AWA INDIGENOUS SEARCH FOR MEMBERS SLAIN BY FARC; 8

UNCLAS BOGOTA 001126

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM SMIG SNAR SOCI CO
SUBJECT: AWA INDIGENOUS SEARCH FOR MEMBERS SLAIN BY FARC; 8
BODIES FOUND

REF: BOGOTA 00488 AND PREVIOUS

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SUMMARY
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1. (U) An indigenous humanitarian mission of 600 returned to
the Awa community in Narino department where the FARC killed
at least eight Awa members in February. Search parties found
eight bodies in the area. The mission was greatly
complicated by security concerns, which also prevented any
international humanitarian organizations from participating.
The indigenous rights advocacy group ONIC, which organized
the mission, also used the opportunity to reiterate its
position that all armed groups should refrain from entering
indigenous territories. Approximately 1000 Awa who remain in
the area have been confined to their homes as a result of
threats from the FARC. END SUMMARY.

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Awa Humanitarian Mission Locates 8 Bodies
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2. (U) An indigenous humanitarian mission ("Minga") of more
than 600 from the Awa indigenous tribe set out on March 23 to
search for the remains of Awa members whom the FARC killed
earlier this year in a remote area of Barbacoas, Narino
department. The FARC admitted murdering eight Awa for
allegedly collaborating with the Colombian military. Awa
leaders said 17 members of the community were missing.
Search teams located eight bodies near Tortugana Telembi, the
Awa community where the attacks took place on February 4. Of
the eight, five bodies are believed to be from the February 4
attacks, and the other three are thought to be from a
separate FARC attack on a nearby Awa community last
September. Vanessa May, a coordinator at the UN Office for
Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA),told us the
approximately 1000 Awa who remain in the area have been
confined to their homes for more than a month as a result of
ongoing threats from the FARC. The search mission ended on
April 2.

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Security Concerns Greatly Complicate Mission
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3. (U) The indigenous "Minga," which was organized by the
National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC),was
delayed several times due to security concerns. Access to
the remote Awa community is difficult due to extensive
illegal coca cultivation, widespread use of landmines, and
the heavy presence of various illegal armed groups. Interior
Minister Fabio Valencia offered to provide a security escort
to the mission, but the Awa refused, relying instead on their
own "indigenous guards." Several human rights groups and a
delegation from the Ombudsman's Office (Defensoria)
accompanied the group. The International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC) did not join the mission for security
reasons. International and national humanitarian
organizations still have not been able to access the area to
provide assistance.


4. (U) The "Minga's" purpose was three-fold: 1) to accompany
families of victims to the area and to offer protection to
the Awa community that did not leave after the attacks, 2) to
locate the victims' bodies and determine what transpired, and
3) to reaffirm ONIC's political position that indigenous
tribes are neutral in the conflict and that all armed groups
should refrain from entering their territories. ONIC also
called on the Prosecutor General's Office to investigate the
crimes, and asked the UN Inter-Agency Standing Committee
(IASC) to help support the mission and coordinate
international community assistance.

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FARC Threats Keep 500 Displaced and 1000 Confined to Homes
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5. (U) Immediately following the February 4 FARC attack on
the community, more than 500 Awa fled the area to surrounding
towns and villages. The GOC, along with international

humanitarian organizations, provided relief to the internally
displaced Awa. After meeting with 300 displaced in the
village of El Diviso of February 18, United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Deputy Commissioner Craig
Johnstone commended the Government's efficient coordination
of shelter and food assistance saying "it should be a model
for all cases of forced displacement."


6. (U) ONIC President Luis Andrade said that of the 35,000
Awa living in Narino department, 60 percent have been
displaced as a result of the armed conflict. In addition,
Andrade said armed groups have killed 1240 indigenous over
the last six years, with some 50,000 displaced.
BROWNFIELD