Monday, April 30, 2007 US, Aussie caution travel to Zambo Peninsula, Sulu By Ulysses Israel
THE United States and Australian governments issued new travel advisories warning their citizens to exercise extreme caution when traveling in central and western Mindanao as well as in Sulu.
The travel advisories continued to cite terrorism, kidnapping, and counter-terrorism operations in the areas that pose serious threats to safety and security of foreign travelers.
The US travel advisory warns US citizens contemplating travel to the Philippines to carefully consider the risks to their safety and security while there, including those due to terrorism.
"While travelers may encounter such threats anywhere in the Philippines, the southern island of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago are of particular concern. Travelers should exercise extreme caution in both central and western Mindanao as well as in the Sulu archipelago," the US travel advisory said.
It said: "Kidnap for ransom gangs operate in the Philippines. In January 2007, one such gang abducted two (American) children outside their home in Tagum City, Davao Del Norte, in Mindanao. The New People's Army (NPA), another terrorist organization, operates in many rural areas of the Philippines, including in the northern island of Luzon. While it has not targeted westerners in several years, the NPA could threaten US citizens engaged in business or property management activities, and it often demands revolutionary taxes."
It also said terrorist groups, such as the Abu Sayyaf and the Jema'ah Islamiyah, and groups that have broken away from the more mainstream Moro Islamic Liberation Front or Moro National Liberation Front have carried out bombings resulting in deaths, injuries, and property damage.
In some areas of in Mindanao, visitors are advised to avoid travel at night outside metropolitan areas.
US government employees are required to seek special permission for travel to Mindanao or the Sulu archipelago.
The Australian government's travel advisory strongly advised citizens against traveling to Mindanao, including the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Sulu archipelago "because of the very high threat of terrorist attack, including kidnapping, and related counter-terrorism operations."
"Recent credible information indicates terrorists may be in the advanced stages of attack planning. The attacks may be imminent and could occur at any time, anywhere in Mindanao," its advisory said.
