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] These accusations led to the torture[3] and killing of seventeen Awás, eight of whom 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
The second massacre occurred a week later on February 11, when ten Awá were murdered 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]