Brunei Country
Brunei
The country had few nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), all of which were based locally and focused on a specific mission. There were no international NGOs active in the country. Most domestic NGOs were business or social associations; none dealt with political or human rights issues. Any NGO seeking to operate in the country is required to apply for permission under the Companies Act. The activities of international service organizations such as Rotary, Kiwanis, and the Lions, which developed out of the established business community, continued to be restricted by the Government. Muslims were not allowed by the Government to be members of these organizations. ... [Read More]
Brunei
Under the PROTECT Act of April 2003, it is a crime, prosecutable in the United States, for a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien, to engage in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign country with a person under the age of 18, whether or not the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident alien intended to engage in such illicit sexual conduct prior to going abroad. For purposes of the PROTECT Act, illicit sexual conduct includes any commercial sex act in a foreign country with a person under the age of 18. The law defines a commercial sex act as any sex act, on account of which anything of value is given to or received by a person under the age of 18. ... [Read More]
Brunei Immigrations
4. Nationals from other countries require either a valid Visa in their passport prior to arrival in Brunei OR if in transit (ie: arriving from one country/port/town and traveling on to a different country/port/town) will be given a 72 hour Transit Pass on arrival. ... 3. Be prepared to show evidence of a return or ongoing ticket, or other means of leaving the country eg: vehicle, yacht etc. ... [Read More]
Brunei
In February, the Government detained 16 persons under the ISA for involvement in a counterfeit ring. In March, the Government detained three persons--Major (Retired) Haji Muslim bin Haji Awang Tengah; Noordin bin Haji Ahmed Noor, a former senior police officer; and Haji Abdul Radzak bin Haji Awang Damit, a businessman--under the ISA for treason and "subversive actions, detrimental to the country's security." The Government did not bring formal charges against the three, but a press release accused Noordin of selling and leaking government secrets to an unnamed foreign country. Major Muslim was accused of leaking government secrets to Haji Abdul Radzak, who used the information in a local Internet forum. ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
Negara Brunei Darussalam (the country’s official name, meaning “Abode of Peace”) is one of the most ancient kingdoms in Asia. Early Chinese records mention a certain kingdom referred to as “Po-lo,” “Po-ni,” and “Puni.” The present Sultan is the 29th in a line dating from Sultan Muhammad, who converted to Islam in 1514. From 1888 to 1983, Brunei was a protectorate of the United Kingdom. In 1959, Brunei became a self-governing constitutional monarchy, with the British retaining responsibility for the country’s foreign affairs and defense. Brunei became fully independent on January 1, 1984 at which time, the American Consulate General (established only 12 days earlier) was elevated to Embassy status. Brunei’s capital and largest city is Bandar Seri Begawan. Formerly known as Brunei Town, the capital was renamed to honor the present Sultan's father in 1970. ... [Read More]
Brunei
The country's national philosophy, the Melayu Islam Beraja concept, discourages open-mindedness to religions other than Islam, and there are no programs to promote understanding of other religions. The country's indigenous people generally convert either to Islam or Christianity but rarely to Buddhism. Consequently, Muslim officials view Christianity as the main rival to official Islam. There is no reported dialog among government officials and their Christian and Buddhist counterparts. ... [Read More]
Brunei (03/05)
Information on travel conditions, visa requirements, currency and customs regulations, legal holidays, and other items of interest to travelers also may be obtained before your departure from a country's embassy and/or consulates in the U.S. (for this country, see "Principal Government Officials" listing in this publication). ... The U.S. Department of State's Consular Information Program provides Consular Information Sheets, Travel Warnings, and Public Announcements. Consular Information Sheets exist for all countries and include information on entry requirements, currency regulations, health conditions, areas of instability, crime and security, political disturbances, and the addresses of the U.S. posts in the country. Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. Public Announcements are issued as a means to disseminate information quickly about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term conditions overseas that pose significant risks to the security of American travelers. Free copies of this information are available by calling the Bureau of Consular Affairs at 202-647-5225 or via the fax-on-demand system: 202-647-3000. Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings also are available on the Consular Affairs Int ... [Read More]
Brunei
Trade unions are legal and independent but must be registered with the Government. All workers, including civil servants other than those serving in the military and those working as prison guards or police officers, may form or join trade unions. However, in practice there was no union activity in the country. The three registered trade unions were all in the oil sector, had a total membership of less than 5 percent of that industry's work force, and were inactive. There were over 80,000 foreign workers in the country, including almost 20 thousand garment industry workers, none of whom are members of any trade union. ... [Read More]
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