News - Notícias

Cambodia

Snatch and grab incidents against tourists have increased, especially in Phnom Penh. Thieves on motorcycles frequently grab bags and other valuables from tourists riding on the back of a motorcycle taxi. Women are common targets. Exercise normal safety precautions and ensure personal belongings, passports, and other travel documents are secure at all times. Carry passports, tickets, and money separately. Armed robbery and assault occur, especially in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. These incidents can take place during daylight hours and even in hotel rooms. Foreigners have been robbed, some at gunpoint, and seriously injured. Sexual assaults have been reported. Exercise caution when travelling in and around Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville, particularly after dark. Foreigners have recently been targeted and struck by projectiles fired from slingshots in the Riverfront bar district of Phnom Penh at night. Banditry continues in some rural areas. Some acts are carried out by ill-disciplined police or military personnel. Foreigners have been targeted. Travel in the countryside should be avoided after dark, especially in areas between Kratie, Snoul, and Stung Treng, in the northeastern provinces.

Indonesia 

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada advises against non-essential travel to this country. (IDW7)

You are advised against non-essential travel to Indonesia , including Bali .

There is an ongoing terrorist threat to Westerners and Western interests in Indonesia . Recent reports indicate that terrorists are in the advanced stages of planning attacks against foreigners in Indonesia . These attacks could occur at any time and anywhere, including locations known to be frequented by foreigners. Possible targets could include international hotels and places where foreigners are known to gather in Jakarta and elsewhere in Indonesia . Canadians should be alert for unfamiliar vehicles parked near residences. Unattended packages should be treated with caution and reported to authorities. Bomb threats should be taken seriously.

In October 2005, a series of explosions took place at Kuta Square and at Jimbaran Bay on the resort island of Bali.   Previous terrorist attacks against foreigners have occurred in Indonesia, including an explosion in front of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta in September 2004, a bombing at the Marriott Hotel in central Jakarta on August 2003, a bombing at the international airport in Jakarta in April 2003, and bombings in Bali in October 2002, all of which resulted in deaths and/or injuries.

Canadians travelling on business should evaluate carefully the implications for their security and safety before deciding to travel to Indonesia . Canadians who choose to travel to Indonesia and those currently in Indonesia should take all possible security precautions and exercise extreme caution when visiting commercial and public establishments (hotels, clubs, restaurants, bars, schools, places of worship, outdoor recreation events) and tourist areas frequented by foreigners, some of which have been targets in the past.

Ongoing ethnic and religious tensions in areas of Indonesia have resulted in violence and civil unrest. Heightened security remains in place in South Sulawesi Province including Makassar . Those who choose to travel to, or remain in, the Soroako region should take all necessary steps to protect their safety and ensure they have confidence in their individual security arrangements.

The Philippines-based Abu Sayyaf group has kidnapped tourists from Sabah , Malaysia , and the Philippines . They have not extended their activities into neighbouring coastal areas of Indonesia , including East Kalimantan and North Sulawesi , but are capable of doing so. Canadians visiting or residing in these areas should be aware of this potential risk.

October 2006

Guatemala - natural disaster

Originally Posted: October 25, 2006 14:24 EDT You are advised against non-essential travel south of the capital, Guatemala City , in the departments of Escuintla, Suchitepequez and Santa Rosa , which are adjacent to the Pacific coast. Flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains in the last few days have led to several casualties and created serious insecurity in these departments. Several thousands of inhabitants were isolated as of October 25, 2006 . A portion of the Pacific Highway near the border with El Salvador in Santa Rosa has collapsed. There have been serious landslides on the main highway (CA-1) from Guatemala City to the Mexican border, as well as in Escuintla, Panajachel, Solola, Los Encuentros, Santiago and Atitlan . Transportation, electricity, communications and other essential services may be delayed or unavailable at the moment, especially since some areas are still recovering from the structural damage caused by Hurricane Stan earlier in October 2006. Epidemics also pose hazards in this zone due to the presence of stagnant waters. With more rainfall forecasted, the situation could get worse in the next days and/or weeks .  Guatemala 's national disaster reduction agency (CONRED) has issued a red alert for the Pacific coast, while the rest of the Guatemalan territory is under yellow or orange alerts. Travel to Antigua is not affected, however caution should be exercised when travelling to Panajachel and Tikal , as particularly heavy rains have damaged road surfaces and the danger of flooding and mudslides is higher than normal. The border crossing with Mexico at Tecun Uman has been temporarily closed due to flooding. Travelers residing in or travelling to the affected areas should exercise caution, monitor local news and weather reports, follow the advice of local authorities, and determine whether the situation will disrupt travel arrangements.

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