Bangkok--Dec 20--eTurbo news
The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has upgraded its advice against travel to Indonesia around Christmas and the New Year. It says there is a heightened risk of attacks at this time of Christian celebration, and all but essential travel to the country should be avoided for the time being.
"We believe that there is a heightened risk of attacks in the lead up to and during this Christmas/New Year period and that these are in the final stages of preparation. These could occur at any time, anywhere in Indonesia and are likely to be directed against locations frequented by foreigners."
In view of the heightened security environment, the British Embassy in the capital, Jakarta, will operate a reduced service over the Holiday period, though consular and visa services will be unaffected.
The revised travel advisory is mirrored by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, which is more specific about the risk and advises travelers to avoid all international hotels and other places where foreigners are known to gather. "In the lead up to the Christmas and New Year holiday period we continue to receive reports that terrorists in the region are planning attacks against a range of targets.
"We have received credible new information suggesting terrorists are ready to carry out an attack shortly in Indonesia, possibly targeting a Hilton Hotel. Other targets cannot be ruled out," says the Australian warning.
Both authorities state that there remains a high threat from terrorism in Indonesia, and advise against all travel to Maluku, some parts of Sulawesi, and Aceh, which is under a state of civil emergency after a year under martial law.
A large car bomb, which exploded outside the Australian Embassy in September killing 11 people, underscores the ongoing terrorist threat in Indonesia. The extremist group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), which has links to Al-Qaida, is thought to have been responsible for this attack as well as the Bali bombings, which killed 202 people in October 2002, and the Marriott Hotel bombing in Jakarta, which killed 12 people in August 2003. Bombings have also occurred in Indonesia in the past during the Christmas and New Year period.
Although Christian/Muslim violence in Poso and neighbouring areas in Central Sulawesi diminished in 2002 following a peace agreement, the area remains tense, according to the FCO. On December 12, there were two attacks on Christian churches in Palu, resulting in the injury of a number of Indonesians.
There are three hotels in Indonesia named Hilton, including one in Bali, and security has been tightened following the Australian travel advisory that named Hilton hotels as a target for attack by terrorists. Hilton International Indonesia's chief operating officer Nizar Sungkar said he had been surprised by Canberra's warning. "We are taking all necessary precautions," he said. "We don't want to put anyone at risk."
A spokesman for the Indonesian embassy in Australia said that when tourists were frightened away from Indonesia, terrorists had achieved their goal. He said the security forces were on high alert throughout Indonesia during the holiday season and turning tourists away was unnecessary.
The US State Department has also updated its Indonesia travel advisory with a warning that terror attacks could increase over the Holidays.
"The Department reminds Americans that the terrorist threat in Indonesia continues and may increase over the December-January holiday period. Reports indicate that terrorists are planning attacks against a wide variety of targets. These attacks could occur at any time and could be directed against any location, including those frequented by foreigners and identifiably American or other western facilities or businesses in Indonesia. Bombings have occurred in the past during the Christmas/New Year's period."
There is some disappointment in Jakarta that information that led to the upgraded travel advisories was not shared with the Indonesian government before they were released to the public. Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa, said the new travel advisories by Western governments were not a problem but the Indonesian government hoped that any information about a new terror threat for Christmas and New Year was based on clear and accurate facts. "The Australian government should have shared the information they have received so that we can take preventative measures," Natalegawa told reporters in Jakarta.
The Indonesian Economy Minister, Aburizal Bakrie, criticized the latest warning,as playing into the hands of terrorists intent on damaging the tourist economy of Indonesia. "If friendly countries issued that warning to Indonesia, it means we are kneeling to what the terrorists want," he said. "All countries have to fight terrorism and shouldn't kneel to the threats of terrorists." He added that Indonesia was appealing to its Western partners for help in fighting terrorism.
Last Thursday, December 17, Indonesian police arrested 15 bus passengers and their driver in Bandung, about 75 miles (120 km) southeast of the capital, Jakarta. Reports indicate that officers at the scene confiscated materials to make as many as nine bombs. Three of the passengers have been held for questioning. The incident reinforces the concern that gave rise to the government warnings of the likelihood of terrorist attacks in Indonesia over the Christmas and New Year period.
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