5 COUNTRIES THAT AREN’T AS SAFE AS YOU THINK THEY ARE
By: Daryl Dominic Tan

It has been an agonizing year so far for many countries, most notably in the Middle East and North Africa where civil disobedience and political unrest are rampant and in the process of being violently suppressed. In terms of natural destruction, I won't even get started on Japan. Despite this, many fortunate countries relatively remain at peace. But does that necessarily mean that they are safe countries to visit? After much research, here’s a list I’ve compiled of the 5 countries that aren’t as safe as you think they are and why.

(Disclaimer: I am not boycotting or convincing readers to avoid visiting the countries listed in my article. In fact, they are safe countries and are definitely worth the visit. I would just like to point out some facts to combat overblown and exaggerated safety claims from many ignorant tourist agencies or naïve travelers. One should exercise caution in these countries just as they do everywhere else)

5. Canada
I’m sure we’ve all heard at one point of time how safe Canada is, with tales of residents leaving their doors unlocked at night and still be able to sleep peacefully (which I think is absurd, I wouldn’t even leave my door unlocked in the Vatican), it is no wonder so many people are flocking to the second largest country in the world as of late. Canada, however, is certainly not as safe as its reputation makes it out to be. Several statistics report that the overall crime score as a percentage difference from the national rate of the city of Saskatoon is 163.23%. The three most dangerous cities of Canada as reported are Saskatoon, Winnipeg, and Regina.

Not far behind in the fifth spot is the city of Edmonton which is notorious for its police brutality and corruption in many city departments. In 2006, a 20 year old girl named Kristin Wilson, was savagely beaten by officers from the Edmonton Police Department for allegedly refusing to get on a bus chartered for rowdy fans after a hockey game celebration. Wilson, who claimed she did not resist arrest, simply retorted at an officer after he hurled a profanity at her. What resulted in the aftermath was a bloody mouth and a bruised face for Kristin Wilson.

Gangs are also a major problem in Canada, and spread like butter throughout many cities are the most prevalent ones - Motorcycle gangs. A particularly well known motorcycle gang that dominates news headlines on a regular basis and continue to grow as an influence are the notorious Hells Angels. The gang’s primary motto is “When we do right, nobody remembers. When we do wrong, nobody forgets”
We can obviously gather from that motto alone that The Hells Angels are a bunch not to be trifled with.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service has already classified the Hells Angels as one of the biggest gangs in the country that actually threaten the social stability of Canada. Widespread violence, drug dealing, trafficking in stolen goods, and extortion are just a few of their activities. Oh, and did I already mention that the Hells Angels thrive in the largest urban areas of Canada? The places most likely you’ll be visiting unless you want to hunt for brown bears up north in the Yukon territory.. which, for obvious reasons, isn’t as safe either.

4. New Zealand
Speaking of which, a country very familiar with gangs is New Zealand. As I’ve mentioned in an earlier article, I love New Zealand as much as the next Maori does, but facts are facts and although I dream of relocating to New Zealand sometime in the near future, it really is not such a safe country as many claim it to be.

In fact, New Zealand has more gangs than any other country in the world. There are about seventy major gangs and over four-thousand members in a population of just four-million people. The two most prominent gangs in New Zealand are the Mongrel Mob and the Black Power. Both have nation-wide influence and have been at loggerheads with each other since the 1970s. Members of both gangs are predominantly Maori and Polynesian, with the white majority being in motorcycle gangs like Highway 51 and surprise surprise, New Zealand’s very own Hells Angels chapter.

Not surprisingly, these gangs have grown so much in influence that they occasionally hold festivals the size of music festivals at remote locations . Splinter groups of these gangs are called chapters. And almost every city in New Zealand has at least one chapter. I’ve actually seen a whole flock of Highway 51 gang members ride pass me in their motorcycles five years ago when I visited Auckland. The leader (just presuming so as he was riding in front) wore a skull-designed bandana around his face and turned to look at me as he rode pass. One of the scariest moments in my life for sure.

Apart from the number of gangs in New Zealand, Violence unrelated to gangs also exists in public places and are commonly associated with weekend binge drinking and drunkenness at night. I have experienced this first hand as I recall being shoved in the back while I was walking along a notorious drinking spot. I definitely concur that New Zealand is not the friendliest place in the world.

Also, do not forget that New Zealand is an earthquake prone country as the entire country lies in the middle of the Pacific ring of fire, and evident in the recent Christchurch earthquakes that have caused widespread destruction in the city center. Safe? Not very.

3. Fiji
Further up north from New Zealand in the middle of the Pacific Ocean lies the Melanesian country of Fiji, also known as the Fiji Islands. Fiji boasts baby blue oceans, majestic coral reefs, and soft sandy beaches. In all honesty, Fiji seems like the ideal vacation spot for anyone who wishes to be marooned on a tropical island in the pacific, especially couples.

Well, I hate to disappoint, but Fiji is not what it seems to be. Fiji suffers from internal political unrest. The 2006 coup d’etat saw a military government take over the Fijian parliament. Having installed a military government, I wasn’t surprised when reports surfaced of two individuals that have allegedly died under military custody.

On 10 April 2009 The new president, Iloilo, suspended the constitution of Fiji and appointed himself as the Head of the State of Fiji under a new legal order. Over the course of the next few months, Fiji was expelled from both the Pacific Islands Forum and the Commonwealth of Nations for failing to hold democratic elections.
This has led to a sharp economic decline, and subsequent chaos among citizens.

Journalists are watched carefully by the government and are advised not to visit Fiji. Apart from journalists, many politicians, trade unionists, government critics have also been arrested and subjected to torture at the hands of the Fijian military.

Given the unstable atmosphere of discontentment among Fijians, crime has sharply increased. Most notably in the areas of Suva (the capital) and Nadi which are major cities in the country where Travelers have reported being robbed and having their rented houses broken into. Rape cases are also on the rise with most cases being centered around large groups of men that lurk around streets at night. The police force in Fiji are known to be unreliable and inefficient; apparently not turning up at crime scenes because of petrol consumption and distance.

Under the guise of a beautiful tropical country is a nation undergoing many internal and social conflicts. Extreme caution must be exercised if you ever think of visiting Fiji to explore its natural beauty.

2. Australia
Australia, the home of AC/DC and Vegemite is a country that definitely deserves a spot on my list. Countless of Singaporeans travel to Australia each year to further their studies or for vacation given the relative closeness between each other.

However, Australia is not one bit safe as you think it is. Natural disasters such as cyclones, floods and wildfires occur from time to time. Poisonous and dangerous creatures inhabit the outback, and crime and racism are rife in large cities. Roads in Australia especially have a reputation for being dangerous, chiefly for two reasons; remarkably bad drivers, and Kangaroos that literally play Frogger on the roads. A small number of tourists are killed each year from related traffic accidents.

Statistics also report that about twenty tourists die each year from drowning in Australian waters; reputed to have extremely strong currents which are almost impossible to swim against, even for the most robust and able-bodied swimmers. Tropical beaches are also home to Saltwater Crocodiles, Box Jellyfish and Sharks. Attacks from Saltwater Crocodiles are usually fatal surprise attacks that quickly lead to death for a victim. Box Jellyfish are found in shallow waters just like the Saltwater Crocodiles and immediate medical assistance is required if stung.

Additionally, public violence and mischief is prevalent. Reported just two months ago was a case of two full-time National Servicemen from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) being brutally assaulted during a late-night fishing trip. The perpetrators were revealed to be a group of teenagers who are still at large. The beatings allegedly took place because the two men had refused to give them cigarettes. Both men sustained injuries that required immediate medical attention.

Racism, another major problem in Australia, has had a long history in the Land Down Under and is not uncommon even today in many large cosmopolitan cities such as Sydney and Melbourne. Early Asian immigrants first bore the brunt of hostility during the 1860s when Australian colonies had actually passed restrictive legislations towards Chinese immigrants as they believed their religious belief and habits would lower living standard and be in conflict with the Australian “way of life”.

Today, many institutions, businesses and universities within Australia are accused of being racist especially with the indigenous people of Australia. The Cronulla riots of 2005 is also a big example when approximately five thousand Australian locals protested against the apparent raucous behavior of Middle Eastern youths from Sydney. Consequently, two youths of Middle Eastern appearance were savagely attacked on a train, and mobs of white people chased another on the streets of Sydney.

In contrast, the year 2009 saw Indian students take to the streets in protest of what they claimed were harsh treatment and racist attacks from the Australian locals after 1,447 Indians were victims of crime and assault in Victoria. Roughly about five Indians were also brutally murdered during this period of time. Relations between India and Australia suffered during this turmoil as the Indian government sturdily supported the protests .

Not only are Asians subjected to the horrible case of racism prevalent in Australia but Europeans as well. A Dutch friend of mine had told me how his accent was mocked by Australians in a bar he visited.

Just like neighbouring New Zealand, Gangs are also a pain in the neck in Australia. In fact, a gang war broke out between two Motorcycle gangs, the Comancheros and the Hells Angels (mentioned for the third time in this article) just outside the Sydney Airport in 2009 where one man was beaten to death in front of witnesses. It has been widely reported that the fight broke out because a Comanchero gang member and a Hells Angels biker who were on the same flight from Melbourne had taunted each other while on board the plane. Both had called their respective gangs immediately after landing in Sydney. Strings of drive-by shootings in Sydney rumoured to be linked to the altercation were also reported in 2009 and at least six people were killed in a space of a week in Canberra and Sydney.


1. Scotland
When we think Scotland, what usually comes to mind are picturesque highlands, Sean Connery, Braveheart, medieval castles, the Loch Ness Monster and most prominently, men in skirts. Given its mostly seclusive and scenic landscapes, many believe Scotland to be a quintessential location for vacation. Many couples travel to Scotland annually to exchange their vows without actually realizing how dangerous Scotland is.

Although Scotland remains one of the most panoramic countries in the world, it is also consistently ranked highly for being one of the most violent countries in the developed world, especially by the United Nations. The large and economically important city of Glasgow itself is often dubbed the murder capital of Europe.

In a study done by the UN, research has shown that people in Scotland are three times more likely to be assaulted than in the United States. It has been estimated that 2,000 Scots are attacked every week. In conjunction with UN studies, the Sunday times reported that there were 125 incidents in 2002 alone that resulted in killings. Forty of them were in Glasgow and 127 people had died as a result. Statistics also report that 186 people were arrested for the 127 killings.

The figures for the 2002 incidents also revealed that Glasgow had a homicide rate of 58.7 people per million of population. Aberdeen is ranked the second most dangerous city with an average of 21.9 killings per million. And third ranked is Dundee that had 15.9 victims. These three cities are unfortunately major tourist hubs in Scotland.

Even more disturbing is the fact that eight of the killers in 2002 were reported to be under 16, and 46 of the killers no more than 20 years old. According to sociologists and detectives who have studied these cases extensively, a new ‘Killer Culture’ is said to be on the rise and is appealing to many of Scotland’s youth. Most of these assaults have been solely credited to knife-wielding teenagers who practice what they call the ‘Booze and Blades’ lifestyle – that of prowling the city centre at night and fatally stabbing and slashing random people with their knives while in fits of drunken rage.

Conclusion: Once again, I'm not boycotting any of these countries. Just do not be fooled. If you exercise caution and common sense just as you would everywhere else, no harm would ever come to you.

Bon Voyage!