4 NOW, THEREFORE: THE INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS, in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 63(2) of the American Convention on Human Rights and Articles 25(1) and 25(2) of its Rules of Procedure, DECIDES: 1. To ratify the Order of the President of the Inter-American Court of December 22, 1997. 2. To call upon the State of Colombia to maintain the measures necessary to protect the life and personal integrity of José Daniel Alvarez, Nidia Linores Ascanio, Gladys López, Yanette Bautista, María Helena Saldarriaga, Piedad Martín, María Eugenia López, Adriana Diosa, Astrid Manrique, Faride Ascanio, Carmen Barrera, Evidalia Chacón, José Publio Bautista, Nelly María Ascanio, Ayda Mile Ascanio, Miriam Rosas Ascanio, Javier Álvarez, María Eugenia Cárdenas and her family, to avoid irreparable damage. Upon the expiration of the time period established in the Order of November 11, 1997, the Court will evaluate the situation of the protected persons. 3. To call upon the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights , within fifteen days as of notification of the present order, to present to the Court a list of the names of the family members of Ms. María Eugenia Cárdenas on whose behalf the State of Colombia is to adopt measures of protection in virtue of that required in Resolutory Point 2 of the present order. This list should be transmitted forthwith to the State of Colombia. 4. To call upon the State of Colombia to adopt the measures necessary to protect the life and personal integrity of Mr. Erik Antonio Arellano Bautista, as soon as he returns to his country. 5. To call upon the State of Colombia to investigate the denounced acts and to punish those responsible. 6. To call upon the State of Colombia to maintain the necessary measures to ensure that all of the offices of the Association of Relatives of Detainees-Disappeared Persons of Colombia (ASFADDES) may complete their normal functions without danger to the life or personal integrity of the personnel who work their, in particular the offices of the Association in the cities of Medellín and Ocaña. 7. To call upon the State of Colombia to continue to inform, every two months, on the measures it has taken in compliance with the present order. 9. To call upon the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to submit to the Court its observations to the State’s reports, within six weeks as of their receipt. Hernán Salgado Pesantes President Antônio A. Cançado Trindade (s) Gómez Máximo Pacheco