From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Brunei Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998 17:55:22 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1688 Path: world!mer Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Message-ID: <199804141358_MC2-39DB-6425@compuserve.com> Content-Disposition: inline Precedence: bulk Sender: "U.S. Department of State" <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mime-Version: 1.0 Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 162 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Brunei ============================================================ Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia - Public Announcement April 13, 1998 American citizens traveling to the island of Borneo, including Sarawak (Malaysia), East and West Kalimantan (Indonesia), and Brunei, should be aware that air pollution has reached "unhealthy" to "hazardous" levels, according to local air pollutant indexes and U.S. standards. Some schools in the region have been closed, and local airport operations have been affected. The low air-quality levels are due in part to smoke and particulates from forest and other fires in the region. American citizens planning travel to Borneo, particularly children, the elderly, pregnant women, persons with respiratory, circulatory, or cardiovascular conditions, smokers, and those contemplating long-term stays, may wish to consult their personal physicians before traveling. For those who must travel to Borneo, local authorities have provided the following suggestions to minimize exposure to harmful pollutants: stay indoors, refrain from outdoor exercise and activities, drink plenty of water, keep mucous membranes moist, use eye wash if irritation occurs, and wear a surgical mask or other effective respiratory protection device if staying outdoors for a prolonged period of time. On April 10, the Department approved an additional R&R trip for American personnel assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan, and their eligible dependents. This special R&R trip is intended to provide a measure of relief from the difficult environmental air pollution conditions prevailing in Brunei. Information about climatic and other conditions can be found at the following web sites: http://duc9.wwb.noaa.gov.special/ http://www.arl.noaa.gov/ss/transpot/asia http://www.saa.noaa.gov http://www.jas.sains.my/doe/api.html http://www.gov.sg/metsin/hazed.html http://www.brunet.bn For additional information on travel to Brunei, Malaysia, or Indonesia, consult the Department's Consular Information Sheets on these countries. This Public Announcement supersedes the March 16 Public Announcement for Brunei and expires May 12, 1998. Brunei - Consular Information Sheet March 9, 1998 Country Description: Brunei is a small Islamic Sultanate on the north coast of the island of Borneo. The capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, is the only major city. Tourist facilities are good, and generally available. Entry Requirements: A passport is required to enter Brunei. For information about entry requirements, travelers may consult the Consular Section of the Embassy of the State of Brunei Darussalam, Suite 300, 2600 Virginia Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037; telephone (202) 342-0159. Medical Facilities: Adequate public and private hospitals and medical services are available in Brunei. Medical care clinics usually do not require deposits, but insist upon payment in full at time of treatment, and may require proof of ability to pay prior to treating or discharging a foreigner. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States, and may not be accepted by health providers in Brunei. Travelers may wish to check with their health insurance providers regarding whether their U.S. policy applies overseas. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide payment of medical services outside the United States. Supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including provision for medical evacuation, may be useful. Travel agents or insurance providers often have information about such programs. Useful information on medical emergencies abroad is provided in the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs' brochure, "Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad," available via our home page and autofax service. For additional health information, the international travelers hotline of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may be reached at (404) 332-4559, via the CDC tollfree autofax service at (888) 232-3299 or via the CDC home page on the Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/. Information on Crime: The crime rate in Brunei is low, and violent crime is rare. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and to the U.S. Embassy. Useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad." It is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, or via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs. Criminal Penalties: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and do not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating the law, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. The trafficking in and the illegal importation of controlled drugs are very serious offenses in Brunei. Brunei has a mandatory death penalty for many narcotics offenses. Under the current law, possession of heroin and morphine derivatives of more than 15 grams, or cannabis of more than 20 grams, carries the death sentence. Possession of lesser amounts carries a minimum 20 year jail term and caning. Aviation Oversight: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Brunei's civil aviation authority as Category 1 - in compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Brunei's air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the U.S. at telephone 1-800-322-7873, or visit the FAA's Internet website at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa.htm. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some foreign air carriers for suitability as official providers of air services. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact the Pentagon at telephone 703-697-7288. Road Safety: Roads are generally good and most vehicles are new and well-maintained. However, vehicular accidents are one of the leading causes of death in Brunei. Excessive speed, tropical torrential rains, and driver carelessness contribute to Brunei's very high traffic accident rate. Customs Information: Importation of firearms is prohibited, and only very limited amounts of alcohol for personal consumption are permitted. More detailed information concerning regulations and procedures governing items that may be brought into Brunei is available from the Embassy of the State of Brunei Darussalam in the United States. Embassy Location/Registration: U.S. citizens living in or visiting Brunei may register in person or via telephone with the U.S. Embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan and obtain updated information on travel and security within the country. The U.S Embassy is located in Teck Guan Plaza, Third Floor, Jalan Sultan, in Bandar Seri Begawan. The mailing address is American Embassy PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP, 96534; the telephone number is (673)(2) 229-670; the fax number is (673) (2) 225-293. No. 98-021 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated January 7, 1997. It updates information on medical facilities, crime, customs and U.S. Embassy location/registration. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. 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