-5- 7. The standard of assessment prima facie in a matter, together with the application of presumptions in order to respond to the needs for protection, have led this Court to order measures on different occasions. 5 Even though, when ordering provisional measures this Court has, in some cases, found it essential to individualize the persons who run the risk of suffering irreparable damage in order to grant them measures of protection, 6 on other occasions the Court has ordered the protection of a group of individuals who have not been previously named, but who can be identified and determined and who are in a situation of grave danger owing to their membership of a group or community. 7 8. The Court recalls that, in order to determine whether the situation of extreme gravity and urgency of avoiding irreparable damage exists, it may assess the series of political, historical, cultural or any other type of factors that affect the beneficiaries or place them in a situation of vulnerability at a determined moment, exposing them to the violation of their rights. This situation may increase or decrease over time, depending on numerous variables. 8 A. Request for provisional measures with regard to the Saramaka leaders and their representatives 9. This request was presented by the organization representing the victims in this case in favor of the leaders of the Saramaka People and of their representatives. 10. In the said request, the representatives referred to meetings held between the Saramaka leaders and State authorities, both in government facilities and on Saramaka territory, during which public officials and a Saramaka leader, who is also a public official, required the said leaders to revoke their legal representation before the Inter-American Court. If they did not comply with this request, the State would terminate the salary payments to the leaders, and there would be “personal repercussions,” without these consequences being specified. In addition, the Saramaka leaders indicated in the affidavits provided to the Court that they feared for their personal safety as a result of these threats. 11. For its part, the State indicated its consternation as regards the representatives’ communication concerning threats against Saramaka leaders, as well as the information provided during the private hearing in this regard. “[T]he State denie[d] emphatically that it had given instructions to persons or authorities to intimidate and/or put pressure on [Gaama] Aboikoni and Head Captain […] Wanze, having as a goal to withdraw the power of attorney given to the Association of Saramaka Authorities.” Lastly, the State indicated that the Saramaka leaders who alleged that they have been intimidated or coerced never notified the Surinamese judicial authorities about this. 12. Meanwhile, during the private hearing on monitoring compliance with judgment, the Commission expressed its concern owing to the allegations of pressure placed on the Saramaka 5 Cf. Case of Caballero Delgado and Santana. Request for provisional measures with regard to Colombia. Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of December 7, 1994, third considering paragraph, and Case of Ávila Moreno et al. (Case of Operation Genesis), supra, eighth considering paragraph. 6 Cf. Case of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian Origin in the Dominican Republic. Request for provisional measures with regard to the Dominican Republic. Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of August 18, 2000, eighth considering paragraph, and Case of Ávila Moreno et al. (Case of Operation Genesis), supra, eighth considering paragraph. 7 Cf., inter alia, Matter of the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó. Provisional measures with regard to Colombia. Order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of November 24, 2000, seventh considering paragraph, and Case of Ávila Moreno et al. (Case of Operation Genesis), supra, eighth considering paragraph. 8 Cf. Case of Carpio Nicolle, supra, twenty-sixth considering paragraph, and Case of Ávila Moreno et al. (Case of Operation Genesis), supra, ninth considering paragraph.