Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_941.html
Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520
This information is current as of today, Wed Feb 06 2008 03:08:59 GMT-0800 (PST).
COLOMBIA
February 05, 2008
This Travel Warning updates and reminds American citizens of ongoing security concerns in Colombia. The Department of State continues to warn 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 and cities. The potential for violence by terrorists and other criminal elements exists in all parts of the country. For additional details about the general criminal threat, please see the Department of State’s Country Specific Information for Colombia. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning for Colombia issued June 4, 2007.
Violence has decreased markedly in many urban destinations, including Bogotá, Medellín, Barranquilla, and Cartagena. Cali continues to experience more violence than most other large cities, and the level of violence in Buenaventura remains high. Small towns and rural areas of Colombia can still be extremely dangerous due to the presence of narco-terrorists. Common crime remains a significant problem in many urban and rural areas.
The incidence of kidnapping in Colombia has diminished significantly from its peak at the beginning of this decade. Nevertheless, terrorist groups such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the National Liberation Army (ELN) and other criminal organizations continue to kidnap and hold civilians for ransom or as political bargaining chips. No one is immune from kidnapping on the basis of occupation, nationality, or other factors. The FARC continue to hold three U.S. government contractors, having captured them when their plane crashed in a remote region of the country in February 2003. In January 2008, the FARC kidnapped six Colombian tourists from a beach on the Pacific coast in Chocó Department. Although the U.S. government places the highest priority on the safe recovery of kidnapped Americans, it is U.S. policy not to make concessions to or strike deals with kidnappers. Consequently, the U.S. government’s ability to assist kidnapping victims is limited.
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 cannot use inter- or intra-city bus transportation or travel by road outside of urban areas at night. All Americans in Colombia are urged to follow these precautions.
As the Department develops information on potential security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible threats through its Consular Information Program documents, available on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov. U.S. citizens should consult warden messages for Colombia at http://bogota.usembassy.gov/wwwsc093.shtml, as well as the Department of State’s Country Specific Information Sheet for Colombia and Worldwide Caution Public Announcement at http://travel.state.gov. U.S. travelers can also get up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 in the U.S. or Canada or on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.
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More Details - Update:
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https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=79350
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Warden Message: Suicide Bomb Attack Inside Sri Lanka’s Fort Rail Station
CONSULAR AFFAIRS BULLETINS
South / Central Asia - Sri Lanka
5 Feb 2008
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RELATED REPORTS
3 Feb 2008
WARDEN MESSAGE: CAUTION FOLLOWING COLOMBO ATTACKS
31 Jan 2008
WARDEN MESSAGE: SRI LANKA LOCAL ELECTION SECURITY ALERT
12 Jan 2008
WARDEN MESSAGE: SRI LANKA SMALL EXPLOSION
9 Jan 2008
WARDEN MESSAGE: COLOMBO TERRORIST ATTACK
3 Jan 2008
WARDEN MESSAGE: COLOMBO TERRORIST ATTACK
U.S. Embassy Colombo issued the following Warden Message on February 5:
On February 3, 11 civilians were killed and approximately 100 were injured when a suicide attacker detonated an explosive device inside the Fort Railway Station. On February 2, a bomb on a bus from Kandy, headed for Anaradhapura, exploded at Dambulla and killed 18 civilians and injured over 50. In January 2007, two bombs on public buses outside Colombo killed more than twenty people and injured dozens more, and an explosive device was detonated in the Fort Railway Station, causing no injuries.
In light of such attacks against civilian targets traveling in buses and trains, American citizens are strongly advised against traveling by bus or train in Sri Lanka. The U.S. Embassy is prohibiting official Americans from using these modes of transportation.
In the current security situation, the Embassy again cautions American citizens to defer non-essential visits to crowded public places and high-profile public venues.
The Embassy reminds American citizens to continue to be aware of their surroundings and vigilant about their personal security. As always, Americans are advised to be on alert when visiting government facilities and high-profile public venues. Americans should also continue to avoid military installations, military convoys traveling on the roads and, where possible, government buildings, as they have in the past been targets for LTTE violence. There are likely to be traffic disruptions as Sri Lankan security forces increase their security checks. Americans are again reminded to cooperate fully with Sri Lankan security forces as they implement increased security measures.
For additional information, please refer to “A Safe Trip Abroad” found at http://travel.state.gov. Americans living or traveling in Sri Lanka are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy through the State Department’s travel registration website. The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Colombo is located at 210 Galle Road. The telephone number is 011 94 11 249-8500. The number for after-hours emergencies is 011 94 11 249-8888. The fax number is 011 94 11 249-8501. The Consulate’s e-mail address is consularcolombo@state.gov and its Internet web page is http://usembassy.state.gov/srilanka. U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of State’s latest Country Specific Information for Sri Lanka and the Worldwide Caution, both available at http://travel.state.gov. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).