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Travel
warnings
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PHILIPPINES |
April 12th,
2003 |
Canadians
should not travel to the Sulu archipelago (Basilan, Jolo/Sulu,
and Tawi-Tawi) and the following provinces/cities on Mindanao:
a) Maguindanao;
b) North Cotabato;
c) Lanao del Sur;
d) Lanao del Norte, including Iligan City;
e) Sultan Kudarat, including the municipality of Palembang;
f) South Cotabato Province, including General Santos City;
g) Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga City;
h) Zamboanga del Norte; and
i) Davao City and rural areas adjacent to Davao City.
Kidnapping incidents have occurred in Mindanao and other regions
since April 2000. The Abu Sayyaf group has attacked and
kidnapped tourists at resorts on Samal Island, Davao del Norte,
Palawan Island, and in the Malaysian state of Sabah. Several
people were held hostage and deaths resulted. A Canadian was
kidnapped in Davao del Sur in November 2001 and held hostage for
seven weeks. Some gangs have used extreme violence and have
targeted business individuals and visitors throughout the
Philippines, including metro Manila and Makati, the business and
entertainment district. Several foreigners were abducted and
robbed at gunpoint by men in security uniforms at a well-known
tourist hotel in Pagsanjan, Laguna, in southern Luzon in April
2002. Seven new kidnapping incidents were reported in September
2002. All were kidnap-for-ransom cases.
Random bombings continue to occur in Mindanao, Manila, and other
areas where insurgent groups are active. Bombs have exploded in
shopping malls, on public transportation, at the international
airport in Manila, places of worship, and in other public areas,
some resulting in injuries and deaths. Several bombings have
occurred recently in Zamboanga, including the Fort Pilar
Christian shrine and outside a restaurant-videoke bar in
Barangay Malagutay, near Zamboanga City. Eight explosive devices
were discovered in Metro Manila in March 2002, including Makati.
A bomb exploded on a passenger bus in Quezon City, Manila, on
October 20, 2002. Two people were killed and 20 were injured.
There have been two attacks on foreigners in the Mount Pinatubo
area, the most recent in January 2002, resulting in one death.
Canadians travelling in this area should exercise extreme
caution. The Santa Juliana route in Capas, Tarlac, is considered
safe. However, trekkers should avoid the Porac and Sapang Bato
routes in Pampanga, which are unguarded and considered unsafe.
Canadians travelling throughout the Philippines should be
vigilant and maintain a high level of security awareness due to
the continuous threat of kidnappings, bombings and other violent
incidents. Security arrangements at resorts, particularly beach
resorts, should be carefully reviewed. Canadians should comply
with all security procedures. Anything suspicious should be
reported immediately to the nearest security authority. Contact
the Canadian Embassy in Manila for updated security information
prior to departure.
Canadians arriving from areas affected by severe acute
respiratory syndrome (SARS) - such as Canada (Toronto), Vietnam
(Hanoi), Singapore, Taiwan, and the People's Republic of China
including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region - may be
subject to medical screening. Persons with symptoms of SARS must
undergo further medical examinations and, if necessary, go into
quarantine.
For specific information on entry procedures, you should check
with the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines.
Heightened tensions as a result of the Iraq situation, together
with increased threats globally from terrorism, put Canadians at
greater risk. Canadians should maintain a high level of personal
security awareness at all times as the security situation could
deteriorate rapidly without notice. Exercise extreme caution,
particularly in commercial, public and tourist areas frequented
by foreigners. Canadians should monitor local developments,
avoid crowds and demonstrations, as well as register and remain
in regular contact with the Canadian Embassy in Manila or the
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (call
collect 613-996-8885). |
| Canadian
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade |
|
|
PHILIPPINES |
April 10th, 2003 |
Une forme de
pneumopathie atypique: SRAS s'est développée à partir de
plusieurs pays d'Asie principalement au Vietnam et dans le sud
de la Chine.
Les dernières informations et conseils concernant cette maladie
sont disponibles en consultant le site du ministère de la Santé
www.sante.gouv.fr ou en appelant le numéro vert suivant : 0800
150 160 |
| Ministère
Français des Affaires Étrangères |
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|
PHILIPPINES |
April
4th, 2003 |
| You
should remain vigilant throughout the Philippines for
spontaneous crime driven by poverty, and for serious crime
including terrorism and kidnapping, by organised gangs or
extremists. We believe there is a greater risk of terrorist
activity throughout the Philippines at the present time. You
should not travel to central, southern and western Mindanao or
to Basilan or the Sulu archipelago. You should also avoid
non-essential travel to the rest of Mindanao and take particular
care throughout Palawan and at all coastal resorts. You should
be aware of the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in
East and South East Asia. Developments on Iraq and any increase
in regional tension could lead us to further strengthen our
travel advice. You should check it daily and follow developments
closely. |
| Foreign
& Commonwealth Office London |
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PHILIPPINES |
March 7th, 2003 |
|
This Public
Announcement has been revised to update information on security
in the Philippines, particularly on Mindanao. It supersedes the
Public Announcement issued January 10, 2003, and expires on
September 4, 2003.
The terrorist
threat to Americans in the Philippines remains high. In view of
a number of security-related incidents and the possibility of
future terrorism, kidnappings, and other violence or criminal
activity, Americans traveling to or residing in the Philippines
are urged to exercise great caution and maintain heightened
security awareness. Extremist groups present in Southeast Asia,
such as Jemaah Islamiyah, have demonstrated transnational
capabilities to carry out attacks against locations where
Westerners congregate. Terrorist groups do not distinguish
between official and civilian targets.
On March 4, 2003,
a bomb exploded at the international airport in Davao, Mindanao,
killing at least 20 people, including one American, and injuring
over 140 others. Another bomb exploded shortly thereafter in
Tagum, the capital of Davao del Norte Province in Mindanao,
injuring several people. These incidents follow a bombing
outside the Cotabato City Airport on February 20, killing at
least one person and injuring twenty others. The Government of
the Philippines condemned these bombings as acts of terrorism.
During October 2002, at least 20 people were killed, including
one American soldier, and more than 100 people were injured in
various bombing attacks in Zamboanga City and the surrounding
area, and in Kidapawan, Cotabato Province. Similar explosions
occurred in December 2002. Other explosive devices have been
discovered and defused prior to detonation in these and other
areas of Mindanao.
U.S. citizens are
urged to defer non-emergency travel to the island of Mindanao
due to recurring bombing incidents and other violence and
criminal activity. U.S. citizens should avoid all travel to the
islands of Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, and Jolo, located in the Sulu
archipelago in the extreme southwest of the Philippines due to
kidnappings and other criminal activity. Americans residing in
Mindanao and in the Sulu archipelago should carefully review
their security posture, take appropriate action to secure their
well-being, and remain in close contact with the Embassy for
current information. As a precaution, the U.S. Government has
restricted travel by official personnel to these areas.
A number of
bomb-related incidents have also occurred in Metro Manila. On
October 18, 2002, an explosion on a bus killed three and injured
numerous others. Earlier that same day, a hand grenade exploded
at a main intersection in the Makati commercial area and another
unexploded grenade was found in the same vicinity. On October
16, 2002, a bomb was discovered and dismantled inside a
passenger bus on the regular route from Manila to Laguna
Province. The U.S. Embassy urges Americans to avoid crowds and
crowded places, including nightclubs and bars, and to exercise
special caution in public places, such as shopping malls, or
when using public transportation.
The terrorist New
People's Army (NPA), the military arm of the Communist Party of
the Philippines, operates throughout the Philippines and has
issued public threats against U.S. citizens and interests in the
Philippines. In January 2002, an American tourist was shot and
killed by an unidentified gunman on the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo
in Pampanga Province, an area known for NPA activity. Americans
are warned to avoid hiking or camping in this area and are
advised to exercise caution when traveling elsewhere in the
Philippines, due to armed clashes between the New People's Army
and government troops in some areas.
Extortionists
have kidnapped several Filipinos and foreigners, including three
American children. Kidnappers operating in Metro Manila and
throughout the Philippines have snatched family members of
prominent local business leaders and politicians for financial
gain, to make a political statement, or as part of business,
land, or personal disputes.
The terrorist Abu
Sayyaf Group (ASG) has issued public threats against U.S.
citizens and interests in the Philippines. The Abu Sayyaf Group
has taken hostage a number of Filipinos, Americans and foreign
tourists since April 2000. Several were freed after substantial
ransoms were paid, some escaped or were rescued by military
action, and some were killed. In 2002, one American hostage was
killed and another injured during a rescue operation after
spending more than a year in captivity. Because Abu Sayyaf has
demonstrated its ability to travel long distances by boat to
kidnap foreigners, it is possible that other locations in the
Philippines could be attacked. Accordingly, Americans should
defer travel to isolated beach resorts in the southern portion
of the Philippines.
U.S. citizens
living in or visiting the Philippines are encouraged to register
with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy, located at 1201
Roxas Boulevard, Manila City; tel. (63-2) 523-1001. |
| Bureau
of Consular Affairs of the United States of America |
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