Bombs went off in Santa Marta

[valuedcustomer]

Two bombs went off today in Santa Marta killing 2 and wounding 10.  The attacks were at the Lumar and Santamar hotels.  The conventional wisdom has been that the Caribbean Coast is fairly safe, but apparently the guerillas are now targeting the tourist industry.  All bets are off as to what is safe and what isn’t.

[Pete E]

... in response to Bombs went off in Santa Marta, posted by valuedcustomer on Nov 20, 2002

I was headed there in January.I already canceled the trip before I heard this for other reasons.The first bomb at a tourist hotel I remember.That gets my attention more than any report I heard before this.
My wife's family says business is very bad in Cali because of new government taxes,nobody wants to buy anything.I think this is the money Uribe is raising to fight the rebels.I hope he gets it on and gets it over with.These guys have been operating without much opposition from the government for a long time.Also if the taxes stay high but he doesn't do anything he will lose popular support.
Hunt them down where they are and just shoot the SOB's.
Its probably going to get alot worse before it gets better.

Pete

[Celt]

... in response to Too close to my possible travels for com..., posted by Pete E on Nov 21, 2002

Any news of bombings in Colombia is terrible news, but the
type and location of the bombing is significant. There is
less news these days about infrastructural bombing.
The FARC is having more trouble projecting their power into
"neutral" territories, ones up for grabs between the FARC,
the paramilitaries, and local government.

Land is power for them too: the power to tax, and the power
to keep land away from the other groups. The government of
Colombia would never say so publicly, but (IMHO) they much
prefer this type of bombing to ceding large territories to
the FARC.

The FARC also has to worry about drawing American forces
deeper into Colombian affairs. I am sure "Killing Pablo",
the account of the CIA-Pepes-Colombian Army joint-hunt of
Pablo Escobar has been part of their reading list. Note how
they will kidnap American citizens, but not directly take on
the U.S. government.

Finally, I hope Uribe lives to see his work accomplished.