Australia, UK, NZ urge nationals to leave RI<\/p>\n
Agencies, Jakarta<\/p>\n
As Australian Prime Minister John Howard set his foot on Bali
\nisland on Thursday, his government, together with the governments
\nof the UK and New Zealand, told their citizens to leave Indonesia
\ndue to \"new threats\" following the Bali blasts that killed at
\nleast 184, mostly foreigners.<\/p>\n
Intense security was imposed on Bali's airport for the arrival
\nof Howard, who headed straight to the Australian Consulate where
\nhe was to take part in a sunset service for victims and
\nrelatives.<\/p>\n
\"As the sun sets over this beautiful island, we gather here in
\nsorrow, in anguish, in disbelief and in pain,\" Howard told the
\nmostly Australian congregation.<\/p>\n
\"I can on behalf of all the people of Australia declare to you
\nthat we will do everything in our power to bring to justice those
\nwho were responsible for this foul deed.\"<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, foreign minister Alexander Downer said \"disturbing
\nnew information of generic threats\" to Westerners in Indonesia
\nhad prompted his government to sharply upgrade its travel
\nwarnings for Indonesia and some other Southeast Asian countries.<\/p>\n
\"We are recommending that all Australians in Indonesia who are
\nconcerned about their security should consider departure,\" Downer
\nsaid. \"In particular short-term visitors whose presence in
\nIndonesia is non-essential should depart.\"<\/p>\n
New Zealanders in Indonesia were also advised on Thursday to
\nleave the country.<\/p>\n
Foreign affairs Minister Phil Goff said his ministry's
\nadvisory was in line with a move by Australia urging its citizens
\nin Indonesia to leave if they felt unsafe.<\/p>\n
Britain Foreign Secretary Jack Straw went even further and
\nsaid that it was not only advising its nationals to leave
\nIndonesia but was also pulling out non-essential diplomats from
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
\"I authorized the withdrawal of some dependents and non-
\nessential staff from the British embassy in Jakarta,\" he told
\nreporters.<\/p>\n
Britain's move followed the decision of the U.S. government,
\nwhich has withdrawn non-essential staff from its diplomatic
\nmissions in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Singapore told Indonesia on Thursday to take
\n\"decisive\" action against extremist Islamic groups in the wake of
\nthe Bali bombing, saying a stable Indonesia was critical for
\nSoutheast Asia.<\/p>\n
\"Governments involved in the worldwide fight against terrorism
\nwill be watching closely how Indonesia handles this threat,\"
\nDeputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has faced international accusations of not doing
\nenough to crack down on Islamic radicals, while accused members
\nof the al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) have been detained
\nin neighboring countries.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/australia-uk-nz-urge-nationals-to-leave-ri-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}