OAS Condemns FARC Assassination of AWA Indians and Demands Return of Bodies

Media-Newswire.com
Released February 26, 2009

THE OAS UNANIMOUSLY CONDEMNS THE ASSASSINATION BY THE FARC OF THE INDIGENOUS GROUP AWÁ AND DEMANDS THE HANDING OVER OF THE BODIES

The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States ( OAS ) passed with unanimity a Declaration in which it expressed its "most energetic condemnation of the assassination of Colombians from the indigenous group AWA by the FARC ( Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia ), which occurred at the beginning of this month.

The document emphasizes, "the need to hand over the bodies of the AWA indigenous people that have not yet been recuperated" and demands an investigation and adoption of the necessary actions to "sanction those responsible of this crime."

Simultaneously, the Permanent Council offered "its solidarity and most sincere condolences to the families of the victims, the indigenous community AWA, the citizens, and the Colombian government for this atrocious crime."

The Declaration was submitted for consideration to the Council by the OAS permanent representative of Colombia, Ambassador Camilo Ospina, and after the document’s approval, the diplomat thanked the "firmness in which the hemisphere condemns barbarian acts, such as the massacre on the AWA people. The world must know that such serious events cannot occur without the firm condemnation of all the OAS States," he said.

It must be recalled that in a press release delivered last February 18th, OAS Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza, expressed his most energetic repulse and condemnation for the assassination of the indigenous group AWA that took place in the locality of Barbacoas, in the Colombian department of Nariño.
__________________________________________________________
(c) Media-Newswire.com 2009

Native Rights News is making this material from Media-Newswire.com available in accordance with the Fair Use Doctrine codified at Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107: This article is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information. Distribution of this material is for research and educational purposes that will promote social and economic justice and benefit society.