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Gawain · Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 66 Location: California

Got this link from older message in forum. Stories so awful they deserve more attention:
http://www.katharinaandpeter.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=30&Itemid=61&lang=en
Evil exists in every American city.... Read crime page of any US paper.... But this should frighten all expats in SA.... Bolivia, poorest SA nation--sure blame imperialism.... But still!

Gang in La Paz, Bolivia, targets white backpackers around bus stations.... Taxi driver offers ride.... Stopped by uniformed policemen who arrest everyone in taxi.... Taken to jail.... Once in jail, victims quickly realize: Taxi driver is fake. Police are fake.... They are a kidnapping gang.... They strip you, bind you, take your bankcard, pistol-whip you until you cough up your bankcard password.... They max out your ATM accounts each day until your bank accounts are drained or frozen.... Then they put a bullet in your brain and bury your body in a graveyard, gone without a trace. Shocked

Incredibly, this La Paz gang is doing this to countless backpackers--look at website "reports" link.... They hold two or three backpackers at a time in this dungeon, getting rich off ATM cards.... Bolivian police do nothing.... Police even have photos of gang leader withdrawing ATM cash using cards of 3 people he just killed-- He was arrested, bribed police, got released the next day!... Bolivian police are ineffective, underpaid and easily bribed.... MAN! Don't go to La Paz! Shocked

How about local crime where you teach?... How cautious are you?...
Go out at night?... Hike alone in countryside?... Trust taxis on street?...
What happened to you?... Where?

Aramas · Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 10:02 pm Post subject:

No one told me that this was International Hysteria Day Shocked

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

You mustn't have gotten the memo.

You may officially, panic. Go. Start.... now!

Jyulee · Joined: 01 May 2005 Posts: 81

While I'm sure it helps to be aware that such things happen, we can't let a completely alarmist attitude take over. "Don't go to La Paz!" seems a little strong, I went there a few years ago, and like the vast majority of people who do go there, the worst thing I got was a bad case of stomach troubles. Here I am in Bogot�, Colombia, and I haven't been robbed, kidnapped or shot at once!

Gawain · Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 66 Location: California

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! AHHHH HA HA HA HA! Razz

Sure prove it wrong! Let's get more responses! If you feel totally safe where you teach that would also be good to know!

Is your city safer than the stereotype Americans may have about it?

Anything happen to you or someone you know? Cool

Jyulee · Joined: 01 May 2005 Posts: 81

I live in Bogota, Colombia Smile

It has a bad reputation, I know... It's not as bad as a lot of people might think, however. In danger of sounding like a lonely planet book, all you have to do is "take sensible precautions". These do include not hailing a taxi from the street, and never going to the south. Or the "invasiones" 500m or so from my house.

In most bars and clubs it feels safe enough, as there are armies of bouncers with metal detectors checking everyone for guns and knives. Still, stories abound..

My partner's father was shot and killed three 3 years ago, my ex-flatmate's sister's boyfriend and his entire family were all shot dead in February this year in a robbery. Oh, and a friend I had in Madrid had her father kidnapped by FARC when she was young, although he came out of it okay in the end. The other day a bomb went off in a military compound close to the office of where a friend of mine works...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6067176.stm

It seems, then, that most Colombians have a story to tell regarding violence. I wouldn't go as far as some and say "Oh yeah, it's totally exaggerated, actually Colombia is really quite safe", as it plainly isn't. But it's not a warzone all the time - it's not like you see bombs and people shooting at each other every day! On a day to day level Bogot� is a lot like other LA cities, dirty, disorganised, busy, but not overtly dangerous if you stay away from the dodgy areas.

I would imagine that the most likely way for you to meet an untimely death here is in the traffic.

In any case, I don't worry, I did 3 months of karate once when I was 12 Wink