Bogota  - Colombia's indigenous people are set to ward off a potentially catastrophic volcano eruption by establishing a "spiritual connection" with the volcano, a news report said.

A group of 20 wise men will prevent the Cerro Machin volcano, located in the central Andean state Tolima, from erupting by "establishing a spiritual connection," Feliciano Valencia, one of their leaders, was quoted as saying by the Colombian El Pais newspaper on Wednesday.

"The volcano is a spirit who awakened because the environment is out of balance," Valencia added.

Unusual tremors inside the volcano, which had been active last 800 years ago, have been detected since Sunday. Hundreds of people living close to the volcano have been evacuated.

At the same time, about 5,000 members of the indigenous Paez, Guambiana and Embera-Chami peoples are marching from their homes in the south-west of the country to the capital to urge the government to respect indigenous rights.

President Alvaro Uribe urged the protestors to abandon their march, as their route leads them close to the volcano. (dpa)