Australian Travel Advisory for India
Topic: Australian Travel Advisory for India
Posted: Barry Pittard, Australia, March 11, 2003
Email: bpittard@beachaccess.com.au
Sent to: www.exbaba.com
Reference: http://www.dfat.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/India
Question: Apart from any other reasons, why go to
Puttaparthi when - with the huge number of foreigners (many from USA, the UK, Israel,
Australia and other countries so closely linked with the USA) - Puttaparthi is a
stark invitation to terrorist interests on the lookout for targets far bigger than
Bali?! Note well the Australian Travel Advisory where it says: "at religious sites, festivals
and events frequented by westerners."
Although this Travel
Advisory especially singles out northernmost areas of India, it does not emphasise a fact
that becomes increasingly and alarmingly evident: many leading commentators point to
Islamic (but also other) terrorist cells, training, funding, and operations occurring in
South India, not least in Andhra Pradesh, where Puttaparthi is located.
Scholars, researchers
etc., who are interested in studying these potentialities can contact me,
Barry Pittard
Email: bpittard@beachaccess.com.au
Travel Advisory,
issued by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia
India
This Advice is
current for Tuesday 11 March 2003 EDT
The Advice was issued
on Friday 20 December 2002 17:08:55 EDT
This advice has been
reviewed. It contains new information or advice but the overall warning level has not
changed.
Australians
should take account of the continuing tensions between India and Pakistan and the
potential for terrorist activity by militant groups, including through attacks against
national institutions within major cities and at religious sites, festivals and events
frequented by westerners. Some progress has been made in reducing tensions between India
and Pakistan but the situation remains unpredictable and could deteriorate at short
notice. The risk of politically-motivated violence remains high. Australians should
exercise caution, particularly in commercial and public areas known to be frequented by
foreigners and maintain a high level of personal security awareness.
Australians
in India should register with the Australian High Commission in New Delhi. Australians
should not travel to the border areas between India and Pakistan and should avoid all
travel to Jammu and Kashmir. Travellers should avoid large public gatherings or
demonstrations, especially during festivals.