5 Court. On that same day the Secretariat, under instructions by the Full Court, informed the State that it did not deem it “necessary to hear a new statement by Oscar Centurión, for which reason it […] reject[ed] the State’s request, deeming it untimely and unnecessary in the instant case.” 19. On March 1, 2005 the Organización Nacional Indígena de Colombia (ONIC) filed an amicus curiae brief in the instant case. 20. On March 2, 2005 the State filed the affidavit of witness Teresa Vargas and explained the reasons why said testimony had not been submitted to the Court before the deadline. That same day the Secretariat, under instructions by the President, asked the Commission and the representatives to submit their comments on the statement by Teresa Vargas. In said note, the Secretariat pointed out that “the Court will assess the admissibility of said statement at the appropriate time.” 21. On March 4 and 5, 2005, at the public hearing on the merits, reparations, and costs, the Court heard the statements of the witnesses and the expert opinions offered by the parties. The Court also heard the final oral pleadings of the Commission, of the representatives, and of the State. During said hearing, expert witness Bartomeu Meliá i Lliteres and the State submitted various documents. There appeared before the Court: on behalf of the Inter-American Commission: Isabel Madariaga, advisor; Víctor H. Madrigal Borloz, advisor; Lilly Ching, advisor, and Juan Pablo Albán, advisor. on behalf of the representatives: Andrés Dejesús Ramírez, representative; Oscar Ayala Amarilla, representative; Viviana Krsticevic, representative; Tatiana Rincón, representative, and Liliana Tojo, representative. on behalf of the State: Oscar Martínez Pérez, Agent; Edgar Taboada, advisor; Felipe Mendoza, advisor, and Julio Duarte Van Humbeck, advisor. witnesses offered by the Commission and by the representatives: Esteban López, Tomás Galeano, Inocencia Gómez, Stephen William Kidd, and Rodrigo Villagra Carron.