this fundamental right to life, the contending parties have the duty of respecting the unarmed population which is unable to protect itself. Such duty, as will be explained in this section, was not observed by the National Guard.
Moreover, the Government of Nicaragua assumed the solemn obligation of respecting international norms of humanitarian law, especially those set forth in the Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilians in Time of War, signed on August 12, , which is also applicable in armed conflicts not of an international character, 3 and which Nicaragua ratified on December 17, Before its arrival in Nicaragua, the Commission received numerous allegations of a large number of deaths and injuries and significant material loss among the civilian population due to the indiscriminate use by the National Guard of serial bombardment and heavy artillery.
The Commission closely inspected different neighborhoods in each of these cities, speaking directly with people who lived there and visiting their homes. Through the abundant and irrefutable proof in its possession, it was able to confirm the magnitude of the destruction caused by serial bombardment and heavy artillery.
