Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Saturday, March 9, 2013, and Sunday, March 10, 2013

The Green Citizens' Action Alliance (GCAA) has announced it will hold a mass rally from Saturday to Sunday, March 9-10, to express its opposition to Taiwan’s nuclear power policy. The organizers claim more than 20,000 protesters will attend.

Protesters will assemble on Ketagalan Avenue at 2:00 PM and proceed south along Zhongshan South Road, turn west on Nanhai Road and Heping East Road, turn north toward Zhonghua Road, turn east onto Han-ko Street, turn south to the Zhongshan South Road, and then west towards the Presidential Palace on Ketagalan Avenue. Activity in front of the Presidential Palace will pause at 10:00 PM on Saturday; however, approximately 1,000 protestors will remain on Ketagalan Avenue throughout the night for a flag raising ceremony the next morning. Protestors will hold a flag raising ceremony in front of the Presidential Palace on Sunday, March 10, at 8:00 AM. The rally is scheduled to end at 10:00 AM on Sunday. Large crowds and traffic congestion are anticipated at all points along the route and intersections.

Demonstrations take place in Taiwan from time to time, and while normally orderly, even peaceful demonstrations can become confrontational. The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) urges U.S. citizens to exercise caution within the vicinity of the demonstrations and if possible, to avoid these areas completely.  Information regarding demonstration routes and locations, as well as public transportation and traffic concerns, can change rapidly, so all U.S. citizens considering visiting Taipei on March 9-10, 2013 should closely monitor local media outlets and government websites for the latest information.

U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Department of State's, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website www.travel.state.gov , where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Country Specific Information can be found. AIT also encourages U.S. citizens to review to "A Safe Trip Abroad," found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html , which includes valuable security information for those both living and traveling abroad. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.

AIT encourages U.S. citizens living or traveling in Taiwan, to register through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/.  Registration is a voluntary way of telling us that you are in Taiwan, whether for a long-term stay or for a short visit. In the event of an emergency, we use registration information to communicate with you. This could include a family emergency in which relatives in the United States request that AIT contact you.

The Consular Section of AIT’s Taipei and Kaohsiung Offices can be reached during regular  business hours (M-F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) by telephone at (02) 2162-2000 and (07) 238-7744; by fax at (02)2162-2239 and (07) 238-5237; and by e-mail at amcit-ait-t@state.gov. After hours, in case of emergency, a duty officer can be reached by calling the AIT switchboard at (02) 2162-2000. The AIT Taipei office is located at No.7, Lane 134, Sec. 3, XinYi Rd., Da-an District, Taipei City 10659. The address for AIT Kaohsiung is: 5th Floor,No.2, ChungCheng 3rd Rd., Xin-Xing District, Kaohsiung City 80052.