26 It is important for those responsible to be punished and to pay for what they did. The State is responsible for what happened in Mapiripán. m) Luis Guillermo Pérez, human rights attorney He became the lawyer for the civil party in the criminal proceeding on the Mapiripán Massacre, assigned to the Human Rights Unit of the Office of the Attorney General. In this regard, he filed complaints regarding irregularities in connection with the links between the paramilitary and the army, as well as regarding impunity in military criminal justice. He also filed complaints due to which he had to testify before the Public Prosecutor’s Office, as the person possibly responsible for the alleged threats suffered by members of the army who were imprisoned due to the facts. Furthermore, the constitutional remedy that he filed made the proceeding go back to regular criminal justice. On the other hand, he began to be persecuted. There were rumors that there was already an order to murder him, and his work as a human rights advocate was infiltrated. When he received information that preparations for his murder were already underway, he left Colombia, where he has only returned for a few days, but he has had to establish permanent residence abroad. n) Expert opinion of Ana Deutsch, a psychologist The expert witness stated that the next of kin of the alleged victims have suffered pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages as a direct consequence of the disappearance and execution of the victims, of lack of support by State authorities to immediately search for the missing persons, due to their fear of beginning or continuing the search for their next of kin, since they suffered threats or attacks, and because of the threats and attacks against those who continued searching for the alleged victims. All the above has affected the physical and psychological health of said next of kin, and has affected their social and work relations, has altered their family dynamics, and in some cases has endangered the lives and the right to humane treatment of some of their members. ñ) Expert opinion of Robin Kirk, a human rights professional The expert witness stated that in Colombia there are relations between the armed forces and the paramilitary groups, and these relations continue to date. Between 1997 and 1999 the State conducted an investigation that showed how army officers worked with the paramilitary, shared intelligence, planned and carried out joint operations, supplied weapons and munitions, as well as helicopter support and medical assistance. Kirk stated that the paramilitary have established a clear pattern of operation: they spread rumors of an imminent attack, paint graffiti and distribute written threats. Then, heavily armed men arrive at the place and take people out of their houses to murder them. The security forces rarely intervene even if they are previously warned of the attacks. This pattern was followed in Mapiripán in 1997.