Calls for an investigation into the killing of Indigenous People in Colombia
16 February 2009

The Colombian authorities are being urged to initiate an investigation into the killing of 27 Indigenous Awá People in the department of Nariño this month.The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla group killed 10 Awá on Wednesday, according to the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC).
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FARC is also reported to have been responsible for the death of 17 Awá on 4 February. There are also reports that an unknown number of Awá have been abducted.In a public statement on Friday, Amnesty International called for an immediate and thorough investigation into the killings and for those responsible to be brought to justice.
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"If verified, these killings represent yet another tragic example of the numerous serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights abuses committed against Indigenous communities by all the parties to Colombia's long-running armed conflict, including guerrilla groups, paramilitaries and the security forces. The deliberate killing of civilians is a war crime," said Marcelo Pollack, Amnesty International’s Colombia Researcher.
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Amnesty International called on the Colombian authorities to guarantee the safety of the humanitarian commission which is seeking to travel to the area to verify the facts. The organization also called on the guerrilla groups to prohibit the deliberate killing of civilians and to free all Awá and other civilians they hold captive.

http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGNAU200902169441&lang=e&rss=recentnews

This is yet another instance the FARC are reeking havoc in Colombia. They are killing and abducting innocent civilians for no apparent reason. The problems with the FARC in Colombia have gone on for way too long and they need to be stopped for their recklessness. Though the Colombian government is an active force against the FARC they are still a powerful entity that needs to be stopped.