15767: Nadal: Re: Attacks against foreigners in Jean Bertrand Aristide's Haiti. (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Olivier Nadal <o_nadal@bellsouth.net>

Australian Department of Foreign Affairs
3 June 2003
Australians should defer non-essential travel to Haiti. Australians in Haiti
concerned for their security should consider departure.

Safety and Security

Australians should defer non-essential travel to Haiti. The security
situation in Haiti remains very unpredictable given the continuing political
instability and worsening economic situation. Australians in Haiti concerned
for their security should consider departure.

Australians in Haiti despite this advice should exercise extreme caution
given the high incidence of violent crime, including murder, kidnapping,
armed robbery and car-jacking, often directed at foreigners. Drug
traffickers have sought to befriend foreigners in order to elicit
"assistance" in carrying bags containing concealed narcotics. Criminals have
also been known to pose as bogus porters or taxi operators at the airport.
Australians are advised to :

 avoid travelling alone
 avoid public transport, including taxis
 avoid travelling at night
 keep car windows closed and car doors locked at all times.
 only carry sufficient cash for their daily needs
 avoid displays of wealth at all times
 keep photocopies of valuables such as passport, tickets, driving licence
and travellers cheques separately.

Violent demonstrations can occur with little warning throughout Haiti,
particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince. Australians who choose to
travel to Haiti despite this advice are strongly advised to avoid
demonstrations and other large public gatherings.

Australians should be aware of local cultural sensitivities. There have been
reports of assaults on foreigners whose approaches have been misunderstood,
particularly in remote areas. This includes photography.

In the event of a natural disaster, Australians should follow the advice of
local authorities. Haiti is in an active seismic zone and is subject to
earthquakes. The hurricane season is June to November when flooding and
landslides can also occur.


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