TUMACO I need some serious advice

andresvv75 says on Sep 26, 2006, 16:57:

dont go to Tumako Hey, your colombian girlfriend must be ignorant whit no education. If you go to Tumako you can be kibnaped. 95% of the population of tumako are black Afro and poor, in other words you will be the only white in the city and you will bring attention. Tumako is more or less like Somalia or Black Africa. I am from Bogota, I will never will go to tumako it is dangeorous for me too. How did you meet that girl? There are several nice safe cities in colombia like Cartagena, Medellin, pereira or Bogota. If you go to Tumako be prepare to be kidnap, kill, raped or lost in the jungle... good luck.

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juanalejo says on Sep 26, 2006, 18:01:

Ignore the above post, Tumaco is a poor town but by no means a place where you will be kidnapped and killed just because you are foreigner. Where did you hear about the nun, I have not heard anything about the sort. Avianca flies to Tumaco so you can always just fly in and if you feel unsafe you can just fly out.

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shawnnn says on Sep 26, 2006, 18:27:

Article on the nun from google alerts COLOMBIA: Human rights defender killed in Tumaco, others in danger

On 19 September at midday, Yolanda Cerón, a nun and the director of the human rights team of the catholic church organization Pastoral Social in Tumaco, Nariño department was shot several times by unidentified gunmen as she walked across a park in Tumaco. She was taken to the local hospital where she died moments later.

Yolanda Cerón had worked for many years with Pastoral Social to denounce human rights violations in Nariño department and in support of the victims and their families. She had recently reported that she had been followed by unidentified men and that the offices of Pastoral Social were under permanent surveillance. She had also recently been called to the attorney general's office in Tumaco to ratify the denunciations she had made some months previously of several cases of human rights violations.

The human rights situation in Tumaco and other parts of the south-western Nariño department has deteriorated markedly since September 2000 when paramilitary groups, backed by the security forces began operating in the town. Many social activists received death threats at this time. On 6 August, two members of the Movimiento Popular Multietnico de la Vertiente del Pacífico Nariñense, Multi-ethnic People's Movement of the Nariño Pacific Coast were killed in Tumaco. Despite a heavy military presence in the region and the arrest of a number of paramiltaries, paramilitary groups continue to carry out their campaign. The killing of Yolanda Cerón who was shot 8 times in broad daylight and in the centre of town, clearly demonstrates the ease with which gunmen are able to operate in Tumaco.

There is serious concern for the safety of members of Pastoral Social and other human rights defenders in Tumaco.

RECOMMENDED ACTION BY HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS NETWORK:
1. Please send urgent faxes to the Colombian Embassy in your country:
- expressing your alarm at the killing of Yolanda Cerón, director of Pastoral Social in Tumaco, Nariño on 19 September;
- callling for an immediate, exhaustive and impartial investigation to be carried out into the killing and for those responsible to be brought to justice;
- calling for immediate and effective protection measures to be put in place to guarantee the safety of members of Pastoral Social and other human rights defenders in Tumaco;
- calling on the Colombian authorities to take urgent measures to end attacks against social activists in Nariño department, where despite a heavy military presence, paramilitary violence continues apparently unabated.

2. Please also raise this case in any upcoming meetings with Colombian diplomatic representatives in your country or your Ministry of Foreign Relations.

3. Please use the photograph of Yolanda Cerón to publicise this case as widely as possible including on websites etc.

Please send your letters to:
The Colombian Embassy in your country.

Please send copies of your letters to:
Human rights organization
Pastoral Social
Diócesis de Tumaco
Tumaco, Nariño, Colombia
Fax: ++ 57 27 271 279
Email: diocest at col2.telecom.com.co




In case of any doubts or queries regarding this action please contact:
Human Rights Defenders Program (Americas), Amnesty International, International Secretariat
1 Easton Street, London WC1X 0DW, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7413 5952/5537; Fax: +44 20 7956 1157, E-mail: tmackenz at amnesty.org


AI Index: AMR 23/094/2001 20 September 2001

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gorgonabob says on Sep 26, 2006, 18:27:

i would not go thats a real bad area of the country... why doesnt she just meet you in cali

there is a large presence of guerilla and narcos around there being that a huge quantity of drugs are smuggled out around tumaco.. there are also frequent blackouts in tumaco and guerlla roadblocks

if you do go.. write us about it..becuase ill never make it there

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shawnnn says on Sep 26, 2006, 18:28:

I think I goofed Article came from google alerts... It might have been a Sept 2001 article...not sure

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shawnnn says on Sep 26, 2006, 18:33:

Ouch Sept 2001 LIBRARY EXTRAJUDICIAL EXECUTIONS
AI Index: AMR 23/094/2001 20 September 2001


EXTERNAL AI Index: AMR 23/094/2001
Network No:AMR-HRD 06/01


HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS NETWORK ACTION


Date: 20 September 2001
Duration: 30 October 2001

COLOMBIA: Human rights defender killed in Tumaco, others in danger

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shawnnn says on Sep 26, 2006, 18:34:

Met the girl on the internet Sometimes we have to get creative.

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jesterinbogota says on Sep 26, 2006, 18:59:

Danger Will Robinson!!! If you met the girl on the internet and she is inviting you to Tumaco, that has bad news written all over it. Despite what one person has said above that town is bad news and it is not safe for Colombians outside of Tumaco, let alone gringos in town for a few days.

Buena Suerte
Jester

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shawnnn says on Sep 26, 2006, 19:27:

You know I was thinking the same thing I have a gut feeling about this. Something feels wrong.. I have been communicating with girl since January.
Sweet gal that wants to marry but...........

Thanks for the advice

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Gator says on Sep 26, 2006, 19:28:

shawnnn Didn't you ask this same question several months ago? If so weren't you going to fly her to Cali? Anyway, you can either fly in with Avianca or Satena. This is, however, a bus trip I would not make. There are few places in Colombia I would not visit but Tumaco is one.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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shawnnn says on Sep 26, 2006, 20:07:

Yes This all started months ago with her mother giving her advice I needed to go there first. First we were going to meet in Cali, then Panama, then Tumaco..it goes on and on. Now I am probably going to Tumaco..Need advice from PBH people

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larumberainglesa says on Sep 28, 2006, 05:12:

Shawwn Sorry mate, I know you sent me an email but I have deleted it by mistake and changed my email address and haven't had time to change it here on PBH so will write to you here.I have been trying to decide for 3 months whether to go for a short visit in Dec. I am still undecided but my situation is different as I have family there. I don't think I would go in your case and would arrange to meet in Cali or Pasto. It could just be that her mum wants to mneet the prospective son in law but I think I would be worried if the family knew when I was arriving/where I would be staying etc. So best to be safe and meet elsewhere. As for reading news reports from 2000 - you need to be up to date with what's going on. There have been no blackouts this year as far as I know. I have weekly contact with Tumaco and so don't need to rely on out of date articles. Yes, it is now one of the principle ports in SA for drug smuggling and most people know someone involved.A flying visit in and out is probably OK but I wouldn't give my details ie when/time/ hotel etc. Will try to find out more this weekend but I would say trust your instincts.

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goin_south says on Oct 2, 2006, 22:54:

I just talked to a friend yesterday who has been in Tumaco within the past three weeks and she says it is right now safe and peaceful and for you to go. Of course, that might be one place in Colombia that can literally change overnight.

Why Not Colombia?..........Stay Tuned, for more.... utterly worthless, self-indulgent gobbets of nonsense.

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Crazy4Cali says on Oct 3, 2006, 13:39:

Red Flag!!! Red Flag!!!
Bandera Roja!!!

RE: Need advice from PBH people

If that's the situation you're in, I'd say you're already in bad shape. Why push your luck?

shawnnn says on Oct 3, 2006, 14:25:

Prisoner swap with FARC I think with the upcoming prisoner sway I should be only hiking thru the jungle with the FARC as their prisoner for 6 months or less. Not too bad I suppose.

People have done much worse for love.

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shawnnn says on Oct 3, 2006, 14:25:

Sorry PRISONER SWAP SWAP NOT SWAY....SORRY

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