Nariño massacres

Nariño massacres
Nariño shown in red
Location	Nariño Department, Colombia
Date	February 4 and February 11, 2009
Attack type	Massacre
Death(s)	27
Perpetrator(s)	FARC
Defender(s)	Indigenous Awá people

The Nariño massacres (Spanish: Masacres en Nariño) were two massacres of indigenous Awá people in the Colombian Nariño Department. It was perpetrated by members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC guerrilla) in February 2009. In total 27 Awás were massacred, including women and young children.^[1]

First massacre

The first massacre occurred on February 4, 2009 when a FARC guerrilla group entered the village Tortugal. FARC accused the Awás of collaborating with the Armed Forces of Colombia,^[2] this led to the torturing^[3] and killing of 17 indigenous, of which eight were killed with knives, according to a witness who managed to escape.^[2] The incident was denounced by Human Rights Watch and the Governor of the Nariño Department, Antonio Navarro Wolff.^[4]

Second massacre

On February 11, 2009 the second occurred, with the murder of ten indigenous in the Sandé shelter, between Ricaurte and Guachavez,^[5][6] apparently because they failed to provide FARC with information about the Colombian forces operating in the area.^[5] In press releases, FARC stated that they support the indigenous, but not those who conspire against them.^[1] The National Army of Colombia only found one of the bodies. Although the Awá live in a protected area this did not prevent armed groups from entering their territory.^[7]

See also

• Colombian armed conflict (1964–present)
• List of massacres in Colombia

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Kearns, Rick (March 13, 2009). "FARC massacre of indigenous in Columbia, more deaths and displacement". Indian Country Today. http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/global/latin/41204617.html. Retrieved June 21, 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Sigue sin esclarecerse matanza de indígenas" (in Spanish). El Colombiano. February 10, 2009. http://www.elcolombiano.com/BancoConocimiento/S/sigue_sin_esclarecerse_matanza_de_indigenas/sigue_sin_esclarecerse_matanza_de_indigenas.asp?CodSeccion=9. Retrieved June 21, 2010. 
3. ^ "Acnur y Human Rights Watch rechazan masacre de indígenas en Nariño" (in Spanish). Revista Semana. February 10, 2009. http://www.semana.com/noticias-conflicto-armado/acnur-human-rights-watch-rechazan-masacre-indigenas-narino/120616.aspx. Retrieved June 21, 2010. 
4. ^ "Human Rights Watch condenó asesinato de 17 indígenas awa por las Farc [Human Rights Watch condemned the murder of 17 indigenous Awá people by FARC]" (in Spanish). El Tiempo. http://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/justicia/human-rights-watch-condeno-asesinato-de-17-indigenas-awa-por-las-farc_4806293-1. Retrieved June 21, 2010. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "Colombianos por la Paz exige a las Farc que aclaren su responsabilidad en masacres indígenas" (in Spanish). El Espectador. February 11, 2009. http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/judicial/articulo117180-denuncian-otra-masacre-de-indigenas-awa-narino. Retrieved June 21, 2010. 
6. ^ "Aún no encuentran cuerpos de indígenas masacrados" (in Spanish). Revista Semana. February 12, 2009. http://www.semana.com/noticias-conflicto-armado/otros-10-indigenas-mueren-masacre/120665.aspx. Retrieved June 21, 2010. 
7. ^ "Investigar la muerte de indígenas de la comunidad Awa en Nariño a manos de las Farc pidió Acnur" (in Spanish). El Tiempo. http://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/justicia/investigar-la-muerte-de-indigenas-de-la-comunidad-awa-en-narino-a-manos-de-las-farc-pidio-acnur_4803540-1. Retrieved June 21, 2010.