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For those not following the news, last week (Saturday?) FARC sent a letter to 110 mayors (including Cali and Bogota, not just hick towns or mere villages) and about as many other officials such as judges, police chiefs etc. saying that they must resign by June 26....or face 'capture or death'. Several have already resigned and the government has refused to accept their resignations, instead offering them military protection for themselves and their families. Let's hope its all just a bluf, but given the recent history, it probably is not.

... in response to Big day in Colombia tomorrow, posted by Michael B on Jun 25, 2002

Although Uribe has promised to stand up to the guerillas there are simply not enough government troops to win. Analysts have stated that it would take an army of 250,000 men to defeat the bad guys in Colombia and there are simply no funds to raise such a force. Foreign debt has put Colombia in a 'world of hurt' and most of the meaningful military equipment that we have already sent them is to be used for protecting US oil interests,i.e.; the oil pipeline. Any use of Blackhawks, for instance, has to be approved in advance by the US for even recon work if used for anything other than pipeline. Meanwhile the FARC, ELN and the Paramilitary have forcibly recruited the 'street gangs' all over the country as covert and overt soldiers. With these 'urban guerillas' the cities are indeed at risk. There have already been firefights in the streets of Medellin, roadblocks and kidnappings of counselmen in Cali and skirmishes and bombings in Bogota. Look for it to get much worse.

Government workers and Universities are still in various stages of striking throughout Colombia. This has been going on since the government's announcement in January that 'guaranteed cost-of-living' raises would not be paid and that some saleries would be cut back. Going to the university where my Novia teaches is a day-by-day adventure. Blocked entrances one day, bombs going off on campus the next. I spent more time the last trip sitting in Unicentro listening to the explosions than I did helping correct exams.

I am going to Cali next Wednesday to get her out of there for good. It should have happened in June, but the strike extended the semester to almost August this year. I want both of us out of Colombia before August. It will be anybody's guess as to the level of violence after that.

My father was a military advisor in Vietnam in 1956, and while this is certainly not comparable to that fiasco for the United States, what is going on from a terrorist viewpoint is very similar to those times. I did my tour of the bush in 1971. There have been many close calls during the last year that I have managed to avoid simply by virtue of instincts left over from military experience.

Colombia is a country where the citizens habitually travel. Weekends by a river making 'San Cocho', trips to the coast and parks, etc. When the locals stop traveling (as they have) it is time for naive tourists to really stay in the cities and keep very alert. We all think that things happen to someone else. I have spent enough time in Cali turning the TV up to drown out the gunfire to see where things are headed. My Novia and her nieces and friends have all been caught on the streets in downtown Cali in firefights in the last two months. Admittedly the shooting was between the police and lawbreakers of some sort, but the press does not report what the shooting was about. A bullet has no political or social convictions in any case.

So be aware!

... in response to Re: Big day in Colombia tomorrow, posted by Slowandtru on Jun 27, 2002

Hey Slow, Dont you think you are exaggerating quite a bit there ? Many on this board have posted on how safe Cali is. Yes I know there were some fighting between the police and the FARC a few weeks ago at the edge of Medellin. Yes I know there was a high level priest that got taken out  in Cali earlier this year but nobody else is painting the scenerio about Cali that you just posted here. Am I right guys ? Ben

... in response to Re: Re: Big day in Colombia tomorrow, posted by BenKramer on Jun 27, 2002

Ben, I am not a tourist in Cali. I have spent almost thirty weeks living there in the past twelve months. I don't do the discos or cruise 6th or hit any of the tourist attractions beyond museums and shopping areas. The people my Novia and I hang with are professionals. Some Colombian, some of many nationalities including Americans who have lived there for many, many years. They all know the real score. They live it.

My Novia lives in Canas Gordas, a very upscale area in Cali. We can count on gunfire in the evening at least once or twice a week. Those "backfires" you hear downtown during the day are not always backfires. Just ask the people who were caught in the crossfire between the Police and the bad guys.

My Novia's housekeeper lives in a really bad part of Cali. She and her husband and daughter have been rousted out of bed in the middle of the night by the Police many times and taken for questioning. It is not her...it is the whole neighborhood. The cops are looking for "gang members" (guerillas) who have just done something or another including bombing ritzy homes (ran into a roadblock last month for just that) and take the whole area in. Everyone knows who the perpetrators are but no one talks because they know they will be killed if they do.

The "Priest" you mention was the Archbishop of Cali. They found the hit man, put him in jail and found his cold, dead body in the cell before he could be properly questioned as to who hired him.

So the short answer is "no". I am not exaggerating. Can you go to Colombia and have a great, safe time? Of course. Are the women fantastic? Yes. Are you taking a chance? Absolutely! Be aware of the undercurrents in Colombia. You will see what they want you to see in the tourist areas.

... in response to Re: Re: Big day in Colombia tomorrow, posted by BenKramer on Jun 27, 2002

I'm returnining to Cali the third week of July to spend about a month. I'll probobly make a trip up to Tulua by bus and it looks like I'll be making a quick trip to Bogota by plane. I expect everything to be pretty much the same as it is now and plan to follow the usual precautions.

... in response to Re: Re: Big day in Colombia tomorrow, posted by BenKramer on Jun 27, 2002

Turning up the TV to drown out the gunfire?As if the gunfire was constant.Yeah I think you could call that an exageration.And gunfire between some crooks and the cops is not a firefight.
Now I will agree with don't leave the city and maybe stay away from big public places the day  Ubibe takes office.
I think we got some folks in Cali right now.How about another viewpoint?

Pete

... in response to Big day in Colombia tomorrow, posted by Michael B on Jun 25, 2002

I would think that would be a counterproducive thing for FARC to do,if they tried to carry it out.They are saying the cities and the government can't have these officials?Someone else would replace them.
I think they are trying to scare people but it could backfire.Uribe takes office in early August.He wants to double the military.Things like this FARC action will give him more support for that.
The was very little violence around election time.There will probably be more when Uribe takes office.I think Colombia has the power( or will have) to beat these guys in any conventional fight.Unforntunately that may leave terrorism as their main weapon.
I think these guys need to go in the worst way.Hopefully Colombia will have the conviction to do it.Uribe has already been to Washington asking for support.I believe the restiction of american aid to fighting drugs either has or is expected to be lifted.I think we should give them all the help they need.
As far as traveling,I would say keep an eye on it but it probably will not affect gringos that stick to the city.
My wife is going next month.It would take an all out war in Cali to keep her from going.

Pete

... in response to Re: Big day in Colombia tomorrow, posted by Pete E on Jun 26, 2002

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... in response to Re: Big day in Colombia tomorrow, posted by Pete E on Jun 26, 2002

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