ORDER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS OF JUNE 28, 1996 PROVISIONAL MEASURES REQUESTED BY THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE MATTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF GUATEMALA SERECH AND SAQUIC CASE HAVING SEEN: 1. The petition of April 12, 1996 and its annexes, in which the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (hereinafter "the Commission" or "the Inter-American Commission") submitted to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (hereinafter "the Court" or the "Inter-American Court"), pursuant to Article 63(2) of the American Convention on Human Rights (hereinafter "the American Convention") and Article 24 of the Rules of Procedure of the Court (hereinafter "the Rules of Procedure"), a request for provisional measures on behalf of Blanca Margarita Valiente de Similox, Vitalino Similox, Sotero Similox, María Francisca Ventura Sican, Lucio Martínez, Maximiliano Solís, Bartolo Solís, Julio Solís Hernández, María Magdalena Sunún González, Héctor Solís, José Solís, Gregoria Gómez, Juan García, Eliseo Calel and Víctor Tuctuc, in connection with case No. 11.570 now before the Commission against the Government of the Republic of Guatemala (hereinafter "the Government" or "Guatemala"). 2. That the Commission's request was based on the allegation that the persons mentioned above, all members or relatives of members of the Kakchiquel Presbytery of the Conference of Evangelical Churches of Guatemala (CIEDEG) or persons who have played an active role in the investigation of the murders of CIEDEG ministers Pascual Serech and Manuel Saquic-Vásquez in August 1994 and June 1995 respectively, have been the subject of threats, harassment and attacks by a group of members of the civilian patrols and former military officers in the area, who consider this group to hold anti-army sentiments. The Commission considers that the events constitute a prima facie case of urgent and grave danger to these persons' lives and physical integrity. 3. The Order of the President of the Court (hereinafter "the President") of April 24, 1996, in which he decided: 1. To call upon the Government of the Republic of Guatemala to adopt forthwith such measures as may be necessary to protect the lives and physical integrity of Blanca Margarita Valiente de Similox, Vitalino Similox, Sotero Similox, María Francisca Ventura Sican, Lucio Martínez, Maximiliano Solís, Bartolo Solís, Julio Solís Hernández, María Magdalena Sunún González, Héctor Solís, José Solís, Gregoria Gómez, Juan García, Eliseo Calel and Víctor Tuctuc, and to avoid irreparable damage to them, in strict compliance with the obligation to respect and guarantee human rights, which it undertook in accordance with Article 1(1) of the American Convention on Human Rights. 2. To call upon the Government of the Republic of Guatemala to investigate the events and punish those responsible and to use the means at its disposal to execute the