pay 53,000 French francs, with interest, for the damage caused. On 4 July 1988, the Court of Appeal of Rennes confirmed the judgment of the court of first instance. Subject matter: Refusal to recognize road signs in the Breton language Procedural issues: Standing of the author—Nonexhaustion of domestic remedies— Inadmissibility ratione materiae 2.3 The author contends that since his arrest, he has been subjected to daily harassment by his employer. The official in charge of the administrative investigation against him initially proposed to suspend him from his post for a period of six months. At the end of January 1989, however, after several intercessions made on the author’s behalf by concerned citizens and the mayors of several municipalities in Bretagne, the disciplinary committee of the P. T. T. in Rennes suspended him from his post for eight days; this sanction was itself suspended. After consultations with his counsel, S. G. did not appeal the decision of the disciplinary committee. Substantive issues: Complementary character of article 2—Equality before the law and recognition as a person before the law— Right to freedom of expression—Right to have access to public service— Discrimination on the ground of language— Rights of persons belonging to minorities— Interpretation of a declaration/reservation Articles of the Covenant: 2(1), 16, 19(2), 25(c), 26 and 27 Articles of the Optional Protocol: 2, 3 and 5(2)(b) The complaint Individual opinion: Mrs. Rosalyn Higgins 3. It is submitted that the facts described above constitute violations by France of articles 2, paragraphs 1 to 3, 19, paragraphs 1 and 2, 25, 26 and 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 1. The author of the communication dated 12 December 1988 is S. G., a French citizen born in 1954 and a resident of Rennes, Bretagne. He claims to be a victim of violations by France of articles 2, 19, 25, 26 and 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 4.1 The State party contends that the communication is inadmissible on a number of grounds. As to the requirement of exhaustion of domestic remedies, it notes that the-author failed to appeal the judgment of 4 July 1988 of the Court of Appeal of Rennes to the Court of Cassation. The facts as submitted by the author 2.1 The author is an employee of the French Administration of Postal and Telecommunications (PTT) in Rennes. He was arrested during the night of 7 to 8 August 1987, on. charges of having defaced several road signs in the area. His action, he states, was part of a campaign led by the movement “Stourm ar Brezhoneg” (Fight for the Breton Language), whose aim is the posting of bilingual roadsigns, in Breton and French, throughout the Bretagne. 4.2 As to the alleged violation of article 2 of the Covenant, the State party argues that this provision cannot be violated directly and in isolation. A violation of article 2 can only be admitted to the extent that other rights protected under the Covenant have been violated (paragraph 1) or if necessary steps to give effects to rights protected under the Covenant have not been taken. A violation of article 2 can only be the corollary of another violation of a Covenant right. The State party contends that the author has not based his argumentation on precise facts, and that he cannot demonstrate that he has been a victim of discrimination in his relations with the judicial authorities. 2.2 In December 1987, the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Rennes fined the author 5,000 French francs and sentenced him to four months of imprisonment (suspended). At the same time, he and two co-defendants, Hervé Barzhig1 and G. B.,2 were sentenced to 1 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fortysixth Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/46/40), annex XI, sect. F, communication No. 327/1988, Views adopted on 11 April 1991. 2 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fortyseventh Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/47/40), annex X, sect. G, communication No. 348/1989, decision of 1 November 1991. 9