State Dept. Travel Warnings and Public Announcements

For the full announcements or further detail on Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, please see http://http://travel.state.gov/

Democratic Republic Of Congo - On April 21 the U.S. Department of State issued a Travel Warning for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which reads in part as follows: "The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of traveling to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa). This notice replaces the Travel Warning dated September 1, 2009 to reflect continued instability in North Kivu province and the surrounding area, the ongoing risk of possible unannounced flare-ups of violence in other parts of the country, and the critical crime threat in Kinshasa. "Government soldiers, as well as rebel fighters, remain a security concern. These armed groups -- located especially in North Kivu, South Kivu, Orientale, and Bas-Congo provinces, as well as the northern part of Katanga province -- are known to pillage, steal vehicles, kidnap, rape, kill, and carry out military or paramilitary operations in which civilians are indiscriminately targeted." .

India - On April 21 the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi released the following Warden Message: "This Warden Message provides additional information related to the Travel Alert issued for India on April 16, 2010. "There are increased indications that terrorists are planning attacks in New Delhi. Terrorists have targeted places in the past where U.S. citizens or Westerners are known to congregate or visit. Markets, such as those located in Chandni Chowk, Connaught Place, Greater Kailash, Karol Bagh, Mehrauli, and Sarojini Nagar, can be especially attractive targets for terrorist groups. If you are in an area where unattended packages are spotted, you should immediately exit the area and report the packages to authorities. "Americans traveling or residing in India are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, remain aware of their surroundings, monitor local news reports, and take appropriate steps to bolster their personal security."

Taiwan - On April 19 the American Institute in Taiwan issued the following Warden Message: "Taipei police have informed AIT that a group of about 200 protesters from the group 'Taiwan Civil Government' (TCG) are planning to hold a demonstration at the AIT-Taipei Xinyi Road entrance on Friday, April 23, 2010, at about 2:00 pm. The purpose of the demonstration is to promote Taiwan Independence. The police have pledged to provide uniformed officers to monitor the demonstration. "Visitors to AIT are advised to be alert when approaching the public entrance on Xinyi road and to avoid the area if the gathering appears to be confrontational. "Demonstrations take place in Taiwan from time to time in response to world events or local developments. We remind American citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. American citizens are therefore urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible, and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations. American citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times. ..."

Thailand - On April 20 the U.S. Department of State released a Travel Alert, which reads in part as follows: "The State Department alerts U.S. citizens traveling to and residing in Thailand of ongoing demonstrations in Bangkok. This replaces the Travel Alert dated April 12, 2010, to update information on security concerns. This Travel Alert will expire on June 1, 2010. "The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (aka UDD or "red-shirts") continues to demonstrate in central Bangkok. The UDD may change or expand their demonstration locations at any time. There is also a possibility that various groups may engage in pro-government or counter-demonstrations.

For areas currently affected by demonstrations, please refer to local media. U.S. citizens should avoid travel to and lodging in these areas, if possible. If U.S. citizens must travel to these areas, they should exercise special caution and remain vigilant with regard to their personal security. "On Saturday, April 10, UDD and Royal Thai Government security forces clashed in the Phanfa Bridge area, resulting in a number of fatalities. The Royal Thai Government, under the order of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, is still operating under a State of Emergency in Bangkok and surrounding areas, which grants special powers to the Royal Thai Police and Army. It is unclear what additional steps the Royal Thai Government may take under the State of Emergency.

"U.S. citizens are reminded that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence with little or no warning. U.S. citizens are urged to avoid the areas that may be targeted for demonstrations and to exercise caution in their movements around Bangkok. "Political demonstrations by the UDD are expected to continue in Bangkok indefinitely. As a result, traffic congestion and difficulty of movement is possible throughout Bangkok, and traffic patterns may change unexpectedly as demonstrators block roads. There have been numerous incidents of explosive attacks, including several isolated grenade attacks, in and around Bangkok and Chiang Mai over the past two months. Additional explosive devices have been discovered before detonation. Some of these incidents occurred at or near areas frequented by U.S. citizens. These incidents appear to be motivated by domestic politics and do not appear to be acts of international terrorism. Travel to Thailand remains generally safe. However, the possibility of more such attacks cannot be ruled out. U.S. citizens are reminded to exercise caution and vigilance at all times. Immediately report to law enforcement or security personnel any unattended packages or bags or suspicious objects in public areas.

"The Department also alerts U.S. citizens that if demonstrations in Bangkok are forcibly dispersed, the UDD demonstrators may move to other provinces, as occurred April 9 and 10. Possible demonstration sites include provincial halls and military and police installations. Therefore, U.S. citizens should monitor public sources of information to stay abreast of the latest information concerning demonstrations and areas to avoid."