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UNCLAS STATE 085112 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC CO
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING - COLOMBIA 
 
¶1. 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.  This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning 
for Colombia issued February 05, 2008. 
 
¶2. Violence has decreased markedly in many urban areas; 
however, 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.  For additional details about 
the general criminal threat, please see the Department of 
State's Country Specific Information for Colombia. 
 
 
¶3. 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.  Kidnapping in rural areas is of particular 
concern.  On July 2, 2008, the Government of Colombia 
rescued 15 hostages, including three Americans, who had 
been held for more than 5 years.  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. 
 
¶4. 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 urban areas 
at night.  All Americans in Colombia are urged to follow 
these precautions. 
 
¶5. 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/acs_wardenmessage .html and 
http://bogota.usembassy.gov/wwwsc093.shtml, as well as the 
Department of State's Country Specific Information for 
Colombia and the Worldwide Caution at 
http://travel.state.gov.  U.S. travelers can also get up- 
to-date information on security conditions by calling 1- 
888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada or for 
overseas callers, on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. 
¶6. Minimize considered. 
RICE