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Travel
warnings
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COLOMBIA |
April 12th,
2003 |
Canadians
should not travel to Colombia until further notice, except for
visits to the major resorts of Cartagena and San Andrés Island.
The "State of Internal Upheaval" (Estado de Conmoción
Interior), initially announced on August 11, 2002, by President
Uribe, has been extended for an additional 90 days. The
extension will take effect on February 7, 2003, when the State
of Internal Upheaval was to have expired. This mechanism is used
when public order, institutional stability, state security, or
public safety is imminently threatened. Curfews can be imposed.
Canadians in Colombia should follow the advice of local
authorities, monitor local news reports, avoid large gatherings
and demonstrations, and remain in contact with the Canadian
Embassy in Bogotá (see below).
The August 7, 2002, presidential inauguration lead to an
increased risk of violence, including bombings, kidnappings, and
assassinations. The armed forces are continuing their offensive
military actions. Insurgent groups are intensifying offensive
actions in rural areas and in some towns. The situation is
tense, unstable, and unpredictable.
Violence against foreigners has occurred in all regions of
Colombia, both urban and rural. The situation is expected to
deteriorate further since illegal groups have stepped up their
attacks against villages. Incidents of car bombings have
increased in Bogotá and in Medellín, and visitors should
exercise additional caution. The risk of kidnapping is very
high; in 2001 and 2002, more than 3,000 people were reported
kidnapped throughout Colombia. Kidnapping for ransom occurs in
all parts of the country, especially rural areas. Two Canadians
were kidnapped on April 19, 2002, while making an emergency
landing with their helicopter in a FARC (Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia) controlled region of Colombia. They were
released on July 30. Mass murders have occurred in national
parks, which are often convenient hideouts for illegal groups.
Avoid all national parks, wildlife refuges, and big-city
outskirts.
There is an increased risk of roadblocks set up by peasant
groups, illegal paramilitaries, and the rebel FARC and ELN
(National Liberation Army). This risk applies throughout rural
Colombia; roads between Bogotá and Medellín and between Bogotá
and Villavicencio are particularly high risk, as is the entire
Magdalena Medio region (near Bucaramanga and Barrancabermeja). A
recent wave of car bombings has occurred in tourist locations in
Cundinamarca and Tolima departments, within 100 km of Bogotá.
The Colombian government has implemented geographical zones of
"rehabilitation and consolidation" in which movement
can be restricted. These zones are now under the direct command
of the armed forces. Prior to entry into a zone of
rehabilitation and consolidation, foreigners, including
Canadians, must inform the appropriate Colombian authority of
their intention to transit through or remain in a zone.
Non-compliance can result in deportation.
Canadians arriving from areas
affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) - such as
Canada (Toronto), Vietnam (Hanoi), Singapore, Taiwan, and the
People's Republic of China including the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region - may be subject to medical screening.
Persons with symptoms of SARS must undergo further medical
examinations and, if necessary, go into quarantine.
For specific information on entry procedures, you should check
with the Embassy of the Republic of Colombia.
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| Canadian
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade |
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COLOMBIA |
February 24th,
2003 |
This
Travel Warning is being issued to alert American citizens to
ongoing security concerns in Colombia. This supersedes the
Travel Warning issued on July 3, 2002.
The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to
Colombia. Terrorist and criminal violence by narcotraffickers,
guerrillas, illegal self-defense (paramilitary) groups and other
criminal elements continues to affect all parts of the country,
urban and rural. Citizens of the United States and other
countries continue to be the victims of threats, kidnappings,
domestic airline hijackings and murders. Threats targeting
official and long-term resident Americans are expected to
continue and possibly increase in response to U.S. support for
Colombian drug eradication programs. Colombian groups have been
known to operate in the border areas of neighboring countries,
creating similar dangers for travelers in those areas. Bombings
have occurred throughout Colombia, including attacks on civilian
targets in urban areas, and some foreign interests have been
among the targets.
About 3,000 kidnapping incidents were reported throughout
Colombia in 2002. There is a greater risk of being kidnapped in
Colombia than in any other country in the world. In the past
three years, 26 Americans were reported kidnapped in various
parts of the country. American kidnap or murder victims have
included journalists, missionaries, scientists, human rights
workers, U.S. government employees and businesspeople, as well
as persons on tourism or family visits, and even small children.
No one can be considered immune on the basis of occupation,
nationality or any other factor. Most kidnappings of U.S.
citizens in Colombia have been committed by guerrilla groups,
including the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and
the National Liberation Army (ELN), which were both initially
designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations by the Secretary
of State in 1997 and re-designated as such in October 2001.
Since it is U.S. policy not to make concessions to, nor to
strike deals with, terrorists, the U.S. Government's ability to
assist kidnapped U.S. citizens is limited. |
| Bureau
of Consular Affairs of the United States of America |
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COLOMBIA |
February
14th, 2003 |
| Urban
terrorism, including in Bogota, has increased. Visitors to
Colombia should be vigilant and take sensible precautions.
Political and criminal violence and kidnapping are serious
problems, and all foreign nationals are potential targets. We
advise against all travel to Choco, Putumayo, Meta and Caqueta
departments and to rural areas of Antioquia, Cauca, Narino, and
Norte de Santander departments. Special restrictions currently
apply to areas in the "Zones of Rehabilitation and
Consolidation" as detailed under Safety and Security below. |
| Foreign
& Commonwealth Office London |
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COLOMBIA |
February
11th, 2003 |
Un
grave attentat à l'explosif ayant été perpétré le 7 février
contre un des principaux clubs d'hommes d'affaires et de
personnalités politiques de Bogota (plus d'une vingtaine de
morts et d'une centaine de blessés) il est déconseillé,
jusqu'à nouvel ordre, de fréquenter les lieux renommés ou à
la mode (clubs, centres commerciaux...) des quartiers résidentiels
de la capitale et des grandes villes du pays.
Depuis le 12 août 2002, le gouvernement colombien a proclamé
l'état d'exception. En ce qui concerne le séjour et la
circulation des étrangers, il convient de retenir que :
- "Les étrangers devront se présenter devant les autorités
colombiennes qui le demanderaient, respecter les règles édictées
au sujet des permis de séjour et accomplir les autres formalités
qui seraient imposées. Ceux qui contreviendraient aux normes établies
ou qui participeraient à un trouble de l'ordre public pourront
être expulsés."
- "Dans les zones de réhabilitation et de consolidation
(zones particulièrement troublées où les forces publiques se
voient conférer des pouvoirs spéciaux) toute personne qui ne
portera pas ses documents d'identité sera retenue afin de vérifier
son identité et de s'assurer qu'elle n'est recherchée ni par
la justice ni par la police. Cette détention ne pourra pas
durer plus de 24 heures.
- "S'ils souhaitent voyager ou séjourner dans les départements
ou zones =concernées=, les étrangers devront au préalable
avoir l'autorisation du gouverneur, plus haute autorité civile
du département."
"En cas d'infraction à ces dispositions, l'étranger
pourra faire l'objet d'une décision d'expulsion du pays."
A ce jour, deux départements sont régis par ces dispositions :
Sucre et Arauca. Le gouvernement se réserve le droit
d'appliquer ces dispositions à d'autres zones du pays si la
situation l'exige. |
| Ministère
Français des Affaires Étrangères |
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