Papers - Conference 2009 - Institute of Latin American Studies

the obligation to respect all rights 8 , in support of the survived victims of themassacre who were forced to migrate inside the country.The Inter-American Court of Human Rights condemned the Colombian state, interms of international responsibility, to take positive actions to permit the familyof the victims to return to Mapiripán, if required. In proceedings before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the government of Colombia admitted thatmembers of its military forces played a role in the massacre, by allegedly orderinglocal troops under its command to stay away from the area where the murderswere taking place until the paramilitary completed its mission and left. (CCAJAR,2007, 39).6. Fears of Colombian displaced persons6a. Fear of becoming a visible displaced person: the challenge of theregistrationOnce displacement has occurred, the uprooted often lack the basic necessities(food, shelter, education and medical care), which the Colombian Governmentmust make every effort to provide. According to Law 387 of 1997, persons whoare registered as "displaced" are entitled to three months of emergencyhumanitarian assistance, extendible to an additional three months on request.However, the process of registration is extremely cumbersome and restrictive.Many displaced people are afraid to apply for fear of being targeted or having toprovide witnesses which may put themselves, their friends or families in jeopardy.Moreover, many do not have the needed personal identity documents, and toobtain them would require returning to their areas of origin—areas from whichthey fled for fear of their lives.8article 1.112