# Colombian indigenous guards dispute government registry > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/colombian-indigenous-guards-dispute-government-registry > Updated: 2026-10-23T16:50:19.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. Indigenous groups in Colombia are resisting a proposal by the Ministry of the Interior to establish an information system for Indigenous Guards. The Awá Indigenous People's Unit (UNIPA) rejected the decree, arguing that collecting personal data on guard members could undermine their autonomy and increase the risk of persecution and violence for those protecting their territories. In the Cauca region, hundreds of guards gathered to debate the initiative. The Regional Indigenous Council of Cauca (CRIC) warned that the system, which aims to collect identities and intervention locations, could serve as a mechanism for “surveillance, stigmatization, and judicialization.” These groups, which operate without firearms to defend ancestral lands against guerrillas and drug traffickers, emphasize their critical role in locating kidnapped individuals and preventing illegal deforestation in areas with minimal state presence. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-23: Colombian indigenous guards oppose government surveillance plan Indigenous guards in Colombia's Cauca region are resisting a government plan to collect data on their members, fearing it will lead to state surveillance and loss of autonomy. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombian-indigenous-guards-oppose-government-surveillance-plan ### 2026-10-05: Awá Indigenous People reject Colombian government proposal for guard registry The Awá Indigenous People have rejected a Colombian government proposal to register Indigenous Guards, citing risks to autonomy and security, amid presidential efforts to engage with ethnic communities. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/aw-indigenous-people-reject-colombian-government-proposal-for-guard-registry --- Cite as: Colombian indigenous guards dispute government registry. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/colombian-indigenous-guards-dispute-government-registry