DECISION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS OF OCTOBER 9, 2000 PROVISIONAL MEASURES REQUESTED BY THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE MATTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA PEACE COMMUNITY OF SAN JOSÉ DE APARTADÓ CASE HAVING SEEN: 1. The brief of the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (hereinafter “the Commission” or “the Inter-American Commission”) of October 3, 2000, which submitted to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (hereinafter “the Court” or “the Inter-American Court), in keeping with Article 63(2) of the American Convention on Human Rights (hereinafter “the Convention” or “the American Convention”), and Article 25 of the Rules of Procedure of the Court, a request of provisional measures on behalf of the inhabitants of the Community of Paz de San José de Apartadó, Department of Antioquia, Republic of Colombia, to protect their lives and personal integrity, regarding case No. 12.325, which is currently in process before the Commission. 2. That, in said brief, the Commission stated that the residents of said community “have been the object of serious acts of violence and harassment by paramilitary groups in the area,” of which the members of the Colombian Army would also be liable. Specifically, the Commission notified the Court that it has been informed of the “murder of 47 member(s) [of the community] within a nine-month period.” Due to the seriousness of the situation, some of the facts that the Commission detailed in its request of provisional measures are presented as follows: th 2.1 On December 29, 1997, at about fifteen hours, members of the 17 Brigade of the National Army detained Antonio Tuberquia, Blanca Libia Guzmán, and Heriberto Usuga when, accompanied by other people, they were going to pick cocoa. They were separated from their peers; were hit while stepping on them; they put wet rags on their faces and accused them of being guerillas. 2.2 On February 6, 1998, at about 10:20 hours, when traveling between San José de Apartadó and La Unión trail, Joaquín Graciano, age 55, Jesús Emilio Tuberquia, age 35, Arnulfo Tuburquia, age 14, and Ovidio Tuberquia, age 16, were detained by members of the 17th Brigade of the National Army and members of the Autodefensas Campesinas de Córdoba y Urabá (hereinafter ACCU”) who undressed them and made them lie on the ground.