30 bed in the back room. On November 10, 1994, a relative of the witness who was going to marry an Ocaña policeman, sent to tell them they should leave because they would be killed that night. The same night they went to Cúcuta with only their clothes. The witness and his family lived in Cúcuta until 2001; during that time, they moved house every six months to avoid being in one place for too long. In 2002, there was a strong “paramilitary presence” in the sector. Also, a teacher and a nongovernmental organization advised the witness’s mother that they should leave, because there was a rumor that there were plans to kill her and the family was in danger; so they moved from Cúcuta para Bogotá. When they were in Bogotá, the non-governmental organization, MINGA, decided it would be better for the witness and his family to seek asylum in Canada. They requested asylum and the witness and his family left for Canada on August 28, 2003. Exile in Canada has been difficult for the witness; it has been like “being born again;” he has had to begin again, learn another language, adapt to other customs and to the cold. The witness believes that, if his father had not disappeared, his life and that of his family would have been totally different. His mother would not have worked for ASFADDES or for the Human Rights Committee; they would not have needed to search for his father, and they would have led a normal life. The witness considers that the best reparation would be to recover the remains of his father, in order to place them in an appropriate place, and to know what happened to him. All the senior members of the Army who were involved in the facts were absolved; and the witness and his family have found this situation very difficult to comprehend, because they feel anger, helplessness and frustration. The witness appeared before the Court to testify, because he hopes that justice will be done through the Court’s judgment. e. Statement of Wilmar Rodríguez Quintero, brother of the alleged victim, Gerson Javier Rodríguez Quintero The witness was 11 years of age when his elder brother, Gerson, disappeared. They had a good, close relationship. The alleged victim paid for the witness’s schooling and helped him. Gerson Javier was 23 years of age at the time of his “disappearance.” He was a very understanding son, particularly with the witness and his parents. The journey during which the alleged victim disappeared was his first trip, because previously he worked as a driver in a service station. Gerson was driving a blue Ford van, in which he transported electrical household appliances and alcoholic beverages. Before Gerson Javier left, the witness was very sad and had a premonition, but Gerson told him not to worry, that all would be well. The witness’s nephew, who was raised in his house from the age of three moths, recalls when Gerson said goodbye and told him he would bring him some shoes. Gerson’s disappearance affected the whole family. The witness’s mother struggled to find out the truth, and “went on a journey” to do this. No one knew if Gerson was