Indigenous Awa massacre

12 members of the Awa indigenous tribe have been massacred by armed men in an indian reservation in Nariño, southwest Colombia. 4 of them were children. This is the third attack against indigenous Awa in Colombia in 2009. About 1,500 members of the Awa live on the reservation. Of the 77 indigenous killed this year, 38 were Awa.

Although the Colombian government were quick in accusing the Farc rebels, these attacks come after death threats were made against the Awa Indigenous Organization by members of the Army and the paramilitaries.

Indigenous people in Colombia often find themselves on the front line, with guerrillas, government forces and paramilitaries contesting control over areas with coca plantations or rich in natural resources.