Arauca...

kat1 (Moderator) says on Jan 29, 2006, 08:04:

Saravena, tame, there is strong present of the guerrillas there. Arauca it's no very safe, i would'nt recommend to travel by road and on your own, is better if you have a local contact or a friend that knows the place.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

JohnAH says on Jan 30, 2006, 12:07:

Rental Car I just returned from Cali and we had a rental car with license plates from Arauca and everytime we left the city on a road trip, our car was pulled over by the military police. In the end they didn't give us any trouble although they did inspect the trunk and looked through any bags we had. We would get out of the car so that we could watch them to make sure they didn't plant anything in the car hoping for either a bribe or a large fine. Each soldier who pulled us over told us it was because of the car's plats and maybe a little to do with the very Gringo driver.

Good luck!
John

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Wastelandlive says on Jan 30, 2006, 14:01:

That one's always made me wonder... I mean, once the police are so corrupt that they'll plant stuff on you, what are you going to do? I mean... you KNOW already that you weren't carrying a dime bag in the trunk. What difference will it make?

"Hey - I saw that. Put that bag back in your pocket..."

Seriously - please share you're strategy. How do you "make sure?"

Wasteland

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Compadre says on Jan 30, 2006, 14:21:

I recommend you not... to mess around with those people... Arauca is dangerous as hell... I don't want to scare you but If you are going to do some research to those kinds of areas... probably is to get in touch with those people as part of your research...if you are going try to get a local as Kat1 said... guerrillas don't play... If that's your objetive... go for it... but if is not nescesary try to do your research far away from there... I would never go there eventhough I'm colombian...
A gringo there is like blood for the sharks. so think about it before going there... If you do it be sure you doings things well...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

KyleHanky says on Jan 30, 2006, 15:29:

I know that Arauca is really dangerous, that's why I'd like to get some up to date information. So far, I've only heard things I already know, and i do appreciate it. But I'm still wondering where I can get up to date information. If anyone knows where I can get that, that would be helpful. But thank you for the warnings as well.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

SPECTRASORT says on Jan 30, 2006, 15:44:

Sensible Thing to do would not to travel to any known area's that Guerilla frequent , as stated previuosly A gringo is Like Blood for the Sharks.

One thing that I can say is that URIBE has got most major cities safer with corncerns to Guerilla Activities , for example the Road from Cali to Buenaventura is now safe , however as they are so many Army posted along the roads the chances are if you are the driver and gringo looking or in a nicer car you will probably have to pay some sort of a bribe to the Police if you dont have your documents with you for example.

Best way if you are not sure is to either take a Taxi or Fly.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mr. Hollywood says on Jan 30, 2006, 17:49:

You need to be clear on your objective What are you going there to study? If it's to talk to the guerillas, then that's a delicate thing to plan. If it's to look at people living in a conflict zone, that's another. Finally, if it's to interview the military, that's another thing entirely. I wouldn't go there on a lark.

Until you are clear what it is you're setting out to do it's VERY difficult to advise you. There's a reason it's known among the Colombian military as Araucastan and I'm sure the people on the other side feel very much the same way.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

KyleHanky says on Jan 30, 2006, 19:40:

My goals are specific My goals for Arauca are specific, I just don't think I laid them out well here. I do NOT want to contact/talk to the guerrilla. The best way to do this is through a communique sent to them from outside their zones of operation. I am not looking to find them and talk to them. I was laying out a basic outline of what I was doing, as the specifics would take a while. I have my list of organizations I'd like to meet with, obviously the mayors of the town,along with local military leaders (The US does have 40 soldiers based in Saravena and 30 in Arauca, and I've been told they are willing to talk to journalists). My goals are specific, and if you are further interested I can list them specifically, i.e. my day to day itinerary. But that would be quite long. Again, this is not a solid trip, and I am still in contact with many journalists who have worked there. But going out into the rural areas to find guerrillas is not my goal. Also my mode of travel will be flying, possibly even flying from Tame to Saravena (even though it's only about 50-60 KM). Flight is the way to go there. Sorry if I came off a little preturbed earlier as well, or here.

0 funny, 0 helpful.