-85groups and, on the other hand, there was a strong military presence in the zone demonstrated, above all, by the establishment of the Military Headquarters, under Decree No. 678 of 1988. 100. In relation to Articles 4, 5 and 7 of the American Convention, the representatives alleged that: (a) Despite the exceptional military control in the region, the paramilitary groups had the full freedom and cooperation of the military authorities to carry out the events in Pueblo Bello. Indeed, there was direct participation in the deprivation of liberty of the 43 alleged victims by members of the “Francisco de Paula Vélez” company, located at the entrance to San Pedro de Urabá; (b) The 43 alleged victims were illegally and arbitrarily deprived of their liberty, tortured and disappeared. Owing to the length of time that has elapsed without their next of kin having received any information about their whereabouts, it must be inferred that the 37 people who continue to be disappeared were executed by the paramilitary group; (c) The six alleged victims whose bodies were found buried on the “Las Tangas” and “Paraguay” ranches were executed by the paramilitary group after they had been cruelly tortured. The State did not take the necessary judicial steps to clarify these facts, once again violating the right to life of the alleged victims; (d) The State has failed to comply with the double obligation to respect and guarantee the right to humane treatment with regard to the alleged victims and their next of kin. The alleged victims who were deprived illegally and arbitrarily of their liberty, were put into trucks and taken away, maintained incommunicado and disappeared by the paramilitary group; they were subjected to humiliation and physical mistreatment, at the time of their retention in front of their families. This group was able to enter Pueblo Bello and carry out their actions owing to the support and collaboration of members of the Army. Therefore, the State is responsible for the physical, mental and moral sufferings of the alleged victims, and also for the failure to investigate that their next of kin experienced, and (d) The alleged victims’ next of kin have suffered profound sadness, anguish, uncertainty and frustration as a result of the illegal and arbitrary detention of the alleged victims, their forced disappearance and the State’s failure to act to sanction all those responsible for the facts and return the victims to their families within a reasonable time. The next of kin of the six alleged victims whose bodies were identified endure anguish from the knowledge that their loved ones were extrajudicially executed and made to suffer. 101. that: Regarding Article 19 of the American Convention, the representatives alleged (a) Four of the alleged victims were minors when they were illegally and arbitrarily detained, treated cruelly and inhumanly, tortured, disappeared, and undoubtedly executed by the paramilitary acting with the acquiescence and collaboration of agents of law enforcement bodies in order to further their own objectives;