Anti-Chinese Unrest Grows in Tibet

World Travel Watch is a monthly report designed to help you make informed judgments about travel. Because conditions can change overnight, always make your own inquiries before you leave home. For more information on safety concerns in countries you may be visiting, contact the Citizens Emergency Center, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520, (202) 647-5225.

ASIA

Tibet: Anti-Chinese unrest is growing, not only in the cities but throughout the countryside as well, according to reports by the London-based Tibet Information Network. Since the beginning of the year, at least 69 Buddhist monks have reportedly been arrested for pro-independence activities in towns and remote monasteries. There have been several small protests in Lhasa in recent weeks, and travelers should exercise caution in the city, especially around the Barkhor, the market area. Chinese police and security forces have cracked down violently in the past, and travelers should avoid demonstrations.

Pakistan: According to the U.S. Department of State, the city of Karachi in the province of Sind is the site of frequent ethnic violence, and armed robberies are common. Some drivers resisting the thefts of their vehicles have been shot.

AFRICA

Ethiopia: The U.S. Department of State reports that travel to the provinces of Hararghe and Wellega should be deferred due to ongoing political tensions. There has been a general increase in crime, and highway travel is hazardous due to banditry and the presence of land mines. Businesses in the capital city of Addis Ababa are keeping normal hours, and the international airport is operating without interruption. The overnight curfew has been lifted, but travel at night still requires caution.

Mali: According to the State Department, travel to certain regions of Mali should be deferred due to continuing incidents of banditry, insurgency and vehicle theft. Regions to avoid include Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal, the area north of the Niger River in the Mopti region, and the areas near the Mauritania border in the Koulikoro and Segou regions.

Mauritania/Senegal: Diplomatic relations between Mauritania and Senegal have been re-established after a break of more than two years, and the border is now open between the two countries via the Rosso ferry. Air travel is re-established between the countries’ capitals, but visas should be obtained in advance. Ethnic hostilities along Senegal’s northern border with Mauritania have quieted in recent months, and the State Department has canceled its advisory for Senegal. Mauritania’s border with Western Sahara remains closed.

Nigeria: The situation in the capital city of Lagos has improved since incidents of violent unrest in May, causing the State Department to lift its warning to defer non-essential travel.

Zaire: Travel to Zaire should be deferred due to continued unrest, according to the State Department. The deteriorating economy has created an increase in violent crime. Several foreigners living here have been attacked by armed robbers in recent months and one died of gunshot wounds. The American Embassy is operating with a reduced staff, and the American Consulate General in Lubumbashi is operating with only a caretaker local staff.

MIDDLE EAST

Yemen: There has been a wave of political violence in recent months, and the potential for further incidents exists as the country moves toward elections by Nov. 22. Foreign embassies and Yemeni government buildings have been the targets of bombs. Travel should be avoided to remote areas of the country, especially the northern border areas with Saudi Arabia.

FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS

Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania): The three Baltic states are operating on a largely cash-only basis--and on June 20, Estonia became the first former Soviet republic to break from the ruble and issue its own currency. There are only two banks in the Lituanian capital of Vilnius that will cash traveler’s checks (charging a 5% fee), and no restaurants and few hotels accept credit cards. In Latvia, traveler’s checks and some credit cards can now be used in hotels and hard-currency stores.

Medical care does not meet Western standards in the Baltic states. Travelers with health problems should make special arrangements or should not travel here.

Further, according to the State Department, crime has increased in some areas of the Baltic states. Purse-snatchings and pick-pocketings are up in Vilnius, and similar crimes are on the rise in the Estonian capital of Tallinn. The U.S. embassies in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have moved into permanent facilities and can now provide limited consular services, including emergency assistance, to American citizens.

Russia: The government recently announced that it planned to tighten border controls with Azerbaijan, the Baltic states, Georgia and Ukraine, citing the ease with which foreigners have been able to enter these former Soviet republics without a visa and then cross over to travel freely around Russia. To avoid problems, travelers should obtain a Russian visa in advance.

Moldova: Tensions in the former Soviet state have grown to the point where the tiny country announced June 22 that it was at war with Russia. The thin strip of land bordering Ukraine, known as the Trans-Dniester region, has been the site of conflict between Moldovan government forces and ethnic Russian separatists, and all travel to this region of eastern Moldova should be avoided.

EUROPE

Spain: Travelers heading to the Olympics in Barcelona or the World’s Fair in Seville are advised that several drug-resistant strains of pneumonia exist throughout the country. Pneumonia infection is not usually epidemic, but groups of cases can occur in crowded conditions. Elderly travelers or people with respiratory problems should consult a doctor before they go.

SOUTH AMERICA

Bolivia: Political demonstrations have occurred in recent months in La Paz and other cities, and some have produced clashes with police. Avoid such gatherings. Non-essential travel in the Chapare region between Santa Cruz and Cochabamba should be avoided due to intense anti-narcotics activities that can produce violence.