From: 76702.1202@CompuServe.COM (Charlie Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: *NEW* TRAVEL ADVISORY -- Peru
Date: 23 Jul 92 20:12:12 GMT
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL ADVISORY - Peru
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PERU - WARNING
  July 23, 1992

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens that an upsurge in 
terrorist violence in Peru has significantly increased danger to 
travelers.  U.S. citizens should defer all travel to Peru until 
further notice.  This is the third major upsurge of urban violence 
this year.  Others can be expected to occur in the coming months.  
U.S. citizens who must travel to Peru despite this warning should 
contact the consular section of the U.S. Embassy in Lima immediately 
prior to travel.

Travelers should be aware that many parts of the country are 
designated as "emergency zones" (i.e. areas governed by martial 
law).  These zones are extremely dangerous due to terrorist and 
criminal activities.  Two insurgent organizations, Sendero Luminoso 
(Shining Path) and the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA), 
continue to carry out bombings and other terrorist attacks against a 
large number of targets in Peru, principally Peruvian government 
installations and banks but also U.S. government buildings, U.S. 
commercial interests, as well as embassies of other countries.  
Recently, Sendero Luminoso has announced plans for "strikes" and 
stepped up its bombing campaign in Lima, targeting areas where U.S. 
citizens are likely to be present.

The city of Lima is located in the Lima Department, a designated 
"emergency zone".  Extra caution must be observed throughout the 
city as bombings, terrorist incidents and violent crime are common 
and there is a curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.  Because of a 
July 16 Miraflores car bombing in central Lima which killed 20 
Peruvians and injured more than 150 bystanders, the Embassy released 
the following security alert notice to the official and non-official 
American community.  "Given the bombing in Miraflores on July 16, 
1992, the U.S. Embassy strongly recommends that the U.S. community 
avoid high concentration commercial areas in the Miraflores and San 
Isidro areas at night."

U.S. citizens who despite this warning travel to Peru must be 
extremely alert to any suspicious activity and cautious in their 
movements.  U.S. citizens should not travel to designated "emergency 
zones" outside Lima.  These zones are extremely dangerous regions 
where both terrorism and violent crime are common.  Overland travel 
to or through the "emergency zones" outside the capital city of Lima 
is particularly dangerous.

ADOPTIONS:  U.S. citizens who despite this warning travel to Peru 
for adoptions should be aware that Peruvian adoptions take an 
average of 90 days to complete and there are cases which have taken 
much longer.  Corruption surrounding the adoption process is 
widespread and delays due to judicial strikes are common.  Recently, 
all the adoption judges in the Lima district were replaced and it is 
uncertain how this might affect future adoptions.  Adopting parents 
should also know that foreigners carrying cash are identifiable 
targets for thieves.  Due to the dangerous conditions existing in 
the emergency zones, no prospective adopting parent should travel to 
an "emergency zone" in search of a child for adoption or to obtain 
documentation.

INFORMATION:  U.S. citizens in Peru are strongly advised to 
register immediately with and seek the latest information from the 
Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy located at Grimaldo Del Solar 
346, Miraflores district of Lima, tel: 44-3921 and 44-3621.

 No. 92-148

This replaces the previous advisory, dated December 27, 1991, and 
warns U.S. citizens to defer all travel to Peru.
Newsgroups: rec.travel