Month Issued: March 2009
Warden Message: Guatemala Passenger Bus Crimes
The U.S. Embassy has received reports of criminals targeting passenger buses carrying tourists in Guatemala, including U.S. citizens.
U.S. Embassy Guatemala City issued the following Warden Message on March 9:
The U.S. Embassy has received reports of criminals targeting passenger buses carrying tourists in Guatemala, including U.S. citizens. During February at least two known incidents occurred and were reported to the Embassy.
A private bus traveling on CA-1 in Totonicapan from Mexico to Panajachel was boarded by at least five armed men. The tourists were kidnapped and robbed of valuables including cash and electronics.
In another instance, a private bus en route to Antigua from San Salvador was boarded by at least five armed men while traveling on CA-2 in Santa Rosa. The tourists were kidnapped and robbed of valuables including cash and electronics.
Guatemala continues to experience a significant escalation in the level of violent crime and U.S. citizens are urged to take appropriate precautions.
Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Embassy’s website, the U.S. Department of State's, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website www.travel.state.gov , where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Country Specific Information can be found. The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S. citizens to review to "A Safe Trip Abroad" found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html which includes valuable security information for those both living and traveling abroad.
In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.
The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala is located at Avenida Reforma 7-01, Zone 10, Guatemala City. Please contact the American Citizen Services Unit by phone at 011 (502)2326-4405, by fax at (502)2331-3804, or by sending an email to amcitsguatemala@state.gov. The after-hours emergency number is 011-502-2331-2354 or (502)2331-2354.
Posted by Marie at March 20, 2009 04:56 AMMSU Students Kidnapped On Spring Break
Group In Guatemala On Help Mission
POSTED: Friday, March 20, 2009
UPDATED: 1:21 pm EDT March 20, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Eleven Michigan State University students were kidnapped and held at gunpoint during their spring break in Guatemala.
The students, a tour guide and two bus company employees were on their three-hour tour when several armed men approached their tour bus with guns.
Four of the students, Alex Cummings, Mikaelyn Law, Zahkia Smith, and Jennifer Tzeng, were part of a spring break trip organized by Encountour, a New York-based travel group that arranges trips for college students to Latin America.
The students said the bus driver was told to drive for several miles into a rural field, where the group was forced off the bus and tied up.
The gunmen took their money, electronics and other valuables, before leaving, said several of the students.
Several of the women said they were molested after being patted down for their belongings.
"It was traumatic experience. These are underdeveloped countries and obviously it's a risk to travel there," said Smith's father.
Smith said after the incident happened his daughter called home every 12 hours to let him know she was OK.
He said he didn't feel comfortable about the trip to Guatemala but didn't want to stand in her way.
The students were in the country to develop the area's tourism industry through manual labor.
The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala and the Guatemalan National Police have been notified of the robbery.
An investigation is under way.
University spokesman Terry Denbow said the university is offering counseling to the MSU students.
The trip was not in affiliation with the University, Denbow said.
Posted by: Carlisle johnson at March 20, 2009 02:14 PMIt is important to note that less than .001 percent of visitors to Guatemala have any issues. What is of issue here is that the tour operator, Encountertour was very negligent in sending a group of college students over the route from Atitlan to Reu. Every responsible travel provider in the region knows very well not to take groups in that region.
There are many sites around the lake that people visit via boat because robbery is almost assured on the roads South of the lake. It is not a light issue. A group of students were raped in the region they chose ten years ago. It is well known as a no travel zone for experienced travel operators.
The company should be held accountable. This was a case of gross negligence. If they did not know that a zone is considered to be no travel, then they had no reason to be advertising that safety is a priority.
Posted by: Lupe at March 21, 2009 09:14 AM