VZCZCXRO5197
OO RUEHIK
DE RUEHC #5983/01 3141817
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 101812Z NOV 09
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TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS IMMEDIATE
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI IMMEDIATE 0798
RUEHRY/AMEMBASSY CONAKRY IMMEDIATE 2265

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 115983 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING COLOMBIA 
 
STATE 00115983  001.3 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. 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 as well as large 
cities.  The potential for violence by terrorists and 
other criminal elements exists in all parts of the 
country.  This updates and replaces the Travel Warning 
for Colombia issued March 25, 2009 to update information 
on recent security incidents and criminal activity. 
 
¶2. In recent months, there has been an increase in 
violent crime, including kidnapping and homicide, in 
many of the major cities.  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. 
 
¶3. Extortion-related bombings have occurred recently in 
Bogota, Cali, and several smaller cities.  On January 
27, 2009, an explosion in a commercial building in 
Bogota resulted in two fatalities.  On August 9, 2008, a 
bomb detonated in northern Bogota injuring eight 
persons, including one American.  Many expatriates live 
in and frequent the neighborhoods where these explosions 
occurred. 
 
¶4. 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 five 
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. 
 
¶5. 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 Americans in 
Colombia are urged to follow these precautions. 
 
¶6. Americans living or traveling in Colombia are 
encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy through the 
State Department's travel registration website 
(https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ho me.asp ) 
to obtain updated information on travel and security 
within Colombia. 
 
¶7. The U.S. Embassy is located at Calle 24 Bis No. 48-50 
Bogota, D.C. Colombia.  Mailing address:  Carrera 45 No. 
24B-27 Bogota, D.C. Colombia.  In case of a serious 
emergency that jeopardizes the health or safety of an 
American citizen in Colombia, please call the Embassy at 
(571) 315-0811; Embassy fax: (571) 315-2197; Consular 
Section phone: (571) 315-1566. The Embassy's American 
Citizens Services office provides routine information at 
http://bogota.usembassy.gov.  For questions not answered 
there, inquiries may be sent by email to 
ACSBogota@state.gov . 
 
¶8. The U.S. Consular Agency in Barranquilla, which 
accepts passport applications and performs notarial 
services, is located at Calle 77B, No. 57-141, Piso 5, 
Centro Empresarial Las Americas, Barranquilla, 
Atlantico, Colombia; telephone (575) 353-2001; fax (011- 
57-5) 353-5216.  The Consular Agency is not staffed to 
respond to after-hours emergencies; in case of an 
emergency in the Barranquilla/north coast area, please 
contact the Embassy in Bogota at (571) 315-0811. 
 
¶9. As the Department develops information on potential 
 
STATE 00115983  002.3 OF 002 
 
 
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 , as 
well as the Department of State's Country Specific 
Information for Colombia and the Worldwide Caution at 
http://travel.state.gov. 
 
¶10. U.S. travelers may obtain 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. 
 
¶11. Minimize Considered 
CLINTON