ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS OF MAY 12, 1998 URGENT MEASURES ADOPTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS ÁLVAREZ ET AL. CASE HAVING SEEN: 1. The order of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (hereinafter “the Court”) of November 11, 1997, in which it decided […] 2. To require the State of Colombia to maintain the necessary measures for a period of six months from the date of this order, so as to protect the lives and physical integrity of José Daniel Álvarez, 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 and Javier Álvarez and to avoid irreparable damage to them. Once the term has expired, the Court shall assess the situation of the protected persons. 3. To require that the State of Colombia adopt such measures as may be necessary to protect the life and physical integrity of Erik Antonio Arellano Bautista as soon as he returns to his territory. 4. To require that the State of Colombia investigate the events denounced and punish those responsible for them, especially with regard to the attack of June 24, 1997, on the offices of the Association of Relatives of Detained and Disappeared Persons of Colombia (ASFADDES), in Medellín. 5. To require that the State of Colombia maintain the measures necessary to ensure that all the offices of the Association of Relatives of Detained and Disappeared Persons of Colombia (ASFADDES) can discharge their functions without danger to the lives or physical integrity of the persons working there, especially in the Association’s offices in Medellín and Ocaña. 2. The order of the Court of January 21, 1998, in which it ratified the order of the President of December 22, 1997, calling upon the State of Colombia (hereinafter “the State”) to expand the measures in this case in order to ensure the right to life and physical integrity of María Eugenia Cardenas and her next of kin and investigate and punish those responsible for the facts denounced by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (hereinafter “the Commission”) in its brief of December 17, 1997. 3. The Court’s work agenda, in which it decided to hold its XL Regular Session from June 8 to 19, 1998. 4. The fourth report of the State on the measures adopted in this case and additional information, received by the Secretariat of the Court on March 23 and April 16, 1998, respectively, and the observations that the Commission made on this report on April 27 that year.