Dangerous and Bizarre Destinations

If you are a businessman, and a frequent traveler, you should always be aware of the safety guidelines regarding the country of your destination. Some prominent countries, like the United States, United Kingdom, Canada post their travel advisory to their locals or citizen just like for instance the Philippines. The post read this way; Canadians must maintain their personal awareness on their security regarding the rampant kidnappings and killings in the Philippines”. But it does not mean that the whole Philippines is that dangerous, only a province in Mindanao, is most known for dangerous place, especially for the missionaries and journalists. But of course, being aware in a huge crowd in Manila can be dangerous for foreign visitors, maybe of theft, snatching of bags or valuable things such as cellphones and jewelry, but it is not only happening in the Philippines, also in China, Malaysia or Thailand, maybe because of poverty. Here some countries that are considered dangerous destinations for tourists, businessmen, journalists, missionaries and volunteers who just want to extend their help to countries beyond the poverty level, which involves the Peace Corps volunteers.

1) Maguindanao, Southern Philippine region (Mindanao)

Maguindanao-Massacre-, 12 journalists. a family clan, bodygurads and political allies

mass killing in Maguindanao

A province in the Philippines called Maguindanao, bordering to the North of Lanao del Sur, East of Cotabato and south of Sultan Kudarat, and the capital is Shariff Aguak. Maguindanao is located in ARMM or Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. On November 23, 2009, the worst political massacre killing 57 people an election caravan of then Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu was attacked, and these includes the wife of Mangudadatu, sisters, journalists, supporters, bystanders. The former President Gloria M. Arroyo, declared martial law in Maguindanao leading to warrant less arrest of the Ampatuan clan, and linked them to the Maguindanao massacre. On December 5, 2011, Provincial Governor Esmael Mangudadatu was ambushed with his convoy on the way for his birthday celebration. Some members of the Ampatuan clan were arrested and now facing charges.

Abu Sayyaf Group, Jolo, Sulu (Mindanao)

Martin and Gracia Burhams captured (image credit:www.123people.com)

The Abu Sayyaf or al-Harakat al-Islamiyya, is an Islamic separatists now tagged as terrorists based in Jolo and Basilan, southern Bangsamoro, where for almost 30 years, kinds of Muslim groups have been engaging in insurgency for an independent province for Muslims. The Abu Sayyaf are also criminal group, where they conduct kidnapping with ransoms, drive by shootings, drug and arms dealing, theft, and unlawful or illegal taking others properties. They also raped, beheading their kidnapped victims.

2)  Russia Gangsters and Russian Mafia

Vyacheslav Ivankov, a major figure in the Russian underworld, was shot in the stomach four years after this photo was taken An Armenian-American gang stole more than $35

Top Russian mobster Ivankov dies (Vyacheslav Ivankov The Yaponchik)

Russian Muslims protest radical literature ban

Russian Mafia Boss Kakosyan, gunned down dead

Russia is counted as one of the world’s dangerous countries because of  high crime rate because of the widely Russian Mafia group and the Russian gangsters and high rate of murders everyday. For the Western people, Russians gangster o criminals, are very hard to catch because of their sophisticated methods in hiding. Like the notorious leader of the Russian Mafia, Ivankov, after convicted for murder in 1992 in Moscow, but skipped out his probation and migrate to United States but was arrested in 1995 by the FBI, and was deported back to Russia.

3) Brazil

Brazil Police officers

BRAZILIAN police in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo ”routinely” carry out unlawful executions, worsening a spiral of violence

Gangster or organized crime in Brazil, attack the police and government authorities, that makes them dangerous citizen of Brazil. Not only killings, but some case of rape, theft, and cocaine related crimes.

4)  Mexico , Dangerous Cities

These dangerous cities in Mexico includes, Chihuahua , Mazatlan, Culiacan, Acapulco,Tijuana, Torreon, Durango where crimes and murders are very high in rate, and the notorious Zeta Gang in Mexico abducting victims to make them drug mules and murder them.

The decapitated bodies of several men lie scattered on a sidewalk in Mexico

Mexican Murder Suspect In U.S. Consulate Killings

Republic of Colombia

Ski Mountaineering in Colombia

Violence and killings in Colombia, high risk for travelers (army soldiers after the rebels)

The Republic of Colombia is a country in South America, where beautiful mountain tops is famous for ski over the equator. There more beautiful tourist attractions in Colombia, but you should be aware of the perils of influential and illgeal armed groups. The drug cartel developed in the 1970s to 1990s, the Medellin Cartel under Pablo Escobar and the Cali cartel, and financed the different armed groups as his protection. Pablo Escobar is the Colombian drug lord , an elusive coccaine trafficker, and killed in a shootout when he attempted to escape.

5) North Korea

An armed North Korean soldier raises his weapon. they execute person taking pictures with mobile phones

Panmunjom, Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ); North/South Korean Demarcation Line

6) Japan’s Dangerous affected cities (Earthquake, Radiation and Tsunami after effect)

Minato, devastated by both the earthquake and subsequent tsunami

train thrown away by tsunami in Ishinomaki Line

The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tōhoku  also often referred to in Japan as the Great East Japan earthquake .

Yakuza, Japanese Gang with their traditional tattoo symbol

Yakuza during Japan’s Sanja Matsuri

The Yakuza or gokudō, are members of an organized crimes syndicate in Japan. The media and police authorities call them the “Group of Violence” or the bōryokudan, an the Yakuza members call themselves as ninkyō dantai which means, ‘Chivalrous Organizations’, and very notorious for their ‘strict conduct codes’ and very organized in following rules from their superiors, but declined that they are ‘members of the secret society like the Chinese Triads and Italian Mafias.

Akihabara massacre

Akihabara massacre, The rented truck used to run into the crowd

Floral tribute to Akihabara massacre victims

Akihabara massacre “Akihabara random attacker incident”) was a mass murder incident of that took place in Sotokanda, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan,  Akihabara shopping center for electronics, video games and comics on Sunday, June 8, 2008, a man hit a crowd with a truck, eventually killing three people and injuring two, stabbing at least 12 people using a reported “survival knife” or dagger , injuring eight and killed four people.

7) South Africa

Cape Town, South Africa one of the Most Dangerous Cities in the World

South African Gangsters

Cape Town, South Africa,  killings of residents and homicides usually occur in the poorer districts and suburbs of the town, rape and the most scary is the high in rate and HIV diseases in this countries.

8) Somalia

Somalia Pirates and rebels

Thousands of Somali people are fleeing extreme famine, drought, violence from Somali pirates, and seek refuge in camps of Kenya and Ethiopia.

Zimbabwe

Violence in Zimbabwe

Police Brutality in Zimbabwe

The famous breathtaking Balancing Rocks in Zimbabwe, the igneous rock formation found in many parts of Zimbabwe. But the widespread reports on human right violation is very rampant under the the rule of President Robert Mugabe who has been in power since 1980, and his ZANU-PF party, violating the rights of the people of Zimbabwe, the rights to freedom of movement, residence and assembly, protection of the law, food, and shelter. The assault on the media and other gatherings formed by political opposition, are brutally and attack by the police fores.

9) Nigeria Brutalities and Scammer

Nigerian Scam email for Chefs

Nigerian scammer arrested

The Nigerian’s scams vary in many tactics and strategy, so beware

Killings and Brutalities in Nigeria

MAIDUGURI, Massacre in Nigeria

700 Corpses litter the streets of Maiduguri in Nigeria following five days of gun battles between security forces and members of Boko Haram on July 29.

Terrorists attacks and bombing in Abuja, Nigeria

10) Burundi

Burundi refugee camps

no British Embassy in Burundi. There is a high threat of street crime

Crimes of War – Two Sides to Every Story: Congo and the Rwandan .

11) Sudanese Rebels

Darfur, Sudan rebels

12) Afghanistan

Afghanistan, bombing, killings, abductions of foreigners

Afghanistan Women, victim of rapes and sexual assault, and “Honor Killings”

Iraq

Iraq street bombings, killings and violence

Iraqi insurgents with MANPADS

Iraq Car bombing

Israel

Israel and Palestinian civil war, violence affecting innocent civilians

13)  India

Chattisgarh tribals in Maoist killing

Maoist Killings in India is condemmed

Pakistan Violence

bomb blast outside jinnah hospital in karachi, daughter crying over mother’s death

Samaa, Karachi at least three including policemen killed

Pakistan Honor Killings

Shafilea Ahmed, 17

Shafilea Iftikhar Ahmed born July 14, 1986 – 11 September 2003) was a British-Pakistani, 17-year-old girl, who was murdered by her own parents Iftikhar Ahmed, 51, and Farzana Ahmed, 48, of Liverpool Road, Warrington, according to September 7, 2011 Cheshire Police report. The accused parents were both found guilty on August 2, 2012, of the murder of their daughter Shafilea Ahmed who was murdered on  September 11, 2003, and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years. Shafilea‘ s younger sister, Alesha Ahmed, arranged a robbery on August 25, 2010, that took place at their parent’s home, during her brother, sisters, parents and herself were at home. Alesha was arrested, and told the police that her parents had murdered her sister, Shafilea, by suffocating her sister when their father, Iftikhar Ahmed put a plastic bag into Shafilea’s mouth. Alesha told the police that her late sister was killed after trying to force her to accept an arranged marriage and the refusal of Shafilea would bring shame on the family.

14) Haiti

Haiti violence is travel risks

Haitian Boy receiving treatment

15)  Republic of Côte d’Ivoire or Ivory Coast, West Africa

security forces and militias supporting Laurent Gbagbo are imposing a reign of terror

The north of the country remains under the control of armed rebels, and the  fighting occur from time to time, has taken place in the commercial capital of Abidjan. Control Risks says that the rebellion increasing crimes, armed robbery,carjackings and street murders.

16) Algeria

Algeria violence, street riots,

Violent riots against Algerian police

17) Syria

Two days of bloody turmoil in Syria killed at least 74 people, including small children, as forces loyal to President Bashar Assad shelled residential buildings and fired on .

18) Malaysia

Malaysia police are brutal violence and lack of discipline

Theft & Pickpocketing, Chinatown,Kuala Lumpur , Warnings or Dangers

19)  New Orleans, United States

Seven people were gunned down in a hail of bullets as a New Orleans Mardi Gras parade descended into violence. Witnesses described scenes of chaos in the Garden District as …

The New Orleans war  for the heart and soul, about an 18-hour of violence where 17 people shot and residents in  confinement and evacuation of an elementary school, and shots fired at police twice.

There were 12 people murdered in New Orleans, in a year, and at least two dozen,and a 12-year-old girl, have been wounded in shootings.

20) Bronx, New York

Baby Face Carvett Gentles, 16 years old

South Bronx, in New York, is considered the poorest Congressional districts and the 16th Congressional District of New York. Poverty is the main reason of violence, theft, murder or organized crime groups of ethnics such as Mexicans, African-American, Asian-American and even white Americans.

These ‘dangerous countries’ mentioned, does not mean, it is all violence on the street everywhere or any areas. These countries have their beautiful scenery for tourists to visit, just be sure when you book your flight and hotel, just follow the strict rules or your tourists guide and hotel authority. And also know the nearest Embassy or Consular Office near your hotel.