IGNORANCE OF THE LAW IS NO EXCUSE: JORDANIAN MILITARY OFFICER CARVES HIS NAME INTO THE ALHAMBRA

A Jordanian military officer, age 36, name and military rank unidentified, has been charged with a crime against Spain's historical heritage after being caught carving his name on a wall of the Alhambra in Granada. The officer, who was in Seville with a military delegation to purchase a military aircraft, decided to make a personal side trip to Granada while in Spain and visit the historic walled royal palace and fortress. The Alhambra is a UNESCO world heritage site and the jewel and symbol of the Islamic Nasrid dynasty, which is also considered one of the greatest masterpieces of Arabic architecture anywhere in the world.

COMMENT: The incident reportedly occurred on August 13. Strangely, the officer was observed scratching his name on one of the walls of the Alhambra when he was reported to security personnel by nearby tourists, all of whom knew it was a serious offense. Subsequently, he was arrested, indicted and could face punishments of a fine and/or up to three years in prison.

Now, here's the interesting part: Because he told authorities that he was unaware that his action was against the law, he was released pending trial. How many times have we heard: "Ignorance of the law is no excuse"? Many.

If everyone could say that they did not know that prohibited behavior was against the law, prisons would be converted into shopping malls. Surely, if the officer in question has no more common sense than to ask security personnel whether he could scratch his name into the wall of a coveted historical site, then perhaps he should never be permitted to get near the cockpit of a military aircraft.

My instinct tells me that he will return to Amman unpunished.

AMERICAN EAGLE EMPLOYEE ARRESTED AT DFW FOR THEFT FROM PASSENGERS

An anonymous tip has led to the arrest of an American Eagle airline employee, Jose Alberto Peralta, 44, who is accused of stealing jewelry from passenger baggage at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. When arrested on August 26, Peralta had a silver bracelet, silver earrings, a gold heart-shaped diamond pendant and a new pair of Oakley Whisker sunglasses in his backpack.

COMMENT: Airport investigators have reportedly determined that the suspect had pawned 94 items over the last year, 93 of them jewelry, at an estimated value of $10,320. Authorities began investigating Thursday after receiving the tip that an employee was stealing.

This case is a good example to remind everyone to leave NO valuables whatsoever in checked luggage. If at all possible, expensive jewelry should be photographed and insured against theft and loss.

I could also go on and on about the practices of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) as it relates to theft from luggage, but I'll save that for another day later this month.

14-YEAR-OLD KILLED DURING PROTEST, WORD TO THE WISE

I realize that street protests are a common occurrence throughout the world, but the death of a young Bahraini Shiite teenage protester who was fatally wounded when he was struck in the face by a tear gas canister earlier today underlines the risk of being too close to public protests. Coincidentally, a 14-year-old was also shot and killed on August 25, in Santiago, Chile during protests over educational reforms. How sad it was to see such promising young lives snuffed out in a matter of minutes.

Jawad Ahmed al-Sheikh, 14, was hit in the Shiite village of Sitra during a small protest after Eid al-Fitr prayers, the Gulf kingdom's main opposition group said on its Facebook page. It posted a picture of the dead teenager with his face covered in blood, saying the tear gas canister was fired from close range.

COMMENT: Unlike the protest in Bahrain, the protests in Chile have been massive, with over 175,000 going into the streets nationwide and upwards of 50,000 in the capital. On August 24, for example, 36 people were wounded as well as 42 police officers. Six of them suffered from gunshot wounds.

My advice to local families and foreign travelers is to fully comprehend what can happen. Protests, strikes and riots are emotionally charged for all sides of the political spectrum, where anything can happen. Well-organized, peaceful protests are one thing, but if police or protesters are likely to use deadly force, avoid participating in such gatherings, as demonstrated by the events in Both Chile and Bahrain. Unfortunately, in many countries, police are not controlled as rigidly as they are in others, and often may resort to the use of horses, tear gas, rubber bullets, batons and even deadly force.

Despite my some 30 years' experience in protecting diplomats and clients around the world, I have yet to fully understand why normally reasonable people walk to the sound of protesters, knowing that there are inherent and often lethal security risks. I suspect I'll go to my grave never having an answer.

EUROPEAN COUPLE DIE FROM DESERT EXPOSURE IN THE US

One subject that I've been really meaning to cover, largely due to its importance to travelers to desert regions, is the tragic death of a European couple, Augustinus Van Hove, aged 44, and Helena Nuellett, aged 38, a Dutch music promoter and his German girlfriend, respectively. It is estimated that the couple were victims of desert heat exposure while visiting the Joshua Tree National Park (http://www.nps.gov/jotr/index) on or about August 24.

From information available, the couple was in a rented sedan and apparently took a remote, dirt road in the hope of driving to Arizona. Nearly seven hours later, a couple visiting the park found Van Hove's body on the edge of Black Eagle Mine Road. Sheriff's deputies later found Nuellett's body about a kilometer from Van Hove. The black Dodge Charger the couple had rented was found stuck and stranded about 8km away on the same road, which is generally impassable for non-4-wheel vehicles Temperatures during the day topped 41°c.

Joshua Tree National Park covers an area of 3,100 square kilometers, which also encompasses parts of the Mojave and Colorado deserts.

COMMENT: The secondary road that the couple was traveling on had posted signs warning drivers that it should only be used by four-wheel drive vehicles because they might run into soft sand. It is possible that the couple was attempting to walk for help when they succumbed from the heat. Given the high temperatures that can ensue at Joshua Tree, park management recommends one gallon of water per day per person. Their bodies were found 2km from each other.

Although autopsies have been conducted on the couple, toxicology reports will not be available for another three weeks.

Following the deaths of Mr. Van Hove and Ms. Nuellett, Joshua Tree park managers met to discuss how they could better inform the public, particularly foreign visitors, on the inherent risks in traveling in the park. Although brochures on dealing with the intense heat and the importance of hydration were already included in Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish for park visitors, the park has highlighted this information in various forms. In 2010, there were no deaths in the park, but thus far in 2011 there have been four.

It is a fact that cell phone coverage is very poor throughout most of Joshua Tree. Hence, and particularly in light of the size of the park, it is vital that visitors ensure they have mobile GPS units so as to reduce the risk of getting lost.

Unfortunately, the road the couple took would not be subject to frequent park patrols as would primary roads. Generally, visitors who become lost are urged to remain in their vehicles, as walking to find help will only expend them further.

UPDATE: GERMAN TOURIST IN COMA AFTER ATTACK BY TUK-TUK DRIVERS ON PHUKET

As a follow-up to my posting on August 29, the gang of tuk-tuk drivers who severely beat up a German tourist in Patong are only likely to be brought to justice if Kurt Trotnow, 53, regains full consciousness and is able to identify his assailants. Efforts thus far by Thai police to identify the assailants from security cameras or locate witnesses who can identify the drivers have proved fruitless.

COMMENT: Trotnow remains in the intensive care unit at a Phuket City hospital with his wife Jiraporn ''Joy'' Choochep, 30, at his bedside, hoping for signs of recovery. The couple were married last month and were planning a trip back to Germany on September 7 for an operation for Trotnow pertaining to a blood condition.

According to witnesses, both Trotnow and his wife had been drinking. That being said, a dispute between Trotnow and the tuk-tuk driver began over the driver's demand for 200 baht (US$6.60) instead of the 100 baht (US$3.32) that the couple had negotiated with the driver before they got into the tuk-tuk. It should be noted that a very contentious issue amongst tourists and expats in Phuket concern the common practice of tuk-tuk drivers to demand much more of a fare than that negotiated.

Unfortunately, even if Trotnow regains consciousness and is able to identify his assailants, he may himself face charges if it can proved that he struck the first blow.

Another factor that German honorary consul Dirk Naumann may address is why the Phuket police failed to notify him of all serious incidents involving expats, whether residents or tourists.
Naumann only learned of the assault this week when one of Trotnow's friends visited the German consulate with a copy of the police report filed by Trotnow's wife after the August 25 assault. Other cases involving tuk-tuk drivers and jet-ski operators who scam tourists continue to alarm the honorary consuls.

Exchanges between foreign taxi, tuk-tuk and pedicab drivers and tourists and expats can always problematic when disputes arise over what fare was negotiated for and what demand drivers actually make. In most countries there are few problems, but often there are many in countries where drivers are not well-regulated.

Inasmuch as I have found myself in similar contentious situations in the past (where the driver has demanded much more than the fare negotiated,) I can understand and empathize with Mr. Trotnow's position. Unfortunately, for some people, drinking can influence their ability to make the right choice in a given situation. Given Mr. Trotnow's having been severely beaten up and now being in a coma and semi-conscious, would it have been better to pay the 200 baht and chalk it off as a bad day in the marketplace, or get agitated over $3 and suffer as he has?

HONDURAN PRESIDENT BANS CELLPHONES FROM CABINET MEETINGS

For those of you who regularly read my blog (aka SSA--Staying Safe Abroad), every now and then it is nice to see evidence of what we all think about during so much of the day: The downsides of cell phones.

Suddenly, I've become a fan of Honduran President Porfirio Lobo, who seems to have reached a level of exasperation when it comes to the overuse of cellphones by members of his presidential cabinet. So, beginning next week, he is banning all cell phones from meeting rooms.

The irritated president proclaimed the ban during a Cabinet meeting today (August 30) which happened to have been televised by a state-run television channel. He apparently has been on a low smolder for some months on this issue. In January, he reportedly cautioned the cabinet on cellphone use during meetings and in May he scolded them for using sirens to get through the congested streets of Tegucigalpa.

UPDATE: KIDNAPPED US CITIZEN IN PORT-AU-PRINCE RESCUED

Frank Jean-Baptiste, A U.S. citizen who was kidnapped last week from his home in Haiti's capital was rescued today (August 30) after Haiti's anti-kidnapping unit surrounded his captors' hideout. According to Francois Dossous, head of the unit, kidnappers sensed the police were moving in on them and fled, leaving Jean-Baptiste unharmed. Kidnappers had demanded a US$300,000 ransom.

COMMENT: Considering that a well-known Haitian notary, Gilbert Giordani, was also kidnapped during the same week that Jean-Baptiste was abducted, there was concern in law enforcement circles that the two kidnappings might be indicative of a spike in ransom kidnappings. Giordani was abducted from his BMW in Port-au-Prince on Friday (August 26), but passers-by found his body the next day. Compliments go out to Dossous and his anti-kidnapping unit.

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT LATIN AMERICA?

Last week we provided the link to THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR's quiz on Mexico and received some nice comments from readers saying they enjoyed it. Consequently, they Monitor has now developed a quiz on Latin America, so for those of you that pride yourselves in knowing this region so well, please give it a try.

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2011/0203/Think-you-know-Latin-America-Take-our-geography-quiz/Question-1

KOREAN NATIONAL SENTENCED TO 9.5 YEARS FOR RAPE

A South Korean national, Deokhawn Cha, 30, who choked and raped a South Korean tourist he met through an Asian social website while the two were in Brisbane (Australia), was sentenced to 9.5 years in prison yesterday. The District Court in Brisbane also heard testimony during the trial that Cha had had previous convictions in South Korea for serious sexual assaults.

Cha was in Australia on a work visa and met a South Korean woman, also 30, who was in Australia at the time. Inasmuch as the woman was also interested in working in Australia, Cha offered to take her to central Queensland where they stayed at a campground while on the trip. According to testimony from the victim, Cha drove her to a secluded area, where he asked for sex. When she refused he sexually assaulted her and also choked her to the point of expiring. He then took her to another place where he raped her.

The woman then said in court that after she was raped, Cha took her to the home of other Koreans he knew where she confided with another woman that Cha had raped her. The police were promptly called but Cha left his friends' home, and while leaving stole some $650 in property from his friends. He was later arrested at a local shopping mall.

COMMENT: Cha pleaded guilty to 11 charges, including rape, two of sexual assault, assault with the intent to do bodily harm, six of fraud and burglary and larceny. As a result, the judge in the case sentenced Cha to 9.5 years in prison.

Unfortunately, cases like this happen all too frequently. Consequently, those using on-line social media should be cautious in dealing with new people they've met so as to avoid the trauma experienced by the victim in this case. The fact that Cha was a convicted sex offender underlines the importance of "testing" new friends before being placed in a compromising situation.

ECONOMIST INTELLIGENCE UNIT RELEASES LIST OF MOST LIVEABLE CITIES

According to the August 2011 Global Liveability Survey prepared by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Melbourne has nudged long-time front-runner Vancouver to be rated the world's most liveable city. The Australian metropolis topped the Global Liveability Survey's ranking of 140 cities worldwide, ahead of Canada's Vancouver which dominated the rankings for almost a decade but is now third behind the Austrian capital, Vienna.

Australian cities featured prominently in the top 10, with Sydney ranked sixth and Perth and Adelaide in joint eighth place, according to the survey, which is conducted twice a year. Canada also did well, with Toronto and Calgary holding fourth and fifth places respectively. Helsinki in Finland (seventh) and New Zealand's Auckland (tenth) rounded out the top 10.

Cities were scored on political and social stability, crime rates, access to quality health care, cultural events, the environment, education and the standard of infrastructure.

Among other well-known cities, Paris came 16th, two places ahead of Tokyo. The top-ranked American city was Honolulu which came 26th, while London was a lowly 53rd, just behind Singapore.

The Greek capital Athens dropped five places to 67th due to recent government cutbacks and protests. Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, was the least liveable city, just ahead of Dhaka in Bangladesh and the Papua New Guinea capital Port Moresby.

To purchase a copy of EIU's Global Liveability Survey, go to: http://www.eiu.com/public/topical_report.aspx?campaignid=liveabilityAug2011.

UPDATE: TRUCK-BOMBING AT UN HQ IN ABUJA CLAIMED 23 LIVES

As an update on my postings on the truck-bombing in Abuja, one Norwegian and 10 Nigerians were among the United Nations staffers killed last week. Nine people not connected to the UN and three identified bodies are also among those killed, bringing the total loss of life to 23.

COMMENT: The attack was claimed by a sect known locally as Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is sacrilege" in the local Hausa language. The group is advocating for a strict adherence to Shariah law in Nigeria.

UPDATE: HOTEL EMPLOYEE ARRESTED FOR BEATING, RAPING OF RUSSIAN TOURIST

As a follow-up to my August 27 posting ("Russian Tourist Beaten, Raped at 5-Star Hotel in Egypt"), an 18-year-old man employed by the hotel in the Red Sea resort city of Hurghada has been arrested after admitting that he attacked a female Russian tourist who was a guest at the hotel. The victim was also admitted to a local hospital with multiple bruises and burns.

COMMENT: The assailant admitted that he had attacked and raped the Russian woman during questioning. According to investigators, he also confessed that he pulled her into her bathroom and poured hot water on her.

The woman, who identified the suspect when she was shown his photograph, said he had also raped her. Unfortunately, she refused to submit to DNA analysis (probably out of concern for publicity), which could very possibly jeopardize her assailant being charged with forcible rape.

In keeping with Egyptian law, if found guilty, the suspect will face a punishment ranging from five years or more in prison to the death penalty, depending on what he is actually charged with.

PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT URGES FOREIGNERS TO REGISTER WITH POLICE

As a follow-up to my last posting on the kidnapping of US citizen Warren Weinstein (August 24), the Pakistani leadership in Islamabad has developed a new strategy to reduce kidnappings: Direct foreigners traveling, working and living in Pakistan to keep local police stations informed about their whereabouts. In its statement, a spokesperson said “The government is stepping up its efforts to ensure the security of foreigners,” a senior official in the interior ministry told the media on Sunday (August 28).

COMMENT: The interior ministry’s spokesperson said that the Government of Pakistan is concerned over the rising incidents of kidnapping. According to ministry statistics, an estimated 3,000 foreigners are currently working in various diplomatic missions. The US is at top of the list with 879 workers. With 211 officials, the UK takes the second spot. Around 5,000 foreign students are also studying in various educational institutions in Pakistan.

First of all, why release the number of diplomats and other personnel working for the US and the UK? That just makes it easier for the Taliban and other groups to examine possible targets. On the other hand, it is actually unlikely that diplomats will be kidnapped, considering that the Pakistani government is responsible for protecting them.

On the other hand, the interior ministry spokesperson did NOT mention the number of foreigners in Pakistan that fall into Warren Weinstein's occupational category--non-governmental organizations (NGOs)--who are "soft targets" and most vulnerable to kidnapping because invariably they do not have the high level of security that embassies provide to their diplomatic personnel. A conservative estimate is that the number of foreigners working for NGOs in Pakistan could easily reach 3,000-5,000. Possibly more.

As for the Pakistani government's directing all foreigners to register with the police, my strong advice is: DON'T DO IT. Foreigners in Pakistan SHOULD, though, ensure that they have registered their name, employer, passport number, date and place of birth, email address, cell phone number and other contact information (as appropriate) with their respective embassy so that: (1) The embassy knows they're in Pakistan; and (2) Knows how to reach them in an emergency.

Another issue to consider is that it is unknown how many Pakistani governmental organizations have been infiltrated by the Taliban and groups linked to al-Qaeda. One must assume that this number is not zero.

If any of our readers are based in Pakistan and have security concerns, I'd be happy to address any specific questions they may have.

UPDATE: TOURIST TRAM IN RIO SUSPENDED

As a follow-up to my posting on August 28 ("Tourist Trolley Derails, 5 Killed,"), authorities in Rio de Janeiro today suspended service until further notice on the city's only tram-line, after an accident that killed five people. The number of those injured has risen to 53 since my earlier posting. The tram, one of Rio's top tourist attractions, derailed on Saturday (August 27) as it came out of a curve and crashed with a post, causing it to fall to the street.

COMMENT: Rio de Janeiro Governor Sergio Cabral said the streetcar would only function again once the causes of the accident are established. Cabral also said that a plan has been launched to modernize the trams, which have been serving the artists' neighborhood of Santa Teresa, on a hill, since the 19th century.

While the official report is not expected until next month, Rio's Regional Council of Engineering and Architecture (CREA) anticipated Monday that the accident was most likely caused by a fault in the streetcar's braking system. On days of high tourist traffic, the streetcar was commonly known to exceed its passenger capacity.

My interpretation from the governor's statement is that there will be strong pressure on the city to restore the tram-line to service in plenty of time for Rio to host the World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympics in 2016.

US CITIZEN KIDNAPPED IN PORT-AU-PRINCE

Francois Dossous, the head of the Haiti's anti-kidnapping unit, reports that U.S. citizen Frank Jean-Baptiste has been kidnapped by unknown persons from his home in the capital. Reportedly, Jean-Baptiste was abducted by men posing as employees of a package delivery service.

COMMENT: He is married to the director of a prestigious private school for the children of diplomats and wealthy Haitians. Police and UN peacekeepers have increased checkpoints throughout Port-au-Prince. Few other facts are available. To review the U.S. Department of State's informational sheet on Haiti, refer to the following link: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_5541.

BRITISH PARENTS OF 4 DIE IN SEPARATE FALLS IN MOROCCO

A memorial service was held in Worcestershire, England, on Sunday (August 28) for a British couple, Mathilde and Roger Lamb, 43 and 47, respectively, who had been holidaying in Morocco with their four children, ages nine through 16.

Mathilde Lamb died in a Moroccan hospital on August 20 three days after falling from a third-floor apartment in the tourist town of Essaouira, where she was staying with her husband and four sons. A day later, Roger Lamb died after a fall from a second-floor balcony at the Essaouira Sofitel Hotel, a nearby hotel where he had moved with his sons after Mathilde had died. Local police have indicated that they are treating Mr. Lamb's death as a suicide.

COMMENT: Mr. Lamb, an engineer, had been based in New Zealand for almost 12 months, where he was working on a project to help rebuild earthquake-shattered Christchurch. He had reunited with his wife and sons in Morocco and it is believed the couple were considering moving the whole family to New Zealand.

Police in both the UK and Morocco are reportedly treating Mrs. Lamb's death as suspicious after press reports indicated that there was a heated argument between the couple moments before Mrs. Lamb fell. Further, the owner of the apartment has refuted the idea that the fall was attributable to an accident.

The couple's sons have been flown back to the UK so that they can be cared for by family members.

GERMAN TOURIST IN COMA AFTER ATTACK ON PHUKET

Tragically, a German tourist, remains in a coma today after being severely beaten by a group of tuk-tuk drivers [Samlor: a three-wheeled, motorized vehicle] in the town of Patong on Thursday night (August 25). Kurt Trotnow, 53, was beaten severely by a group of men outside the Taipan nightclub at 2300. According to witnesses, the victim was reportedly drunk and for reasons unknown attacked one of the tuk-tuk drivers, with the result being that other drivers joined in, leaving Trotnow seriously injured and lying in the roadway.

COMMENT: Bystanders took Trotnow to nearby Patong Hospital, although he was later transferred to Phuket International Hospital in Phuket City. He is listed in serious condition.

It should be noted that the delay in this report is attributed to the torrential rains that have befallen Phuket in recent days.

The high volume of foreign tourists that regularly visit both Pattaya and Phuket and the equally high level of victimization of tourists is a concern to Thai officials, given the frequent reports of cases of larceny, robbery, scams by jet-ski owners, con-games and the use of date-rape drugs on tourists.

Ironically, a senior Thai police official also met with tuk-tuk drivers on Phuket today in an effort to lift standards of behavior and dress and agree on a new scale of fares. Recently, tuk-tuk drivers blocked an essential part of central Patong's one-way street system in a dispute with police. The blockade came because a policeman drew a gun in trying to bring peace as tuk-tuk drivers brawled with two young men from the Netherlands. Inflated tuk-tuk fares are the cause of most tourist complaints on Phuket.

Although tuk-tuk drivers are often a very contentious group of folks to deal with (as I have witnessed from first-hand knowledge), it is entirely possible that this altercation began with the victim throwing the first blow. As I have said in the past, excessive drinking on the part of tourists can severely impair their judgment and ability to make wise choices in tense situations. Hence, if Mr. Trotnow indeed started the fight with the tuk-tuk driver, his injuries might well have been victim-precipitated.

MUMBAI HIT BY HEAVY RAINFALL, DISCRETIONARY TRAVEL SHOULD BE DEFERRED FOR 10 DAYS

For those of you that have travel planned to Mumbai, I would suggest you defer discretionary travel to India's financial capital for AT LEAST 10 DAYS, considering that as of today commerce in some areas has been severely disrupted.

COMMENT: Mumbai has been hit very hard with non-stop rainfall since lashed virtually non-stop since Friday (August 26), with more heavy rain and high winds forecast over the next two days before the annual monsoon rainy season draws to a close next month.

Train service has also been severely affected, with the Central Railway only able to operate 10% of its 1,573 scheduled daily services.

Flooding is an annual hazard during the monsoon in Mumbai, particularly in low-lying areas, making roads in some parts impassable and reducing traffic to a standstill in others.

In 2005, more than 400 people died in Mumbai after a record level of rainfall. Neglected drainage and blocked waterways were blamed for contributing to the disaster.

For those of you who must travel, though, the city's domestic and international airports were not affected by the weather, although four outbound and two inbound flights from the southern city of Kochi were cancelled. It should be noted, though, that Kochi was shut down briefly after a Gulf Air-operated flight from Bahrain skidded off the runway onto muddy grassland as it landed today (August 29).

SON OF SOUTH KOREAN BUSINESSMAN KIDNAPPED, ABDUCTORS DEMANDING US$1.8 MILLION

The 18-year-old son of a prominent South Korean businessman living in Peru, was kidnapped on Tuesday (August 24), as the victim was being driven to school. Police subsequently found the young man's driver bound and gagged in an abandoned SUV elsewhere in Lima, the capital. The kidnapping occurred in the city's upscale La Molina district, which is home to a number of private schools, several universities, a good number of exclusive social clubs and the residences of wealthy Peruvians, foreigners and political figures.

According to witnesses, the kidnappers were disguised in Peruvian police uniforms at the time of the abduction. Those responsible are demanding a ransom payment of five million soles ($1.8 million) for the safe return of the businessman's son.

COMMENT: Ransom kidnapping is no stranger to Lima. The high-profile abduction follows initiatives by Peru's new president, Ollanta Humala, who won the presidential election in 2011. Since his inauguration in July, he has advocated for a crackdown on Peru's mushrooming street crime. Previously, he served in the Peruvian Army, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel.

UPDATE: HIGH RISK CONDUCT MAY HAVE LED TO NEW ZEALANDER'S HOMICIDE

As a follow-up to my August 27 posting ("Update: Arrest Made in Murder of New Zealand Croquet Executive in Pattaya"), the suspect in Charles Jones' murder, Mohamad Shanar Ryad, 22, has reportedly told police in Pattaya that he met Jones on August 19, in South Pattaya, and that Jones later invited him [Ryad] to his apartment to smoke marijuana and also paid Ryad 400 baht (US$13) for oral sex.

Ryad claimed that on Monday night (August 23), Jones again invited Ryad to his Pattaya apartment, but that the two men got into a serious argument, at which point Ryad used a pocket knife to stab Jones nearly 20 times. As has been pointed out previously, when Ryad was arrested by police, he possessed over US$40,000 in cash, as well as Jones' mobile phone and laptop.

COMMENT: Stuart Yeatman, a New Zealander who is also from Christchurch, was in Pattaya at the time of Jones' murder and has been the main point of contact for Jones' family. Yeatman and Jones reportedly met several years ago in Thailand and have remained close friends.

It should be noted that regardless of one's sexual orientation, casual sex with strangers constitutes high-risk activity that can often result in serious injury and/or death. If travelers choose to engage in such conduct, they should do so in relatively safe places selected by the traveler, where their welfare, money, valuables and possessions will not be at risk. Assuredly, safe sex practices should be adhered to, given Thailand's notorious reputation for contracting sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV/AIDS.

Jones was unmarried and 56 at the time of his death. Although he obviously had a distinguished career in international croquet, including being a recipient of the Queen's Service Medal for his contributions to the sport, his unfortunate death may well have been victim-precipitated.

TOURIST TROLLEY IN RIO DERAILS, 5 KILLED, 30 INJURED

Rio de Janeiro's highly popular tourist tram in the city's Santa Teresa section collided with a bus on Saturday (August 26), forcing it to derail, killing five and injuring 30 others. The tram's roof was ripped off when it overturned and smashed into a stone wall running along the rails.

COMMENT: Over the years, the tram has had periodic accidents. In June, another lethal accident occurred when a tourist who was traveling on the tram's foot board slipped and fell off a 15-meter bridge, killing him instantly. Unfortunately, the 24-year-old Frenchman slipped and fell from the tram while leaning out of the car in his effort to take a photo as the trolley passed through a traditional aqueduct.

On days of high tourist traffic, the streetcar usually exceeds its passenger capacity. Rio de Janeiro is scheduled to host the World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympics in 2016.

ABU SAYYAF RELEASES TWO FILIPINOS IN SULA PROVINCE

The al-Qaeda-linked Muslim terrorist group, Abu Sayaaf, released two Filipino traders in the mountain village of Patikul (Sula Province) earlier today (August 27) after a ransom was paid. The two captives had been held a week; family members paid 100,000 pesos (US$2,400) for their return.

COMMENT: Please note that the Indian expatriate reported in my August 23 posting ("Still No Word on Indian Expat, Reportedly Kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf") was also kidnapped from Patikul. It was also near Patikul where gunmen killed seven Filipino marines on July 28 ; two of the marines were beheaded.

Abu Sayyaf continues two hold two Americans of Filipino descent, a Filipino midwife, an Indian (described in my August 23 posting), a Malaysian and a Japanese national.

AFTER 21 YEARS, EGYPTAIR RESTORES DIRECT FLIGHTS TO BAGHDAD, ARBIL

Egypt's national carrier, Egyptair, resumed direct flights to Iraq after an interruption of 21 years. Service between the two countries was ceased by Egypt in 1990, following Baghdad's invasion of Kuwait.

COMMENT: The first Cairo-Baghdad flight left today with about 30 passengers on board. Henceforth, Egyptair will fly four times a week to Baghdad and three times to Arbil, capital of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan.

EFFORTS UNDERWAY, ALBEIT UNLIKELY TO IDENTIFY SHARK THAT KILLED BRITON IN SEYCHELLES

South African shark hunters have been flown into the Seychelles island of Praslin in an effort to identify a shark that killed Briton Ian Redmond, 30, back on August 16. Although two Tiger Sharks have been caught in recent days, it will be difficult to prove if one them killed Mr. Redmond, and a French diver shortly after the attack on Redmond.

Redmond, who worked as an IT consultant in Leyland, was honeymooning on the island with his wife, Gemma, 27, and was snorkeling 20 yards from shore in the Anse Lazio area of the island when he was attacked and killed by a shark. His wife was sunbathing on shore when he called for help.

COMMENT: Experts who inspected a tooth left in Mr Redmond’s leg have said it belonged to either a Tiger Shark or a Great White. The deaths of Redmond and the French diver are the first reported in the waters surrounding the Seychelles in over 50 years. In the aftermath of the attacks, the Seychelles’ interior minister ordered the closure of all surrounding beaches. Hence, the investigation as to whether a rogue shark was responsible.

UPDATE: ARREST MADE IN MURDER OF NEW ZEALAND CROQUET EXECUTIVE IN PATTAYA

As a follow-up to my August 25 posting ("New Zealander Murdered in Pattaya"), an arrest has been made in the murder of Charles Jones, 56, earlier this week. Jones, who was president of the New Zealand component of the World Croquet Federation, was found earlier in the week in his Pattaya (Thailand) beach apartment, the victim of robbery and murder. Fortunately, a 22-year-old Syrian suspect has been arrested by Thai police.

COMMENT: There were indications that Jones had befriended his assailant while staying in Pattaya. Security cameras at Jones' apartment building apparently revealed the Syrian waiting for Jones to return to his apartment, going up to his suite with Jones and later leaving with Jones' laptop and cellphone.

Unfortunately, many foreign travelers are very transparent, gregarious and outgoing. Although these are all good, positive traits while at home, I must respectfully suggest to everyone that people of means are often targeted by people with with nefarious objectives. Hence, a suspicious nature is essential in today's perilous, troubled times. '

I would also caution all travelers to not provide overly-friendly acquaintances with where one is staying until their bona fides has been satisfactorily corroborated. This would include not providing new friends with hotel room numbers and mobile phone numbers. Alternatively, I would suggest all travelers have a set of inexpensive business cards made before traveling abroad that simply identifies your name and an innocuous email address not connected to your website, intranet or employer (e.g., jgomez@gmail.com). It is better to be safe than sorry.

RUSSIAN TOURIST BEATEN, RAPED AT 5-STAR HOTEL IN EGYPT

A Russian female tourist was severely beaten and raped at a five-star hotel in the Egyptian resort of Hurghada on Friday (August 26). Police said that the rapist apparently entered the woman’s guest room posing as the hotel’s employee.

COMMENT: In my "Safe Foreign Travel" workshops I consistently suggest to travelers that crime in hotels is a frequent occurrence, even the best of hotels. Let's assume that you're in a hotel that uses the popular "card-keys" in lieu of a traditional keyed lock. Although "card-keys" are safe and reliable, they DON'T prevent an employee with a master "key" from gaining access to your room.

On the other hand, if the rapist knocked on the victim's guest room door and said he was with the hotel staff, it would have been appropriate for the guest to have the "employee" hold up their hotel photo ID to the optical viewer. Or, alternatively, the guest could have called down to the front desk to determine if an employee had been sent to the room.

It is essential that you prevent ANYONE from entering your room when you don't want them to. The first way of accomplishing this is to use the secondary lock on the door, usually a deadbolt lock than can be turned into place, or a metal loop that prevents anyone on the outside of the door from entering your room. That being said, I like to be prepared, so I always carry a couple of rubber door stops with me on trips so that I can cut one to size (with my handy-dandy Swiss Army knife) to fit firmly under the door, thereby preventing anyone from getting into my room unless I know exactly who they are.

Hurghada, population 250,000, is a unique beach resort on the Red Sea that was established in the 20th Century. The city stretches some 36 kilometers (22 miles) along the seashore. The resort is principally a destination for Egyptian tourists from Cairo, the Delta and Upper Egypt, as well as package holiday tourists from Europe, notably Serbs, Italians, Russians, Poles, Czechs and Germans. The city is served by the Hurghada International Airport with scheduled passenger traffic to and from Cairo and direct connections with several cities in Europe. Numerous Europeans spend their Christmas and New Year's holidays in the city, primarily Germans, Russians and Italians.

TANKER, CREW HELD FOR NEARLY A YEAR FINALLY RELEASED

The 73,000-ton tanker, MT Polar, which was hijacked some 600 miles of the coast of Somalia, 0n October 30, 2010, was released early today on Friday, although its location was identified. Paradise Navigation SA, the vessel's Athens-based owner and operator, offered no details of the conditions of the ship's and crew's release, but made it very clear that the vessel was left to its own devices to deal with the pirates, despite frequent patrols by the navy ships of various countries in the region.

COMMENT: The MT POLAR had a crew of 24 when it was seized and taken control of in 2010, although one of its crew members had a serious stroke and died while in captivity. In announcing the vessel's release, Paradise Navigation had strong words for the shipping industry: "It is a sad indictment of the international initiatives currently in place that they have proved ineffective in stopping piracy," the company said. "It is also doubtful that the political will exists to effect the necessary initiatives; accordingly the hijacking of vessels such as the POLAR and its use as a 'mother-ship,' attacking global shipping, is likely to continue unabated," its announcement argued.

The crew of the MT POLAR included nationals from the following countries: Romania; Greece; Montenegro; Serbia; and the Philippines.

According to the crew of the POLAR, Somali pirates are currently holding some 25 vessels -- a quarter of which are used as "mothers-ships" to launch further attacks. Additionally, pirate groups are holding an estimated 600 crew members for which they are demanding ransom payments. Reportedly, the average ransom per ship is increasing by 30%,compared to last year.

As I point out in my book, STAYING SAFE ABROAD, reducing the takeover of tankers and other vessels on the high seas is not difficult. It simply requires the use of technology, trained personnel, commitment and the expenditure of the necessary funds. It is foolish for shipping companies permit their crews to become victims of terrorism when it is unnecessary. My question to the shipping industry is: Do you want to make a small investment NOW, or do you want to pay $30 million later? In the end, prompt, proactive executive decisions will demonstrate to vulnerable crews that ship owners and operators actually care.

UPDATE: TRUCK-BOMBING AT UN HQ IN ABUJA CLAIMS 18 LIVES

As an update to my posting early this morning ("UN HQ in Abuja Bombed, Fatalities Mounting"), the Government of Nigeria has now reported that 18 people were killed and over 60 others injured after a suicide truck-bomb crashed through the gates of the UN headquarters building in the Nigerian capital. Over 300 staff members were working in the building when the attack was carried out. The UN building is relatively close to the US Embassy and other facilities in the diplomatic enclave. Later in the day, a spokesman for the extremist group, Boko Haram, claimed responsibility for the attack. The blast occurred just before 1100 hours.

COMMENT: This was Boko Haram's first attack on a foreign target. The group has struck government buildings such as police stations, mainly in the north, including a June attack on the police headquarters in Abuja that left six dead. "Boko Haram," roughly translated, means "Western education is a sin." It opposes the Nigerian government and Western culture and wants to impose a strict Islamic state across Nigeria. If the group does not already have a link with al-Qaeda, it is reasonable to assume they soon may.

SPANISH EXPAT MURDERED WHILE WALKING HIS DOG IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Pablo Fanjul Garcia, a Spanish citizen living in the Dominican Republic's second largest city, Santiago de los Caballeros, was shot and killed by an unknown assailant(s) yesterday (August 25). Sr. Fanjul was reportedly shot several times while walking his dog in Leon Jimenes Park in the Reparto del Este section of the city.

COMMENT: The attack was a drive-by shooting, so it is uncertain how many assailants there were or what their motive might have been. Clearly, the manner in which Fanjul was attacked rules out robbery as a motive. Furthermore, the number of times he was shot is indicative that his assailant wanted to murder him.

Although the Dominican Republic has its fair share of economic crime, apparent assassinations of foreigners is very, very rare. What is known is that Sr. Fanjul regularly walked his dog in predictable patterns, so that might well be an indicator that he was surveilled prior to the attack. Santiago de los Caballeros has a population of nearly 600,000 people. Consequently, whomever the assailant was, he had pinpointed Sr. Fanjul's patterns of behavior.

No arrests have been made in the shooting.

CARTEL VIOLENCE IN MONTERREY CASINO CLAIMS THE LIVES OF 52

Earlier today, Mexican President Felipe Calderon angrily declared three days of mourning on and demanded a crackdown on drugs in the United States after gunmen torched the Casino Royale in downtown Monterrey, killing at least 52 people, most of them women. There are also concerns that the death toll could rise.

The attack occurred when gunmen pulled up in front of the casino in vehicles on Thursday afternoon and stormed the building and began to douse gasoline all over the interior. In a matter of minutes, the fuel was ignited and panic began. Minutes later, black smoke began funneling from the building. Unfortunately, many of the occupants and employees attempted to escape from the building through secondary exits, but found the doors to be strangely locked.

This was not the first time the Casino Royale has been attacked. Gunmen struck it and three other casinos on May 25, and sprayed the building with automatic weapons fire. Even though casinos are illegal in Mexico, many of the cartels threaten them with violence and destruction if they don't pay protection money.

Lashing out at corrupt officials in Mexico and an "insatiable" U.S. demand for illegal drugs, Calderon urged the U.S. Congress to stamp out drug consumption and stop illegal trafficking of weapons across the border into Mexico.

COMMENT: Calderon first ordered a crackdown against the drug gangs when he took office in late 2006 , but up until now, his "war on drugs" has claimed the deaths of some 43,000 people, with no end in sight. Imagine? Forty-three thousand people.

It is understandable the chaos the cartels have caused in Mexico in just a few years. Surely, Calderon's anger is no doubt justified, but blaming the US for its appetite for drugs is not fair, considering that Mexican drugs are consumed by ALL nations, including those of Europe. He needs to place blame where it firmly belongs: On the shoulders of corrupt Mexican politicians, legislators, police, prosecutors and judges. At some point, the corruption must stop.

Unfortunately, Calderon's war on the cartels has NOT made a dent in the level of drugs available for sale and shipment, largely because of the adverse impact that institutionalized corruption has on all elements of Mexican society.

Moreover, the high level of carnage will create an uphill battle for Calderon's ruling conservative National Action Party (PAN) to retain power in next year's presidential election. Given the destructive impact the cartels have caused, most Mexicans will probably vote for anyone who can put an end to the wholesale killing. President Calderon, during his speech today, was deliberately blaming the violence on corrupt judges and politicians in "certain parts" of the country, an indirect reference to Mexico's main opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which controls the majority of Mexican states and for many years ran the central government.

I remember working in Monterrey years ago, which was then one of the safest, most modern and US-like metropolitan cities in Latin America. Yet, in the last two or three years, it has become simply another battle ground for cartel violence. Located just 140 miles from the Texas border, Monterrey is a major business center, which is also home to some of the largest Mexican, Canadian and American multinationals.

Sadly, though, there are few places in Mexico that have not been touched by drug violence, and that includes tourist destinations. Next week I'll offer some thoughts on where to travel in Mexico and where NOT to.

POLICE IN BALI WARN OF RISING CRIME AGAINST TOURISTS

Police in Bali have warned of an increase in crime against foreigners on the island, following the stabbing of a British tourist, 59, this week at his rented villa in South Kuta. According to The Jakarta Globe, this was the fourth burglary of a foreigner in the past two months.

COMMENT: As I've cited in previous burglary and robbery cases (and they ARE different), the Briton who was burglarized in South Kuta reported that there were several assailants that broke into his villa and was resisting the crime when he was stabbed in the leg. The fact that the criminals wanted his belongings and valuables should have led him to conclude that that was what they came for, not to kill him. If they meant to kill them, they would have done so. Strangely, many travelers cannot understand that resisting leads to injury and/or death.

On August 9, thieves stole about $53,000 in cash and personal belongings from the rented Ubud villa of a Japanese tourist. And in July, in Gianyar, an American woman lost $600 in cash, a camera and a cellphone, while Sanur police are investigating a burglary in which an Australian woman lost cash and several documents.

UN HQ IN ABUJA BOMBED, FATALITIES MOUNTING

A massive explosion struck the United Nations' main office in Nigeria's capital early this morning, causing one wing of the building to collapse. Early reports from a UN spokesperson indicated that the incident was a bombing. Fatalities have already been reported, but details are sketchy. Reportedly, the blast originated in the basement of the building.

COMMENT: The building houses about 400 employees of the U.N. in Nigeria. Local police have confirmed the blast, but are still investigating causation. It should be noted that the UN building is in proximity to the US Embassy and other facilities in the diplomatic enclave.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the apparent attack. Last year, an extremist group from the Niger Delta blew up car bombs in Abuja during Nigeria's 50th independence anniversary ceremony, killing at least 12.

A nation of 150 million, is divided between a largely Christian south and a Muslim north. In recent months, the country has faced an increasing threat from a radical Muslim sect called Boko Haram, which is pressing for a strict adherence to Shariah law throughout the country. The sect has carried out assassinations and bombings, including the June car bombing of the national headquarters of Nigeria's federal police that killed at least two people.

It has been theorized for months that Boko Haram may be attempting to link itself with two al-Qaeda groups in other African countries to mount joint attacks in Nigeria.

Details on the bombing and appropriate analysis will be disseminated as soon as possible.

BRITISH BUSINESSMAN UNDER HOUSE ARREST IN MOSCOW PENDING PROSECUTION

British businessman Darren Keane, 44, has been released from pretrial detention and placed under house arrest in Moscow, amid concerns for his physical health while in custody. He was arrested in June on the charge of illegal entrepreneurship associated with the organizing of a gambling club, but was shifted to house arrest recently due to concern for his health

COMMENT: Keane, the chief executive of Storm International Gaming, is accused of failing to close down the Shangri-La casino in central Moscow after a gambling ban was introduced across Russia in July 2009, on the basis that it was not appropriate for Russian society. Keane's trial is expected over the next few months. If convicted, he could be jailed for up to five years. The lesson learned here is...obey the law.

BRITISH TOURIST, 20, ELECTROCUTED DURING HEAVY RAINS ON PHUKET

An unnamed British tourist (pending notification of next-of-kin), 20, was electrocuted and killed early today on the Thai island of Phuket, following torrential rain that left water at least knee-deep. According to witnesses, the victim was electrocuted when he was moving through water in which "hot" downed electrical cables had fallen. Obviously, this occurred before the Phuket Provincial Electric Authority could turn off power in the area. To further complicate the situation, power interruptions were reported throughout most of the island's west coast.

COMMENT: Unfortunately, in most developing countries, and particularly small islands where the infrastructure is NOT well-maintained or state-of-the-art, freak accidents are commonplace. The best advice for tourists when they experience an area that has sustained heavy rain over a short period of time, is to stay in their hotel or wherever they happen to be. If it raining heavily, return to your hotel. If there is knee-deep water outside, avoid it, given the risk of "hot" downed cables. You'll never know whether there are downed cables or not, so when it starts to rain heavily, seek safety indoors where it is dry.

One reason I often urge travelers to stay in rooms above the ground level is to be above flood levels. Another downside of walking in knee-deep water, particularly bare-footed, is one's risk of infection from contaminated water. And, in Thailand, of course, with many very poisonous snakes being able to swim, that poses yet another risk.

ARMED GANG HOLDS UP 400 MOTORISTS NEAR PUNO

On the evening of August 22, an estimated twelve to fifteen hooded gunmen (carrying assault rifles) barricaded a major section of roadway in Peru's Puno province, which is very near the Bolivian border and the shores of Lake Titicaca. For a period of nearly four hours, the gunmen methodically stopped and ordered motorists out of their vehicles and forced them to lie face down so that they could be robbed. All vehicles were stopped during this period, including buses, private cars and trucks, while the gunmen relieved everyone of their money, jewelry and valuables.

COMMENT: Such a large-scale roadway robbery such as this is unprecedented, even during the years I was working in Peru. The success of the crime was facilitated by the fact that it was conducted during hours of darkness, the road was one that was not well-traveled and the nearest police had no voice communications. It is estimated that during the four-hour period the gunmen amassed roughly $181,000 in money and valuables.

Even if a police patrol had encountered the road barricade or the gunmen (which is unlikely due to rationing of gasoline for patrol vehicles), the assailants had fire power that well-exceeded the police.

The choice of the road was a wise one for the gunmen to select given its distance from the capital (532 miles) and from other major towns.

Although most foreign tourists would not be traveling at night on isolated roadways, due to the high risk of accidents, Puno nevertheless has been designated the folkloric capital of Peru, due to its history as a cultural and craft center. Hence, it is a center for foreign tourists, particularly due to its proximity to Lake Titicaca.

WIFE OF MISSING US VICE CONSUL IN CURACAO INDICTED

Abby Beard Hogan, 50, a Florida attorney was charged yesterday (August 24) in a seven-count indictment filed yesterday in the Northern District of Florida for her alleged role in the obstruction of an investigation into the disappearance of her husband, James Hogan, formerly US vice-consul at the U.S. Consulate in Curacao, who disappeared on September 24, 2009.

Ms. Hogan was charged with two counts of making false statements to federal law enforcement officials, one count of witness tampering, and four counts of obstruction of justice. On the day following the night of Mr. Hogan's disappearance, a diver located his blood-stained clothing on a local beach.

The indictment of Ms. Hogan reveals that during the course of the investigation into her husband's disappearance, she repeatedly provided false information to U.S. law enforcement about the time period before James Hogan’s disappearance and withheld relevant information. Abby Hogan allegedly denied, among other things, that she was having an extramarital affair and that she and her husband had argued about the affair on the night of Sept. 24, 2009. Additionally, the indictment alleges that Abby Hogan deleted multiple e-mails discussing the events leading up to and surrounding her husband’s disappearance. Abby Hogan faces a maximum of five years in prison for each false statement count and 20 years in prison for each count of witness tampering and obstruction of justice. James Hogan's body has never been found and he continues to be listed as a missing person.

COMMENT: Abby Hogan and her husband met while they were both serving as officers in the US Navy in San Diego. She served for 11 years as an attorney in the Judge Advocate General's office and he served for 22 years as a Navy pilot, before joining the State Department. They subsequently served two tours of duty in Cote d'Ivoire and Botswana before what was supposed to be a two-year assignment in Curacao for the Hogan family. The couple has five children. Clearly, the Hogan family was one that was in crisis.

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW MEXICO?

THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR has a fascinating on-line quiz to measure your knowledge of Mexico. Give it a try by going to the below link:
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2011/0407/How-well-do-you-know-Mexico-Take-our-quiz/President

NEW ZEALANDER MURDERED IN PATTAYA

Charles Jones, 56, of Westport, New Zealand, and a president of the World Croquet Federation, was on his way home from a world croquet tournament in London (via a stopover in Thailand to promote croquet), but was robbed and murdered in his hotel apartment in Pattaya (roughly an hour from Bangkok). Friends found his body when he failed to return from breakfast on August 23.

COMMENT: Jones' assailants stole his cellphone and computer before leaving. Reportedly, he also refused to give them the combination to a safe in the apartment, which might well have been a motivation for the homicide.

One reason that Jones was in Pattaya was to cultivate the opening of the city's first croquet club. He was known for establishing croquet clubs in countries where they did not exist and was a distinguished recipient of the Queen's Service Medal for his contribution to croquet.

Unfortunately, Thailand, where I served for a number of years as the US Embassy's senior security officer, has grown much more violent than when I was there. As all countries continue to face negative economic ramifications, crime seems to be rising everywhere, but particularly in Thailand, which is a hub for foreign tourists in large numbers. Those that have are forced to relinquish their possessions and money; those that don't improve their situation. The incidence of rape and sexual assault is also very high in Thailand.

I wrote my book, STAYING SAFE ABROAD: TRAVELING, WORKING AND LIVING IN A POST-9/11 WORLD, to prevent international crime. To ensure that you and those traveling with you have a safe trip abroad, I would suggest purchasing the book if you don't have access to professional "Staying Safe Abroad" training. The book can be ordered through my website: http://www.sbrisksolutions.com.

If it is true that Mr. Jones refused to open his apartment safe for his assailants, that might well have been a factor in his death. I strongly recommend AGAINST resisting a robbery. Criminals simply want what they came after; if you give it to them, rarely is the victim seriously harmed. Admittedly, there are exceptions, albeit few. Resistance can be effective against rape, which is the topic for another discussion. Actually, pages 230-250 in my book address rape abroad, including resistance.

LIMITED STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED IN TRINIDAD

For anyone traveling to Trinidad and Tobago in the near term, be aware that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar declared a limited state of emergency on Sunday (August 22), after 140 people were arrested during a crackdown on gangs. This provision also includes a 2100-0500 curfew that is being enforced.

COMMENT: Much of Trinidad's security problems stem from turf wars between drug gangs that are jockeying for control of the huge transshipment trade for South American cocaine destined for the US and Europe. I would discourage discretionary travel to the twin-island Caribbean country until the state of emergency is lifted. It should be noted that the last time the government announced a state of emergency was in July 1990, when a local Muslim extremist group, Jamaat a-Muslimeen, attempted a coup against the central government.

BIKINIS AND BARE-CHESTED MEN RESTRICTED TO BEACHES IN BARCELONA

For any of you that are headed to Barcelona, please be forewarned that effective May 30, beachwear and bare-chested men are restricted to beaches only in an effort to clean up the city's image of seeing predominantly fleshy residents and tourists. The ordinance was instituted largely because of the sight of tourists dining in restaurants and visiting shops in various states of undress.

COMMENT: Police officers in Barcelona will be authorized to impose on-the-spot penalties to those who refuse to cover up. Fine-free areas will include the beach itself, the seafront promenade, and the streets adjacent to the beach. Otherwise, fines of between 120 and 300 euros for those going "semi-nude" and between 300-500 euros for those who deviate from the designated nudist beach will be issued. New posters depicting a stick figure couple in swimming costumes with a red line through it were put up at sites across the city ahead of the summer season and hotels, bars and restaurants in the tourist areas were asked to display the signs as well.

UPDATE: SUSPECT IN FRENCHWOMAN'S MURDER CHARGED

Asni Omar, 36, was formally charged yesterday (August 23) before a magistrate in Pekan, Malaysia, with the murder of French tourist Stephanie Foray, 30, on Pulau Tioman, between May 10 and May 12. During the proceeding, Asni was denied bail pending forthcoming judicial proceedings. For background, please refer to my previous postings on this case. He will face the death penalty if convicted.

COMMENT: As I've indicated in my previous postings pertaining to the murder of Ms. Foray, she was a civil servant in France and arrived in Malaysia on May 5, after spending several months in India and Sri Lanka. After spending two days in Kuala Lumpur, she went to Malacca on May 7 before taking a ferry from Mersing to Tioman. For background, please refer to my previous postings on this case.

As I've previously pointed out, traveling abroad is not without risks, which is why I consistently urge travelers to learn about traveling safe internationally. In Ms. Foray's case, she was traveling alone, which always increases one's vulnerability to violent crime.

UPDATE: THREE SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN WEINSTEIN KIDNAPPING

Pakistani police have arrested three men in connection with the kidnapping of 70-year-old American Warren Weinstein more than 10 days ago. The three were detained by police on August 23 and arrested today.

COMMENT: The Pakistani police have said little about the arrested suspects. My suspicious nature does not exclude arrests being made simply to take pressure off of the government.

No group has as yet claimed responsibility for the kidnapping or made a demand in exchange for Weinstein's return. Weinstein, a private U.S. citizen who has lived in Pakistan for seven years, was in his bed when assailants stormed his home and abducted him. The former USAID worker is currently employed by the private U.S.-based development firm, J.E. Austin Associates. Unfortunately, he was expected to return permanently to the US the day after his kidnapping, having completed his assignment with his employer. Very bad luck.

Considering that Weinstein suffers from a heart condition, and is prescribed a large number of medications, it was wise for for his employer, J.E. Austin Associates, to release a list of medications that he must take daily, hoping that his abductors will obtain the medications for him. Weinstein is the first private American to be kidnapped in Pakistan since al-Qaeda operatives abducted and murdered WALL STREET JOURNAL correspondent Daniel Pearl in 2002.

FRENCHMEN TO BE EXTRADITED TO SPAIN FOLLOWING STABBING DEATH OF BRITISH YOUTH

The decision to extradite two Frenchmen to Spain suspected of killing a British youngster outside of a nightclub (at 0400 in the morning) on the Costa Brava in Catalonia's touristy Lloret del Mar will be made by a French judge on August 26. The two Frenchmen are also alleged to have passed counterfeit currency while in Spain. Both suspects are 21.

Andrew Milroy, a 15-year-old British expat, who had been living with his parents in Spain for his entire life was stabbed during an altercation outside a club last month. Both men admitted being involved in the fight which took place as they were leaving the club, but said they didn't know the youth had died. Both returned to France the following day.

COMMENT: The victim's family moved to Spain 26 years ago and run a trendy diner in Lloret del Mar. The resort, estimated to receive one million tourists a year, has been the scene of growing tensions this summer with fighting regularly breaking out in the many nightspots that line the coast. Earlier this month police in the city were forced to use rubber bullets during a stand-off with "party animals," believed to be mainly French and Italian, when they refused to disperse after the nightclubs had closed.

The nagging question in this case is what was a 15-year-old of any nationality doing outside of a nightclub at 0400 in the morning? Where were the parents? Tragic as the loss of the British couple's son no doubt was to them, if the son had had a curfew, he would not be dead.

Also, if unruly, potentially violent behavior is the norm in Lloret del Mar, and is foreseeable, where were private security personnel at the club and where were the police to proactively prevent loss of life?

SPANISH TOURIST KILLED BY RAMPAGING ELEPHANTS IN NAMIBIA

Spanish tourist Jordi Blasi-Elias, 55, was attacked and killed by two enraged female elephants near a campsite where the couple was staying in Namibia, on Thursday (August 18), after a day on a photo safari. Blasi and his wife, Maria, 47, were returning to their campsite to pay another night's accommodations when Blasi began walking along a path covered with undergrowth when he came upon two elephants. According to a local source, another group of tourists had gotten too close to the elephants only 30 minutes earlier and seemed to have become agitated when Blasi approached. Suddenly, they charged him and began throwing him into the air with their trunks a number of times, resulting in his death.

COMMENT: During the attack on her husband, Maria crouched down in the couple's 4x4, which was less than five meters away from the attack. Witnesses at the scene said that Blasi did not provoke the elephants in any, however, they did suddenly attack him. Management of the game park assisted in transporting Maria and her husband's body to Windhoek on Friday, for the return trip to the capital of Windhoek, where Spanish Embassy officials would assist the Barcelona couple in returning to Spain.

As I often mention in my blog postings, although traveling abroad is enriched by wonderful experiences, we must all be ever-vigilant to the differing environments we find in other countries. While on a game park tour in Kenya a few years ago, I remember all too well how close we were able to get to elephants, rhinos and other large animals, not fully realizing that these beings are truly wild. Hence, we often experience the opportunity as if we're in a large zoo, which is not the case at all. During our tour we were also taken into a relatively small, en-caged area containing a beautiful female cheetah. Although we were able to observe her from a matter of feet, and even pet her, that did not change being a dangerous predator.

STILL NO WORD ON INDIAN EXPAT, REPORTEDLY KIDNAPPED BY ABU SAYYAF

Indian Expatriate Biju Kolaraveetil, 36, who was kidnapped by the brutal Islamic terrorist group, Abu Sayyaf, on June 22, is reportedly still in the hands of the group. Biju and his wife, Elena, a Filipina, and their two sons, Arujun and Ajay, visited the Philippines in June, to visit with Elena's aging parents in Patikul, Sula province. Biju and Elena had both been working for a South Korean multinational company for nearly ten years , where they met.

Biju was kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf when a number of armed men converged on Elena's parents' home in Patikul. Despite pleas from the Indian Government and appeals to the Indian Embassy in Manila, Biju remains in captivity.

COMMENT: Abu Sayyaf, which has links to al-Qaeda, has demanded a ransom payment equivalent to US$470,000, otherwise they threaten to behead Biju. The group has kidnapped foreigners in the past, including an American, who was killed while in captivity.

Sula, an island province, is located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Its population is nearly 1 million. Considering that the population of the Philippines is one-third of the US and the fact that the Philippines is comprised of some 7,000 islands, Biju could be held almost anywhere, but presumably in Mindanao.

UPDATE: REMAINS FOUND IN CAVE ON TIOMAN CONFIRMED AS STEPHANIE FORAY

As a follow-up to my August 15 posting ("Frenchwoman's Body May Have Been Found on Tioman Island," DNA analysis last week has confirmed that the remains found in a cave are in fact those of Stephanie Foray, 30. Forensic pathologists have concluded, based on an autopsy of Ms. Foray's remains, that she was struck on the head with a bottle, presumably when she refused to have sex with her assailant (now in custody).

COMMENT: It should be noted that the alleged assailant, 36, who lives near the cave in which Ms. Foray's remains were found, led police to her remains, as he lives near the cave. He also told authorities that he had been drinking heavily the day that he attacked Foray. Police also found Foray's mobile phone and other effects on the suspect, at which point he led police to the dump on the island where the murder weapon, a bottle, was collected as evidence. The suspect was formally charged with murder yesterday.

Investigators have yet, however, to confirm forensically whether Ms. Foray was actually raped. Hence, they are still waiting for the return of analytical reports.

Foray's mother and sister arrived in Malaysia earlier in the week to identify the remains.

Foray, who worked as a communication officer in France, arrived in Malaysia on May 5, after touring India and Sri Lanka for several months. She then visited the capital of Kuala Lumpur and left there on May 7, before taking a ferry to Tioman. Foray's family contacted the French Embassy in June, when they could not reach her.

As a retired US Embassy Regional Security Officer I cannot tell you the number of cases I've investigated where the victims had been traveling alone. Going solo definitely increases a traveler's risk to vulnerabilities that they might otherwise not face, so I normally don't recommend it.

I have also investigated a good number of rapes abroad, and would suggest to women traveling alone that surviving an attack is paramount. Hence, whether to resist a rapist or not is a question that must be decided in a matter of seconds. Hopefully, a would-be victim makes the right choice. For women traveling alone, I would also recommend security awareness and defensive tactics training before initiating travel.

UPDATE: CHINESE FAMILIES DISAPPOINTED BY PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE

Family members and one survivor of last year's botched hostage rescue in Manila that left eight Chinese tourists dead (and the hostage taker) visited the Philippine's this past weekend to commemorate the tragic event. Unfortunately, their meetings with government officials, although "useful,"resulted in the group's being disappointed.

During the hour-long meeting at the Department of Justice in Manila, Secretary Leila de Lima heard from six Chinese nationals who wanted four concessions from the Philippine government: criminal charges against certain officials who oversaw the hostage crisis, an official apology from the president, compensation for the victims and better protection for tourists traveling to the country.

COMMENT: Following the meeting with de Lima, the justice minister acknowledged that she would convey the four points to President Benigno Aquino.

On August 23 last year, a fired senior police officer hijacked a tour bus filled with tourists from Hong Kong and demanded his old job back, a drama that played out live over international news channels. The 11-hour siege ended with eight tourists and the hostage-taker dead after a severely mishandled rescue attempt by the Philippine National Police (PNP).

De Lima’s office investigated the bus hijacking and determine that there was a lack of clear direction to officials during the siege. She also recommended criminal and or administrative charges against 10 people. Yet, no one will be severely punished. As in the United States, when there are major screw-ups following a poorly handled crisis, particularly when lives are lost, rarely are those responsible criminally tried, fired or banished from government.

Lee Ying Chuen, who was on the tour bus, and survived, had wanted for the group to meet with President Aquino. Although The president’s press secretary said that President Aquino expressed regret over the incident, but the group says that is not the same as a formal apology. Nevertheless, Hong Kong's travel warning that discourages Chinese nationals from traveling to the Philippines remains in place.

INSURGENT FORMS NEW SPLINTER GROUP IN THE PHILIPPINES

Ameril Umbra Kato (who is in his late 60s), reportedly told AP by mobile phone last week, from southern Maguindanao province, that he would not return to the 11,000-member Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). His apparent objective is to split from the Philippines' largest Muslim rebel group and form a new group with hundreds of fighters to wage a war for a separate homeland.

COMMENT: A predecessor group of the MILF was formed in the 1960s and since then has persisted in its demand for an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines, using a number of different terrorist tactics to accomplish its goal. Collectively, the group's activities have claimed the lives of over 100,000 people.

What Kato seems to downplay is that the MILF has threatened to expel him after he led a mutiny in December 2010. In announcing that his new group will be called the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Front (BIFF), he strongly denied government allegations that he's linked with al-Qaeda.

It is very, very doubtful that Kato has 200 or more fighters waiting in the wings. He also asserts that he left he MILF because it was wasting time in attempting to negotiate with the government for expanded autonomy instead of waging a battle for an independent Muslim homeland.

Security agencies have accused Kato in the past of providing refuge to members of the Southeast Asian militant network Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), the small but brutal Abu Sayyaf group (which has strong connections with al-Qaeda) and Filipino militants like Usman Basit who have been sought by both the U.S. and Philippine governments, in connection with deadly bomb attacks.

Although Kato was able to wangle an interview with AP, it is reasonable to conclude that the BIFF will never be a formidable concern. JI, Abu Sayyaf and the MILF, on the other hand, will continue to to be a heavy consumer of governmental resources.