Pubdate: Sun, 01 Sep 2002
Source: Hartford Courant (CT)
Copyright: 2002 The Hartford Courant
Contact:  http://www.ctnow.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/183
Author: Larry Habegger, James O'Reilly

KIDNAPPINGS IN COLOMBIA

World Travel Watch is a weekly report designed to help you make informed 
judgments about travel. Because conditions can change overnight, always 
make your own inquiries before you leave home. In the United States, 
contact the State Department by phone (888-407-4747; 317-472-2328; 
202-647-5225), fax (202-647-3000), or website (travel.state.gov); abroad, 
check in with the nearest American embassy or consulate.

Colombia: Two tour groups were kidnapped recently near Colombia's Utria 
National Park, touted as an eco-tourism destination. Twenty-six tourists on 
a fishing trip were abducted a few days after a group of 12, mostly 
teenagers, were taken hostage at La Fortuna, 60 miles north of the park. In 
an attempt to reduce incursions of guerrillas and drug traffickers, Ecuador 
is closing the Rumichaca border crossing between Tulcan, Ecuador, and 
Ipiales, Colombia, at night beginning today.

Pakistan: The U.S. Consulate in Karachi, closed Aug. 5 because of security 
concerns, is operating again but only by phone from a secret location. The 
old phone numbers remain in service.

Indonesia: Smog season has returned to the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, 
and the haze created by illegal fires has spread to Singapore, Malaysia, 
and Thailand. Flights to Pekanbaru, Sumatra, were delayed by the smog. The 
Indonesian government blames small slash-and- burn farmers for setting the 
blazes, but worse culprits are large timber companies that use fires to 
clear land that has been logged. Air quality throughout the region could 
deteriorate further over the next two months until the rainy season starts.

Nepal: Maoists have called for a general strike Sept. 16. Such strikes 
usually shut down all transportation, including taxis and private vehicles, 
and are often enforced violently. If the locals are observing the strike, 
it is wise to do so.

Nepal also has been hit by an especially severe monsoon season, with about 
500 deaths and many landslides. A plane carrying 15 tourists crashed in bad 
weather Aug. 22. The monsoon usually ends in September.

Portugal: For years Greece has had a reputation for dangerous roads, but 
Portugal now is Western Europe's most dangerous country for driving. The 
International Road Traffic and Accident Database reports that deaths per 
100,000 people in Portugal have climbed to 21.9 compared to Greece's 21.1. 
In Britain the number was six, with Sweden winning low honors at 5.8. This 
compares with the United States at 15.2.

Habegger and O'Reilly are the editors of the Travelers' Tales book series 
(www.travelerstales.com) and are based in San Francisco.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens