Your Security When Travelling Overseas : How safe is India and was there strong indications of a threat prior to the terror attacks at Mumbai?

Public outrage may be growing in India after the terror attacks in Mumbai. Reports continue to emerge that clear warnings of a coming assault were ignored. I can say that travel warnings concerning terror attacks on hotels in India were made a month prior to Australian’s travelling abroad.

In India, the Hindustan Times has said that intelligence agencies did have very precise information almost a year ago that the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba was planning to attack hotels in India.

The information was specific and provided by a Lashkar militant arrested in northern India last February, the Times said.

The interrogator stated that the captured operative stayed at a guesthouse in Mumbai to survey each floor of the luxury hotels the Taj Mahal and the Oberoi/Trident.

The captured operative also disclosed that the attack would probably emerge from the sea.

Islamist gunmen launched their assault on Mumbai in two dinghies. As well as the Taj Mahal and Oeroi/Trident, the attack targets included Mumbai's main train station, a hospital as well as a Jewish cultural centre.

Indian commandos shot the last remaining militants 60 hours later, despite this 170 people had been killed. Initial suspicions were focused on the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

According to the Times of India, the Intelligence Bureau told India's National Security Council as far back as September that the Taj hotel could be the target of a terrorist attack and another advisory on November 12 stated that an attack would come from the sea.

Pakistan links

Indian investigators said that evidence from Azam Amir Kasav, the only gunmen of the 10 not killed, clearly showed that Pakistani militants were involved. The clean-shaven, 21-year-old with fluent English was photographed during the attack.

New Delhi has not accused Islamabad's civilian Government of any involvement, but has expressed frustration that its neighbour has been unable to prevent militants using its soil to attack Indian cities.

One thing that is for long debate: Is the siege on Afghanistan driving extremists into Pakistan and fuelling a deeper threat to India?

Murdered During The Olympics

Beijing Olympics: Murdered American was volleyball coach's relative

Todd Bachman and his wife Barbara, who was seriously wounded in the attack, were stabbed at the city's 13th-century Drum Tower monument. Their daughter Elisabeth, the wife of head indoor volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon, witnessed the attack but escaped unhurt.

The lone Chinese attacker subsequently committed suicide by jumping from the second storey of the tower. The motive for the murder remains a mystery, especially since it is rare for foreigners in China to suffer from violent crime.

Tips For Overseas Travel

Travelling to a new country can be an incredible experience and whether you are travelling on business, a student, or taking a holiday. The recent murder/ suicide in China has brought travel security to the fore. Some simple things to consider are;

Do you have experience or knowledge of the country and region you're travelling to? If you've been to your destination many times in the past you probably consider yourself one of the locals. However, first timers overseas can find themselves lost very fast.

Check your embassy or news reports to see if there are any areas of concern - a good example would be the south islands of the Philippines. Sometimes, areas of countries be complete polar opposites. In the Philippines, you can easily travel from an area that is quite safe, to an area that is considered extremely dangerous, in just a few minutes. The Islamic group MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) has been involved in sporatic violence against the Philippine government for many years.





The Philippine Supreme Court has stopped the government from signing a territorial agreement with Muslim separatist rebels, in yet another blow to efforts to end a thirty-year conflict. Both sides were due to formalise a deal, to widen an existing Muslim autonomous region. The court ruling followed a petition by Catholic law-makers in the region.. who oppose the deal between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the government, saying they weren't consulted. They fear that non-Muslim areas might also come under MILF control in southern Mindanao island. An MILF spokesman says the court decision is a setback, but that the group is still committed to a peaceful resolution.

Kidnappings and violence are common in many countries, so be cautious and make sure you are well informed.

Can you speak the language? Do you need a guide? And, is the guide a reputable one? You'll find no shortage of people wanting to help you in a foriegn country. The problem is, often those who are offeing help are just looking to con travellers. Check their credentials and ask if they have references.

Will you be staying at a safe location? Some hotels are safer than others. If you're travelling to a country that has problems with dysfunctional activity, look for a safe place to stay.

Transport type? If you need to get around, is the transport safe? Would you be better to use a taxi service? Some hotels even have their own shuttle services.

Health precautions (vaccinations) Consult your doctor long before you travel. Some vaccination processes take 6 months or more.

Contingency plans. Consider Plan Bs. Plane's get cancelled. Trains often run slow. Don't make your schedule so critical that a small problem upsets your whole holiday. Also, consider making copies of all your information (passports, tickets,etc) in case of theft of a mishap with your luggage.

Other Stories, Including More on the Philippines and the War Against MILF

Deep in a jungle hide-out in Mindanao's remote Lanao del Norte province, about 100 men armed with American-made assault rifles gather to pledge a jihad, or holy war, against the Philippines government.

They are members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front [MILF], the largest Muslim rebel group in the southern Philippines, and their field commander, known by his radio codename "Congressman", explained what they were fighting for.

AFRICA

You don't face any more danger traveling in Africa than in other parts of the world. Petty theft is probably the most common crime you are likely to come across when visiting Africa. As a tourist with cameras and cash, you just have to be careful. Violent muggings are quite rare for most African countries. Dakar, Lagos, Nairobi and Johannesburg are probably most notorious for violent crime, car-jacking and murder. Keep up to date with African news so you can avoid areas where there is war, famine or obvious political instability. This article will give you a brief overview of what to watch out for and how to avoid becoming a victim of crime when traveling in Africa.

Basic Safety TipsRegardless of your budget, when you are traveling in Africa keep in mind that you are much richer than the majority of local people around you. While most people are honest, the sight of a tourist with cash to spare and cameras dangling is too tempting for some. To avoid being fodder for con-artists, petty thieves and opportunists keep some of the following safety tips in mind when visiting Africa:

India

In past years, some private medical clinics have provided patients with more treatment than is necessary in order to procure larger medical insurance claims - get several opinions where possible. Worse still, a serious food scare erupted in northern India in 1998, principally in Agra and Varanasi, when numerous travellers became sick and two died after eating at local establishments. This scam has thankfully been quashed, but there's always the chance it could reappear. Water can also be a potential problem. Always ensure the seal is intact on bought mineral water and check that the bottom of the bottle hasn't been tampered with. Crush plastic bottles after use to prevent them being misused later. Better still, bring along water-purification tablets to avoid adding to India's plastic waste problem.

United States

Despite its seemingly Babylon-like list of dangers - guns, violent crime, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes - the USA is actually a very safe country to visit. Perhaps the single greatest danger for travelers is posed by car accidents on America's highways (buckle up - it's the law). The two greatest annoyances will be auto traffic in the cities and crowds at popular sites.

South America

Although women travelers in South America face the same general safety concerns as men, they also have to cope with undue attention from local males. South America is a fairly chauvinistic continent, and a single foreign woman is often considered an easy target for male advances. To get rid of undesirable male company, some women recommend wearing a wedding ring and referring to their imaginary husband. However, there is no strategy or advice that can completely prevent undesired advances. A friendly shopkeeper in Peru offered to take my girlfriend and me to the outskirts of a small jungle town. Since he only had a motorcycle we had to go one at a time. He took me first and when my girlfriend finally arrived, she told me that the man had taken her to his house and had proposed to have sex with her.