II. PROCESSING BY THE COMMISSION 5. On May 10, 1995, the Commission began the initial processing of the petition, which became number 11.482, all in accordance with the provisions of the Rules of Procedure in effect until April 30, 2001. It forwarded the pertinent parts of the complaint to the Colombian State, specifying that it had 90 days in which to submit information. 6. The State submitted its response on August 9, 1995. The pertinent parts of that response were forwarded to the petitioners for their observations. The petitioners supplied additional information on September 25, 1995, which was forwarded to the State. The latter’s observations were presented on December 22, 1995, and forwarded to the petitioners. The petitioners supplied more information on March 19, 1996, which was sent to the State. On May 15, 1996, the State requested an extension, which the Commission promptly granted. On July 31, 1996, the State requested yet another extension, which the Commission also granted. On September 26, 1996, the State submitted its observations, which were forwarded to the petitioners. 7. On March 3, 1997, the State presented more information, which was sent to the petitioners. On March 20, 1997, the Commission again asked the petitioners to furnish more information. The petitioners submitted additional information on April 24, 1997, which was sent to the State. The latter requested an extension on July 22, 1997, which the Commission duly granted. On January 12, 1998, the State submitted additional information, which was forwarded to the petitioners. On May 22, 1998, the petitioners submitted more information, which was sent to the State. The State presented its observations on September 10, 1998, which were forwarded to the petitioners. On October 6, 1998, during its 100th regular session, the Commission held a hearing on this case, with both parties in attendance. 8. On March 2, 1999, during its 102nd regular session, the Commission held a second hearing on this matter, with both parties participating. In the course of the hearing, the petitioners presented additional information, which was forwarded to the State in writing. On March 27, 2000, the petitioners notified the IACHR that the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL) would join the case as copetitioner. On July 27, 2001, the Commission wrote the petitioners to request additional information from them. III. THE PARTIES’ POSITIONS