Points at Issue

Abstract

The applicant Governments of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, in their written applications of 20th September, 1967,1 and the applicant Government of the Netherlands, in its written application of 27th September, 1967, alleged that the respondent Government had, by a number of legislative and administrative measures, violated Articles 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 14 of the Convention. These allegations were further developed at the oral hearing before the Commission on 23rd and 24th January, 1968. In particular, the applicant Governments stated that:

• a state of siege had been declared and Articles 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 20, 95 and 97 of the Greek Constitution of 1st January, 1952, had been suspended by Royal Decree No. 280 of 21st April, 1967;2

• political parties and ordinary political activities had been prohibited and parliamentary elections scheduled for 28th May, 1967, had been cancelled;

• extraordinary courts martial had been established by Royal Decrees Nos. 280 and 2813 of 21st April, 1967;

• housands of persons had been imprisoned for a long period without being brought before a “competent legal authority”;