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rabs Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-11-10 02:19 AM
Original message
Travel warning issued today -- Colombia



Colombia
November 10, 2010
The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the dangers of travel to Colombia. While security in Colombia has improved significantly in recent years, violence by narco-terrorist groups continues to affect some rural areas as well as large cities. The potential for violence by terrorists and other criminal elements continues to exist in all parts of the country. This updates and replaces the Travel Warning for Colombia issued on March 5, 2010 to update information on recent security incidents and criminal activity.

------- snip --------

In recent months there has been a marked increase in violent crime in Colombia. Murder rates have risen significantly in some major cities, particularly Medellin and Cali. Kidnapping remains a serious threat. U.S. citizens have been the victims of violent crime, including kidnapping and murder. Firearms are prevalent in Colombia and altercations can often turn violent. Small towns and rural areas of Colombia can still be extremely dangerous due to the presence of narco-terrorists. Common crime also remains a significant problem in many urban and rural areas. For additional details about the general criminal threat, please see the Department of State's Country Specific Information for Colombia.

------- snip ----------

U.S. government officials and their families in Colombia are permitted to travel to major cities in the country, but normally only by air. They may not use inter- or intra-city bus transportation, or travel by road outside urban areas at night. All U.S. citizens in Colombia are urged to follow these precautions.

State Department document:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_941.html

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Recall there were a couple of posters on this forum who were touting how safe Colombia had become under uribito. But now this warning comes while santos has taken over. Have things gotten worse, or is it just the same old same old?







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Judi Lynn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-11-10 04:45 AM
Response to Original message
1. Yep, we've heard time after time how well Uribe really cleaned up Colombia,
how he conquered violence, made it safe for citizens. Doesn't sound so safe when the US is forbidding its citizens in Colombia to travel by bus, or to go outside cities by car at night, does it?

Probably not!

Very clear, direct language. It's dangerous there, as always.

Yeah, Uribe really cleaned up, didn't he? It's also a garden of earthly delights with Santos at the helm. With traveler warnings.

Thanks for the news!
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dipsydoodle Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-11-10 05:40 AM
Response to Original message
2. Here's the UK's Foreign Office travel advice.
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naaman fletcher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-11-10 06:30 AM
Response to Original message
3. It has become much safer
It's a simple fact despite the contortions that people here go through to deny it. Even this travel warning says it has become safer in recent years, although there is a marked up-tick in violence in the last six months or so.

People who deny that Colombia is safer since Uribe are the same as Right Wingers who deny global warming, evolution, etc. i.e. plainly obvious data is ignored for a political agenda.
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Bacchus39 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-11-10 08:11 AM
Response to Reply #3
4. goodness, I'll have to change my travel plans now
not!!!
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