Colombia
The U.S. Embassy in Bogota continues to receive reports of drugging and robbing of foreigners in bars and other public places. Criminals offer drinks, cigarettes or gum tainted with incapacitating drugs, then rob their victims after the drugs take effect. A dramatic increase in such attacks has occurred in the Galerias and the Plaza de las Americas districts.
Hong Kong
For the third time in six months, an unidentified assailant threw acid into a crowd of shoppers in the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong’s Kowloon peninsula, slightly injuring 24. The attack was on the same street as a similar attack in May. Though Mong Kok is the smallest district in Hong Kong, it is its biggest shopping district, busy day and night.
Mexico
The government grounded Aviacsa airlines June 3, citing safety concerns, which Mexico’s third-oldest air carrier denied. A court reversed the shutdown, and the airline resumed flights June 6. If the government wins a planned appeal, the carrier could be grounded again. In other news, Acapulco was the scene of two shootouts involving drug gangs and security forces. One shootout with the army occurred in a district that hosts mostly Mexican tourists. The other attack took place less than 48 hours later when gunmen launched grenades and opened fire on two police stations.
Peru
Aguaruna tribal members and heavily armed Peruvian police battled over a blockaded road in the Amazon basin June 5, with 23 officers and as many as 30 Aguaruna killed. The Aguaruna have blocked the highway linking the jungle cities of Tarapoto and Yurimaguas since April, protesting the government’s granting of oil leases on what they consider their communal land. The violence prompted other indigenous and labor groups to call a general strike Thursday to demand that the government revoke laws that promote extraction of resources from indigenous land. A vote Wednesday by the Peruvian Congress opened the way to a compromise.
Thailand
Bangkok police said they broke up a gang of thieves who would swarm a victim and grab valuables after one gang member had pretended to drop papers near the victim, then grabbed the person’s leg. The gang was especially active in the Silom and Bang Rak areas. Police arrested five people.
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Compiled from various news services and travel sources. For the latest on world conditions, check the State Department’s automated service at 888-407-4747; fax, 202-647-3000; travel.state.gov.
