SOLOMON ISLANDS TRAVEL WARNINGAUSTRALIA GOVERNMENT PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT1 June 2006 Solomon Islands
SUMMARY- We advise you to exercise caution in Fiji due to the unresolved political situation and a deterioration in the rule of law following the December 2006 military coup.
- Pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
- The state of emergency, declared after the coup, was lifted on 31 May 2007. It remains possible that political tensions could lead to violence. You should avoid demonstrations, street rallies and public gatherings as such events could result in civil disorder.
- You should avoid military installations, military activity and concentrations of military personnel around Suva. There have been many instances of intimidation of individuals and detention for questioning by the RFMF.
- Since the December 2006 coup, on a number of occasions military personnel have intervened, or launched investigations, in areas which are normally the preserve of the police. This has undermined the protections ordinarily afforded by the rule of law, and has affected the interests of Australians in some instances.
- Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas:
- organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy
- subscribe to this travel advice to receive free email updates each time it's reissued.
SAFETY AND SECURITYTerrorism Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers. Civil Unrest/Political Tension We advise you to exercise caution when travelling in Fiji due to the unresolved political situation and a deterioration in the rule of law following the military coup in December 2006. Pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks. The state of emergency, declared after the coup, was lifted on 31 May 2007. However, it remains possible that political tensions could lead to violence. You should avoid demonstrations, street rallies and public gatherings as such events could result in civil disorder. Police vehicle checkpoints remain in place in some major urban areas. You should avoid military installations, military activity and concentrations of military personnel. There have been many instances of intimidation of individuals and detention for questioning by the RFMF. Crime Robbery, theft and violent assault occur in Fiji, including against tourists and expatriate residents. Incidents occur more frequently in urban areas and at night. There has recently been an increase in home invasions, affecting both locals and expatriates in the main urban centres. Local Travel Take care when driving, particularly at night, because of insufficient street lighting and the poor quality of roads. The safety standards you might expect of tour operators are not always met, especially for adventure sports or on boats in coastal waters and between islands. There are sometimes insufficient life jackets for boats, rafts and kayaks. Airline Safety Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids, (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Transport and Regional Services website. If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Transport and Regional Services has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are provided advice not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns this will be included in travel advice. The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO. Natural Disasters Fiji is located is subject to earthquakes. Cyclone season is November to April and may result in flooding and landslides. The Fiji Meteorological Service provides up to date information about the weather conditions in Fiji. Information can also be obtained from the Asia-Pacific Centre for Emergency and Disaster Information, the World Meteorological Organisation Severe Weather Information Centre or the Humanitarian Early Warning Service. All oceanic regions of the world can experience tsunamis, but in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, there is a more frequent occurrence of large, destructive tsunamis because of the many large earthquakes along major tectonic plate boundaries and ocean trenches. See the Tsunami Awareness brochure. If a natural disaster occurs, follow the instructions provided by local authorities on radio and television. Wildlife Watching Australians are strongly advised to maintain safe and legal approach distance when observing wildlife. You should use only reputable and professional operations and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice. Money and Valuables Before you go, organise a variety of ways of accessing your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques and cash. Check with your bank whether your ATM card will work overseas. Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home. While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves. As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible. Since 1 July 2005, Australians have been required to pay an additional fee to have their passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports. For Parents If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia. Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council. Local LawsWhen you are in Fiji, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail. Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter. Since the December 2006 coup, on a number of occasions military personnel have intervened, or launched investigations, in areas which are normally the preserve of the police. This has undermined the protections ordinarily afforded by the rule of law, and has affected the interests of Australians in some instances. Homosexual acts between men are illegal in Fiji and can result in imprisonment. Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia. Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia. Entry and Exit RequirementsVisa conditions change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Fiji for the most up to date information. Health IssuesWe strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our 'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas. Hospital and medical facilities are limited in urban areas and are very basic in remote areas, including on outer islands. Hospitals usually require a confirmation of payment guarantee from medical insurers or the payment of a deposit before admitting patients. In the case of a serious illness or accident, medical evacuation to Australia may be necessary. Medical evacuation costs could be considerable. Outbreaks of mosquito-borne illnesses (including dengue fever and filariasis) occur, particularly in the summer months (November to April). We recommend you take precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes, including using insect repellent. Water-borne, food-borne and other infectious diseases (including typhoid, hepatitis, leptospirosis, tuberculosis, measles and mumps) are common, with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. We recommend that you boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, and avoid ice cubes, raw and undercooked food. Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea. Ciguatera poisoning from eating reef fish can be a hazard. For more information on ciguatera poisoning see Queensland Health's fact sheet. There are two operational decompression chambers in Fiji and both are located in the capital, Suva. They are at Suva Private Hospital and the Colonial War Memorial Hospital. Many of the popular dive sites are located away from Suva and divers needing emergency treatment are medically evacuated to the chambers. Rescue and emergency services are not as comprehensive as in Australia. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza. Where to Get HelpIn Fiji, you can obtain consular assistance from the: Australian High Commission
37 Princes Road
Tamavua
Suva, Fiji
Telephone (679) 338 2211
Facsimile (679) 338 2065 | 
