[Marinir] TRAVEL ADVISORY DOUBLE STANDARDS EXPOSED

[Yap Hong Gie]

---- Original Message ----- 
From: "Travel Impact Newswire" <imtiaz at travel-impact-newswire.com>
To: "Travel Impact Newswire" <imtiaz at loxinfo.co.th>
Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2005 6:57 AM
Subject: TRAVEL ADVISORY DOUBLE STANDARDS EXPOSED

786/110

TRAVEL IMPACT NEWSWIRE -- Edition 39 -- Thursday, 14 July 2005

25 Years of Distinction in Travel Journalism. Winner, PATA Gold Award for 
Travel Journalism, 2005.

Circulation has now crossed 25,000 worldwide, 80% in the Asia-Pacific and 
Middle East. Quality, not quantity, in terms of both readership and content.

- From Imtiaz Muqbil, Executive Editor, in Bangkok

In this dispatch :

1. TRAVEL ADVISORY DOUBLE STANDARDS EXPOSED: 
Three websites of the US, UK and Australian governments which issue travel
advisories were monitored after the July 7 blasts. 
As of July 13, neither the US nor the Australian websites were warning against
travel to the UK. Instead, they and the UK website had detailed advisories 
warning against travel to "parts of" Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, and 
numerous other countries in the Asia-Pacific, Africa, Middle East and Latin America. 
The double standards are so blatant that the travel industries of the developing countries should seriously consider joining forces in protest - if they and some of the 
international travel organisations of which they are dues-paying members can muster the guts.

2. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: 
Travel Impact Newswire 38 recapping my anti-war warnings to the industry received its usual scintillating response, both for and against.

===================

"There is no greater crime a government can commit against its own people 
than to lie to them to trick them into war." --  

http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/backtothelie.html

===================

1. TRAVEL ADVISORY DOUBLE STANDARDS EXPOSED

When the bombs went off in London on July 7, 2005, the first thing this 
editor did was to start monitoring the websites listing travel advisories. 
My objective was simple: To seek proof to back up long-standing complaints 
by the developing countries that travel advisories are one-sided, unfair, 
hypocritical and biased. Three advisory issuing websites were monitored: the 
US, UK and Australia. The bias was so blatant that the travel industries of 
the developing countries should seriously consider joining forces in 
protest -  if they and some of the international travel organisations of 
which they are dues-paying members can muster the guts.

As of July 13, neither the Australian nor the U.S. websites were 
discouraging travel to the UK. However, both these as well as the UK 
websites were continuing to feature advice discouraging their citizens from 
travelling to "parts of" Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, based on alleged 
'credible threats' of terrorist attacks. And Tony Blair told the House of 
Commons on 11 July 2005: "I know of no intelligence specific enough to have 
allowed (the UK police and intelligence services) to prevent last Thursday's 
attacks. By their very nature, people callous enough to kill completely 
innocent civilians in this way, are hard to stop."

Which raises the question: If the UK government doesn't have enough quality 
intelligence to protect its citizens at home, what is the quality of 
intelligence that justifies issuing travel advisories supposedly to protect 
them from terrorism abroad?

Inspite of the various statements by senior UK police authorities that more 
attacks were likely, neither the US State Department nor the Australian 
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade contained even the slightest 
reflection of those warnings on their websites featuring information about 
the London bombings.

A public announcement by the State Department 
[http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_uk.html] did not discourage 
Americans from travelling to London. Another website 
[http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html] contained a list 
of countries that "the State Department recommends that Americans avoid". 
The UK was not on that list.

According to the UK newspaper, The Guardian 
[http://www.guardian.co.uk/attackonlondon/story/0,16132,1527400,00.html], 
the US on July 12 lifted its ban on service personnel travelling to London 
after high-level exchanges involving ministers and America's most senior 
military officer in Europe. It rescinded the ban after a bout of what 
defence officials called "ear-twisting" by the media.

General James Jones, the commander of US forces in Europe, who ordered the 
ban to be lifted, was quoted by the Guardian as saying: "While all personnel 
are encouraged to be vigilant, we cannot allow ourselves to be intimidated 
by the acts of terrorists. All US personnel are encouraged to continue with 
their normal routine."

The Australian travel advisory website 
[http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/United_Kingdom] said 
merely: "Australians in the United Kingdom are advised to exercise caution 
and monitor developments that might affect their safety. A series of 
terrorist bomb attacks occurred on 7 July on the transport system of central 
London and British authorities have warned that further attacks cannot be 
ruled out. You should be vigilant and watch the media for information about 
possible new safety or security threats."

By comparison, the advisories against Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand gave 
the impression that the terrorist 'threat' was worse in those countries than 
in the UK.

This is what the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website 
said about INDONESIA in an advisory issued on Thursday, 09 June 2005 but 
still called valid as of 13 July 2005:

"Australians are advised to defer non-essential travel to Indonesia. 
Australians in Indonesia who are concerned for their safety should consider 
departing. Australians who consider their presence in Indonesia to be 
essential should exercise extreme caution. The recommendation that 
Australians defer non-essential travel applies to Indonesia as a whole, 
including Bali. The bomb attack outside the Australian Embassy on 9 
September 2004 underscores that the threat to Australians in Indonesia is 
real.

"We continue to receive a stream of credible reporting suggesting that 
terrorists are in the very advanced stages of planning attacks in Indonesia. 
Attacks could occur at any time, anywhere in Indonesia and could be directed 
at any locations known to be frequented by foreigners.

"Recent credible reporting suggests that international hotels frequented by 
Westerners in Jakarta are being targeted in current terrorist planning. 
Public statements by the Indonesian National Police (POLRI) that security 
has been increased at a number of Jakarta hotels due to the potential for 
terrorist attack underline that international hotels are a target. This 
follows a POLRI warning of May 2005 about possible further suicide bombings 
in Jakarta, identifying as potential targets other places frequented by 
foreigners, in particular embassies, international schools, office buildings 
and shopping malls.

"Australians are advised to avoid all travel to Aceh and Maluku province, 
particularly Ambon. Australians in Aceh and Maluku should depart.

"We continue to receive reports that terrorists may be planning attacks 
against foreigners involved in the tsunami relief effort in Aceh and other 
parts of northern Sumatra. In view of these security concerns Australians 
should not travel to Banda Aceh or other parts of Aceh to participate in 
humanitarian relief efforts unless under the auspices of a recognised aid 
organisation that has facilities in place to accommodate and feed staff and 
a security plan approved by Indonesian authorities to ensure the safety and 
security of its personnel. From 26 March 2005 all foreigners wishing to 
travel to Aceh require written permission to do so prior to entry. In view 
of the terrorist threat information, Australians in northern Sumatra should 
ensure they have a robust security plan in place. We advise Australians not 
associated with recognised aid organisations and who are not covered by an 
approved security plan to depart in the interests of their own safety. All 
Australians in Sumatra and Aceh should register with the Australian Embassy 
via the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on-line registration 
service."

For MALAYSIA, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 
advisory was issued on 22 June 2005 and still considered valid as of 13 July 
2005. It said:

"Australians in Malaysia should exercise a high degree of caution, 
particularly in commercial and public areas known to be frequented by 
foreigners. The risk of terrorist attack against Western interests in 
Malaysia remains.

"Australians are advised to avoid all travel to coastal resorts, islands and 
dive sites off the east coast of Sabah. We have received credible reports 
that terrorists are planning kidnapping attacks targeting resorts frequented 
by foreigners. Terrorists have in the past kidnapped foreigners from the 
eastern part of mainland Sabah, and from the islands and sea off its east 
coast. Kidnapping attacks in other parts of coastal and off-shore Sabah 
cannot be ruled out.

"Australians intending to travel overland from Malaysia to Thailand should 
be aware of the travel advice for Thailand which recommends that travellers 
defer non-essential travel to the far southern Thai provinces of Yala, 
Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla, including deferring non-essential overland 
travel from and to the Malaysian border through these provinces."

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office also had an advisory on INDONESIA 
which was "updated' on 8 July 2005 (the day after the London bomb) and still 
considered valid as of 13 July. It said:

"We advise against all travel to Aceh, except for those involved in 
post-tsunami humanitarian and reconstruction work under the auspices of a 
recognised aid organisation that has a security plan approved by the 
Indonesian authorities to ensure the safety and security of its personnel. 
Parts of Aceh remain affected by a long running internal conflict with the 
possibility of armed clashes. An aid worker was shot and injured while 
travelling at night in West Aceh on 23 June. Relief agencies should check 
the local security advice of the UN Office for Crisis and Humanitarian 
Affairs in Banda Aceh.

"We advise against travel to some parts of Maluku, especially Ambon, and 
some parts of Central Sulawesi, which are experiencing civilian unrest. At 
least 22 people were killed in a bomb attack in Central Sulawesi on Saturday 
28 May.

"There remains a high threat from terrorism in Indonesia. We continue to 
receive reports that terrorists in Indonesia are planning further attacks on 
Westerners and Western interests. Attacks could occur at any time, anywhere 
in Indonesia and are likely to be directed against locations and buildings 
frequented by foreigners.

"The Indonesian Police are on a state of high alert in Jakarta, and have 
deployed additional personnel around the city, including additional security 
arrangements for embassies.

"Terrorists have shown in previous attacks, like the attack on the 
Australian Embassy, the Marriott Hotel, Jakarta and the Bali bombings, that 
they have the means and the motivation to carry out successful attacks."

For THAILAND, the advisory was updated on 04 July and considered still valid 
as of 13 July. It said:

"There is a high threat from terrorism throughout Thailand, particularly in 
the far southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla. We 
recommend against all but essential travel to these four provinces where, 
since January 2004, there have been regular attacks including bombings and 
shootings. On 3 April 2005, three bombs exploded in Songkhla Province, one 
at Hat Yai International Airport, one at a hotel and one in a shopping 
centre. Further attacks against places frequented by foreigners could occur 
at any time."

Similarly strongly worded advisories containing all kinds of warnings about 
travelling in a number of Asian and African countries are contained in all 
the websites of the US, UK and Australian foreign affairs offices. But in 
the case of the London bombings, they are all highly circumspect.

My question to the private sector industry leaders and public sector 
officials in the advisory-hit countries of Asia-Pacific is thus: What are 
you going to do about this obvious double standard? For years, you have 
complained bitterly about being at the receiving end of these highly 
damaging advisories, and bent over backwards to assure foreign visitors, 
especially from UK, US and Australia, of their safety and security.

Now, you have 1) the UK prime minister admitting that they didn't have 
enough intelligence about these blasts in his own country, and that they 
can't be prevented anyway; 2) the US and Australia saying nothing about the 
dangers of travelling to the UK; and 3) the US, UK and Australia continuing 
to play up 'security threats' in many of the developing countries.

So I repeat the question: Do you sense a double standard here? And if so, 
what do you plan to do about it? Is it time for the travel industries of the 
developing countries to demand the same transparency and accountability here 
that has been demanded of us for years?

If we plan to take no action, then please let's take the issue of travel 
advisories off our desks and don't complain when the next bomb hits our 
countries, which will be followed invariably by more travel advisories from 
the US, UK and Australia discouraging their people from travelling here.

===============

2. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

[Readers' responses to Travel Impact Newswire 38. In keeping with tradition, 
all names have been removed.]

FROM FRANCE

How well you put this! They had warning about a backlash, but didn't listen. 
Sadly, racism means that some people's death is worth more than others. 
Those that died in London, Madrid and NYC somehow have a higher death value 
than those who died of criminal attacks in Casablanca, Yemen, Istanbul, 
Karachi, Riyadh, Bali, etc. not to mention those more than 100,000 Iraqis 
and Afghanis who died for "freedom and democracy".

I am sure a mother who lost her child in the tube because of "Allah's 
revenge" feels exactly the same as the mother who holds her dead child 
because US/UK soldiers killed it for their God, country, president or Queen.

I am going to London tomorrow, but wish I wasn't. I am sorry for all those 
who suffered on Thursday's attack but I am also sorry for those many who 
continue to suffer in Iraq and Afghanistan and perhaps now in Iran and 
Syria. I guess even death isn't an equalizer!

===============

FROM THAILAND

Are you suggesting that the world sits back and allows tyrants and regimes 
(like the one in Iraq) to intimidate and murder large numbers of its 
citizens, and do nothing? Maybe you should try talking to the families of 
those Kurds and other sections of the Iraqi population who are more than 
happy that the dictator has been removed. Life does not appear to be any 
easier for the general population in Iraq but large numbers are joining (or 
attempting to) the security services to try and secure a better future for 
themselves and their country. A group of terrorists, swelled by large 
numbers of fanatics from other countries are determined to impose their 
brand of Islam on the rest of the population.

No cause can justify the slaughter of innocent lives and I would be inclined 
to give more credibility to your articles if you would denounce the 
terrorists who perpetuated such outrages instead of approaching the subject 
on an "I told you so basis". As democratically elected governments you seem 
to suggest that the populations of US, UK, Australia etc are equally 
responsible as they voted for their governments? Also, please enlighten me 
as I have obviously missed something; what was Israel's involvement in the 
war in Iraq?

===============

FROM THE U.S.

It¹s all very frustrating and sad to see so many lives destroyed around the 
world due to arrogance, stupidity and greed. There are many of us in the 
states who want peace and did not want war. And there were many that 
accepted all the lies they were told and stayed in a "victim kneejerk" 
reaction to 9/11.

The american people are beginning to wake up but it is very slow..... It 
seems that if they feel safe, have their big screen TVs and junk food they 
are drugged into thinking everything is alright and that they will be 
protected by the government..... Sometimes it feels like there is something 
in the water making them just follow the insanity of this current 
administration like believing bush and his scientists who are paid to say 
there is no global warming.

I love the travel industry and the planet and it is distressing and 
embarrassing to be an american. Many of us did not vote bush into office 
either time......the first time he was handed the presidency due to the lies 
in Florida, voter fraud and because of the Supreme Court decision. The 
second time ­ there was more voter fraud......with new voting machines that 
left no paper trail.....

I pray and work for peace, understanding and truth and for respect for 
everyone on the earth and for the earth.

===============

FROM AUSTRALIA

Unfortunately it must be remembered that these terrorist atrocities have all 
been perpetrated by extremist Muslims.

A very, very small percentage of Muslims are extremists of course - but 
nonetheless September 11, Bali, Istanbul, Madrid and now London have all 
been perpetrated by Muslims, under the (misguided) interpretation of the 
Koran.

Whilst I might agree about the deplorable war in Iraq, it remains largely 
irrelevant to the bombing in London. Terrorism is a part of the extremist 
Islamic philosophy. September 11 attacks (and East Africa for that matter) 
were well before Iraq remember. The agenda was set a very long time ago and 
has little to do with the current extremist politics of mssrs Bush and 
Blair.

Whilst western governments - and the voters that put them there - may not 
have helped, I thinking blaming them is inaccurate at best and negligent at 
worst.

===============

FROM THE SEYCHELLES

I always look forward to getting your analytical reports of events affecting 
us whether we are near or away from where the main event has happened. In 
fact, when I did not receive any of your articles last week, I thought of 
the worse - someone must have made sure that your articles (which clearly 
hits people's conscience) definitely are erased from all electronic print. I 
am so happy to have received your article today. Please carry on with your 
super articles and analysis.

===============

FROM AUSTRALIA

I realise headlines are important in your work, but this one is falsely 
based.

The question of early warnings or lack of them refers specifically to two 
issues: 1. that some terrorist groups have a tendency to provide a short/ 
say 5 min warning of an impending act, and 2. that the intelligence services 
seek to detect signals or signs of imminent threats.

It does not refer to whether or not actions elsewhere may have fuelled the 
latest atrocity.

Very disappointed. I like alterative views to be presented, but I expected 
you to be independent.

===============

FROM THE U.S.

Just had a look at your latest newsletter - you have been prophetic in your 
writings.

===============

LOCATION UNCERTAIN

Plenty of people warned America that if it entered into the war against 
Nazism, people would die, innocent passengers of transatlantic ships would 
die. To decide there will be a price for something is not ignoring your 
warnings; it is deciding that the greater good will be served, despite those 
tragic losses.

This does not justify Nazi U-boats sinking unarmed ships, and it does not 
justify Islamic freedom fighters killing innocent train and bus passengers, 
either. Furthermore, suggesting the Iraq invasion caused this bombing is 
misleading. 9-11 occurred before the Iraq invasion, so obviously not as a 
result of it.

We can safely assume that Islamic freedom fighters, their demands surely 
unmet, would have continued killing innocent people whether Iraq had been 
invaded or not.

===============

FROM THE UK

As a Londoner, I must say I take offence at (T.I.N. 38). Whatever your 
feelings on the war to remove Saddam Hussein in Iraq, or the Taliban in 
Afghanistan, to adopt this crass "I told you so" attitude to the terrible 
events of last week here in London is insensitive and unhelpful.

Your remark that "Soon to come: More travel curbs, visa restrictions, higher 
security costs, discrimination based on religion and ethnicity, attacks on 
mosques, a potential clash of civilisations" completely underestimates the 
tolerance and resilience of London's population - and, I might say, its 
politicians. London is perhaps the most multi-cultural city in the world and 
as such the bombers did not just attack white, Christian, rich English 
people, it was an attack on the world and the world should stand together in 
the face of this threat.

At the end of the day, many innocent people died on Thursday. Perhaps your 
editorials should focus more on the ways we can act together to prevent 
these acts of terrorism that threaten all our societies, rather than scoring 
cheap points at the expense of the dead.

===============

FROM THE U.S. [Writer's capitalisation

YOU'RE ONE HELL OF A WRITER!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. 
You should be on the board of the WTO/ WTTC. We need change.

===================

FROM THE U.K

I have always found your reports stimulating reading, even when I might 
disagree with your views. This time I can't let your piece go without 
response, particularly as this is not the time to be saying to someone who 
works in London - "I told you so".

Firstly your assumption that all these acts of terror stem from the Iraq war 
is surely too simplistic. There are many different terrorist groupings and 
cells at large in the world, with varying aims and agendas. In this case we 
are dealing with motivations ranging from the personal disaffection of some 
British-born muslims to the declared aim of internationalist others to 
achieve a global muslim state. The Iraq war unfortunately provided a 
rallying cry in giving extremists the opportunity to sell the false idea 
that Western involvement in Iraq constituted an attack on all Islam. The war 
has exacerbated the problem, but it is not the problem per se.

Secondly, although I am clear on your disapproval of the Iraq war, I am less 
clear on whether you had any realistic alternative solution to Sadam 
Hussein's excesses. The general rule, of course is that no state should 
interfere in the internal affairs of another. Whilst such a principle should 
be discarded only after careful deliberation, the fact is that we live in a 
global community where the actions of one state or grouping do often impact 
on others. In a global world we need global policemen. Much as I would 
prefer the United Nations to perform this role, the UN is often too riven by 
indecision or by the politics of its membership to do so effectively, 
leaving no one to speak from a perspective of common humanity.

Did the UN (or its predecessor the League of Nations) prevent World War 2? 
Did the UN put an end to the Pol Pot Regime in Cambodia? Is the UN likely to 
achieve anything significant in Zimbabwe or North Korea? Did it, indeed, 
manage to protect the muslim inhabitants of Srebreniza? Whatever you believe 
about "weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq (and I didn't like being lied to 
on this either), is there any doubt that Sadam Hussein was still a despot 
prepared to murder his own people? Whilst I am not so naive as to believe 
this was why he was deposed, I can still rejoice that he was. In this 
context the words of John Donne that "no man is an island" are as valid 
today as they were in the 17th century.

I think one thing we might agree on is that you cannot defeat terrorism by 
military means. We may, however, reduce its impact and the ability of 
terrorists to recruit, by identifying and addressing it's causes. Once again 
we are into very complex problems without simple solutions. My own focus, 
however, and hope for the future would be on education. Terrorism feeds on 
ignorance and bigotry. Those who claim to be teachers (religious and 
secular) have a responsibility to teach rather than to indoctrinate, to open 
minds to new and alternative ideas rather than to reinforce or instil 
prejudice. I am not confident that this is how the mudrassahs of the Middle 
East see their role at present. And if you yourself really see no 
distinction between the military intervention in Iraq (what you call "state 
terrorism") and what has taken place in London, then I am saddened at how 
big a job education is faced with.

===============

FROM THAILAND [Writer's capitalisation]

THEY ARE DAMNED IF THEY DO AND DAMNED IF THEY DONT. 
THE BALI BOMB CAME BEFORE THE IRAQ WAR AND THE AUSTRALIAN GOVT (got) A PASTING FOR NOT GIVING ENOUGH WARNINGS. UNFORTUNEATELY THE DO GOODERS RULE THIS WORLD.  AND THE ANIMALS GET AWAY WITH MURDER.

===============

FROM GERMANY

As always, with great interest I read your article on the London bomb 
attacks.

I must condemn these as unfortunate and barbaric.

Not even a successful bottom line can justify the highest price (the human 
life) paid.

The politicians of this world think only in terms of monetary economics and 
have yet to overcome the ignorance of neglecting and not understanding the 
economics and ethics of human life.

The western world is too far away from it and can never even understand the 
price of a human life as compared to false pride, that Tony Blair has been 
trying to represent.

But the people of Britain have all my sympathies and my pain for the lost 
lives.

===============

LOCATION UNCERTAIN

So...one wrong justifies another?

===============

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