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Ambassador: Guatemala's not dangerous
Lamport offers assurances during a visit to St. Mary's College Official visits college of students who were robbed, raped
January 20, 1998
Web posted at: 2:53 p.m. EST (1953 GMT)ST. MARY'S CITY, Maryland (CNN) -- The rape and robbery of U.S. college students visiting Guatemala last week does not mean it is a dangerous place, the country's ambassador to the United States said Tuesday. Pedro Lamport said he hoped the "unfortunate" incident would not discourage the "spirit of adventure" among young people.
"There's an awful lot of world out there to find, to discover, to research," Lamport told reporters during a visit to St. Mary's College near Baltimore to "assist in the healing."
Police in the Central American country have arrested four men believed to have taken part in Friday's attack on 16 college students and teachers on a study tour in southern Guatemala.
O'Brien Gunmen forced the group's bus off the road and ordered the 13 students, two teachers and an administrator into a sugar cane field. All 16 were robbed, and five women were raped in the 90-minute attack near the town of Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa.
Authorities know the identities of three other suspects being sought, said Lamport, who met privately with college President Jane Margaret O'Brien.
He was not expected to see any of the students who were attacked, but Lamport said their help had been invaluable in assisting authorities. That cooperation was crucial, he said, because Guatemalan law requires that prosecutors present the case against suspects within six hours of their arrest.
U.S. travel warnings 'exaggerated'
"These type(s) of happenings should not dissuade (young people), the ambassador said. "It's a wonderful world ... for (them) to take advantage of."
Lamport explains the purpose of his visit 417K/33 sec. AIFF or WAV sound Lamport says tourists are safe in Guatemala 325K/30 sec. AIFF or WAV sound Acknowledging "things happen this way around the world," Lamport said it was "logical" for the U.S. State Department to issue travel warnings for U.S. citizens visiting dangerous countries.
However, he took issue with the wording of the warning about Guatemala.
"We do believe there might be some type of exaggerations," the ambassador said, without elaborating. "We don't believe that portraying Guatemala in that way is a just way."
Lamport said about 250,000 people visit Guatemala each year, and the St. Mary's attack was an isolated incident.
St. Mary's College Lamport said he does not worry when his son, an agriculture student at Purdue University in Indiana, travels in rural areas of Guatemala on school research projects.
"He goes alone in his car and he goes about freely. If I had any concern, I would not allow my child to go."
However, the attack worried James Chapman, president of Spring Arbor College in Michigan, who ordered 16 students and two faculty members in Guatemala on a study tour to come home early as a precaution.
Correspondent Carl Rochelle contributed to this report.
Message Boards:
Related story:
- Two more suspects arrested in Guatemala attack - January 20, 1998
- U.S. student group attacked in Guatemala - January 19, 1998
Related sites:
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- Military Attaché of Guatemala in the U.S.
- Latin America on the NeT - Centro: Guatemala
- Guatemala Directory - Infoguate.com
- St. Mary's College of Maryland
- U.S. Department of State, Official Web Site
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