[1] The first massacre occurred on February 4, 2009, when a FARC guerrilla group entered the village Tortugal.

[2] The incident was denounced by Human Rights Watch and the Governor of the Nariño Department, Antonio Navarro Wolff.

[4] 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.

Although the Awá live in a protected area, this did not prevent armed groups from entering their territory.