Inter-American Court of Human Rights Case of the Ituango Massacres v. Colombia Judgment of July 1, 2006 (Preliminary Objections, Merits, Reparations and Costs) In the case of the Ituango Massacres, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (hereinafter “the Court” or “the InterAmerican Court”), composed of the following judges**: Sergio García Ramírez, President Alirio Abreu Burelli, Vice President Antônio A. Cançado Trindade, Judge Cecilia Medina Quiroga, Judge Manuel E. Ventura Robles, Judge, and Diego García-Sayán, Judge; also present, Pablo Saavedra Alessandri, Secretary, and Emilia Segares Rodríguez, Deputy Secretary pursuant to Articles 62(3) and 63(1) of the American Convention on Human Rights (hereinafter “the Convention” or “the American Convention”) and Articles 29, 31, 37(6), 53(2), 55, 56 and 58 of the Rules of Procedure of the Court (hereinafter “the Rules of Procedure”), delivers this judgment. I INTRODUCTION OF THE CASE 1. On July 30, 2004, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 50 and 61 of the American Convention, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (hereinafter “the Commission” or “the Inter-American Commission”) lodged before the Court an application against the State of Colombia (hereinafter “the State” or “Colombia”), which originated from petitions No. 12,050 (La Granja) and 12,266 (El Aro), with regard to the Municipality of Ituango, received by the Secretariat of the ** Judge Oliver Jackman and Judge ad hoc Jaime Enrique Granados Peña (infra paras. 53 and 54) informed the Court that, for reasons beyond their control, they would be unable to take part in the deliberation of this judgment.