VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #0438 0422053
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 112053Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6984
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 8640
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1639
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ FEB 9910
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 6981
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA PRIORITY 2997
RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE PRIORITY 5308
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 7689
RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 4822

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