American Citizens Services Newsletter

Travel Warning - East Timor (7/18/2006)

United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520

EAST TIMOR

July 18, 2006

This Travel Warning is being updated to inform Americans that the Department of State has authorized lifting the ordered departure status of the U.S. Embassy in Dili and the Embassy has returned to normal operations, but security concerns in East Timor remain. This supersedes the Travel Warning issued on May 30, 2006.

Although the Department of State has authorized lifting the ordered departure status of the U.S. Embassy in Dili and the Embassy has returned to normal operations, the Department remains concerned by the threat to the personal safety of Americans in East Timor due to the potential for continued communal and politically motivated violence. Demonstrations in response to the dismissal of 595 members of the armed forces escalated into rioting and violence in April and again throughout May and June.

The Department of State advises U.S. citizens traveling or residing in East Timor to be alert to the potential for violence, to avoid those areas where disturbances have occurred, and to avoid demonstrations and large gatherings. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence.

Americans in East Timor should immediately register at the Embassy and obtain all recent messages sent to the American community in East Timor. The U.S. Embassy in Dili can be reached at 670 332-4684 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. local time or the duty officer outside business hours at 670-723-1323. The US Embassy is located on Avenida de Portugal in the Pantai Kelapa area. U.S. citizens living in or traveling to East Timor can also register through the State Department's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov.

For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov/, where the current Worldwide Cautions, Public Announcements, and Travel Warnings can be found. Travelers should also consult the Department of State's latest Consular information Sheet for East Timor. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

 

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Last modified: July 19, 2006