Bogotá - grenades - Zona Rosa

[DavidMN]

Well, there goes one more relatively safe area in Colombia. I've been in one of the places (the Bogota Beer Company) that was a target and stayed at a nearby hotel. Really makes you wonder if the risk is worth it.

At some level, I can understand targeting government installations because they are a symbol of the repression/inequity that the FARC and ELN are supposedly trying to change. But tossing grenades into two bars in Bogota, the bombing of a nightclub a few weeks ago in a decent sized city (cannot remember the name...Flora...something) and throwing bombs or grenades into a village plaza full of Easter worshippers? What do you call that, what's the objective - nihilism, anarchy, pure terror?

I don't have the numbers to support it, but I suspect gringos looking for a marriage partner are one of the largest supporters of Colombia's tiny foreign tourist industry. News like this sure doesn't help.

-David

[Michael B]

... in response to Bogotá - grenades - Zona Rosa, posted by DavidMN on Nov 16, 2003

Have we got anybody in Bogota right now unaccounted for? Latest news (1830 CST) out of Bogota says that at least four of the wounded in last night's attack were U.S. citizens. One was an AA pilot, the others were not specified.

[DavidMN]

... in response to Maybe we better have a roll call?, posted by Michael B on Nov 16, 2003

If you go to the El Tiempo website they have a list of at least 51 injured people (including the AA pilot). There's also 16 images in slide show format.

[Pete E]

... in response to Bogotá - grenades - Zona Rosa, posted by DavidMN on Nov 16, 2003

For Colombians to say enough and just anialate these guys?
I know its easier said than done,but a conviction to do it would be a good start.

Pete

[Wasp]

... in response to Whats it going to take, posted by Pete E on Nov 16, 2003

Damn, I was in both of those places last weekend.

Pete, a number of times you've voiced the opinion that the government is not actively fighting these people. So, I guess all these Farc leaders who have wound up dead lately have commited suicide? The fact is the government is winning the war, that's why Farc have changed their strategy to urban terrorist attacks. There was no need to throw grenades in bars when they openly ruled vast parts of the country. Now they are on the run, and that breeds desperation.

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Whats it going to take, posted by Wasp on Nov 16, 2003

Farc leaders wound up dead? Good.I guess I'm not up on the news but I don't remember any reports of the government doing anything.But I hope you are right.I hope they will.I was very encouraged when Uribe was elected but it doesn't seem they did much and I was afraid they were losing momentum.
Hopefully the terrorist tactics will not happen in Cali.It would make you want to stay out of the main bars.
I just fear there isn't much support for doing anything if it appears it will be at all difficult,which of course it will.
Hopefully we will keep our resolve in this country also and not run and hide if terrorists accomplish a few things.Allowing them to have an effect on policy just encourages them.

Pete