FARC MASSACRES 17 INDIGENOUS IN NARINO - HIGH RISK

UNCLAS BOGOTA 000438

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV PHUM PREF SMIG SOCI CO
SUBJECT: FARC MASSACRES 17 INDIGENOUS IN NARINO - HIGH RISK
OF MASS DISPLACEMENT

REF: 08 BOGOTA 004231

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SUMMARY
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1. (SBU) The FARC killed at least 17 members of the Awa
indigenous tribe, including three minors, on February 4 in
the southwestern department of Narino. Details remain
unconfirmed, but the local UNHCR Representative told us an
eye-witness reported that the FARC tortured and stabbed the
victims for allegedly collaborating with the Colombian
military. The local government is working with security
forces to send mission to the area, but access to the remote
community is difficult and security remains a concern. At
least 20 families have fled the area and the risk of
additional displacement remains high. Human Rights Watch and
UNHCR called on the Government of Colombia to take immediate
action to help the victims and the displaced, as well as to
investigate the incident. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) The FARC killed at least 17 members of the Awa
indigenous tribe, including three minors, on February 4 in a
remote area along the Telembi River in Barbacoas municipality
in the southwestern department of Narino. According to media
reports, nine of the victims were from the same family.
Details remain unconfirmed, but Jean-Noel Wetterwald, the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Representative, told us an eye-witness reported that the FARC
tortured and stabbed the victims after the Colombian military
(Colmil) entered the area and asked the Awa about the
location of the FARC. Many questions remain, including the
location of the bodies and exactly how many were killed.


3. (SBU) Narino Governor Navarro Wolff told us that the FARC
killed 10 Colombian soldiers in the same area in October
2008, and that the current military follow-up led the FARC to
retaliate against the Awa for allegedly cooperating with the
Colmil. He said local authorities were working with the
Colombian National Police and military to put a mission
together, but that everything depended on security. The zone
is very remote. Deploying personnel and gathering
information is difficult due to a large number of
anti-personal mines and the presence of multiple illegal
armed groups in the area (reftel). The departmental
Ombudsman's Office canceled a humanitarian mission to the
area on February 3 also for security reasons.


4. (U) According to UNHCR, at least 20 families have fled the
Awa community heading toward the municipal head in Barbacoas
-- about a two-day walk. Wetterwald, who returned from
Narino on February 3, said there was a high risk of
additional displacement. Clashes between the FARC and ELN in
the same area displaced nearly 300 persons in June 2008.


5. (SBU) Human Rights Watch and UNHCR called on the
Government of Colombia to take immediate action to help the
victims and the displaced, and to investigate the incident.
Wetterwald said the FARC killing of the 17 Awa was a gross
violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). He added
that if the Colombian army used the civil population to
gather intelligence on the FARC, that could be a violation as
well.violation as well.
BROWNFIELD