UPDATE ON FARC KILLINGS OF INDIGENOUS IN NARINO -

UNCLAS BOGOTA 000488 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PGOV PHUM PREF SMIG SOCI CO SUBJECT: UPDATE ON FARC KILLINGS OF INDIGENOUS IN NARINO - 8 CONFIRMED DEAD REF: A. BOGOTA 00438 ¶B. BOGOTA 00427 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) The FARC confirmed in a communique on February 17 that a FARC unit executed eight Awa in Narino department after the victims supposedly "confessed" to collaborating with the Colombian military. Other reports say the FARC tortured and killed at least 17 Awa, with ten more missing. A humanitarian mission arrived near the Awa reservation on February 12 and helped more than 350 internally displaced persons (IDPs),but access to the area remains difficult due to security concerns. Senator Piedad Cordoba said the incident was a major obstacle to humanitarian accord talks between the FARC and the GOC. President Uribe condemned the FARC attack as cynical and promised to reinforce anti-terrorism policies. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) Many details of the FARC murder of members of the Awa indigenous tribe in Narino department remain unknown, but the FARC confirmed in a communique that its "Mariscal Antonio Jose de Sucre" column executed eight Awa in a community near Barbacoas, Narino department on February 6 after the victims supposedly "confessed" to accepting money from, and collaborating with, the Colombian military. The statement, dated February 11 and posted on February 17 on a website regularly used by the FARC, stated the eight were targeted independent of their race, religion, ethnicity, and social condition. The statement also denounced the government strategy to involve civilians in the armed conflict through their participation in the GOC's rewards program, voluntary informant networks, and a families in action social program. ¶3. (U) A humanitarian mission, including UN humanitarian organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),the GOC, and human rights groups, arrived on February 12 in the towns of Samaniego and Buenavista near the Awa reservation of Tortugana Telembi (reftel A.). The ICRC reported that the mission has provided assistance to some 350 IDPs, and more were believed to be in route to receptor communities in the area. Access to the area remains difficult due to security concerns, and many roads have been washed-out due to mudslides resulting from recent heavy rains in the region. ¶4. (U) After receiving pressure to respond to the FARC attack, the group Colombians for Peace, which was instrumental in negotiating the recent release of six FARC hostages (reftel B.),called on the FARC to explain what happened in Narino. In a letter signed by Senator Piedad Cordoba and others, the group demanded from the FARC Secretariat a public statement regarding the events. Additionally, Senator Cordoba publicly said that the incident was a major obstacle to any humanitarian accord talks between the FARC and the Government. ¶5. (U) Colombian President Alvaro Uribe condemned the FARC murders as cynical and promised to reinforce anti-terrorism policies. Armed Forces Commander General Freddy Padilla denied that the victims were working with the Colombian army and also denounced the murders. BROWNFIELD