Since the beginning of August 2008 eleven members of the indigenous movements have been assassinated in Colombia, following threats made by paramilitary right-wing groups. Many others are reported to have been injured by the police and the military when a demonstration of ten thousand indigenous marchers was attacked on October 14.

It is also reported that forces under control of the state might have been involved in the extra judicial killings and that no effective action has been taken by the Colombian authorities to protect the indigenous leaders and to bring the perpetrators of these extra judicial killings to justice.