Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BOGOTA488
2009-02-18 14:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
UPDATE ON FARC KILLINGS OF INDIGENOUS IN NARINO -
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBO #0488 0491452 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 181452Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7035 INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 8652 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1674 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ FEB 9917 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 7007 RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA PRIORITY 3030 RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE PRIORITY 5326 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 7715 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 4823
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
-------
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
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