Police play down new Australian warning<\/p>\n
Eva C. Komandjaja and Ivy Susanti, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The National Police reacted coldly to a travel advisory issued
\nby the Australian government on Friday, by stressing that the
\npolice had not received any new information on terrorist
\nactivities in the country.<\/p>\n
Da'i said he did not know why the Australian government issued
\nthe travel warning since the police had not received any fresh
\ninformation that could serve as a reason for the updated warning.<\/p>\n
"I don't know whether this (travel warning) is merely an
\nextension of the previous warning (based on previous indications)
\nor whether the (Australian) government found new facts that made
\nthem issue the warning," Da'i said. "We ourselves have not
\nreceived any."<\/p>\n
But he quickly said that despite the absence of new
\ninformation related to terrorist activities here, the police
\nwould maintain tight security in several places that are likely
\nto become a target of terrorist attacks.<\/p>\n
The Australian government updated its travel advisory on
\nFriday warning Australians against travel to Indonesia for the
\nsecond time in a week.<\/p>\n
"We continue to receive a stream of credible reporting
\nsuggesting that terrorists are in the very advanced stages of
\nplanning attacks in Indonesia," the Australian Department of
\nForeign Affairs and Trade said in a statement as quoted by AP.<\/p>\n
"Attacks could occur at any time, anywhere in Indonesia and
\ncould be directed at any locations known to be frequented by
\nforeigners," it added.<\/p>\n
The travel advisory follows repeated warnings by the
\nIndonesian police in recent weeks that a group allegedly led by
\ntwo key members of the al Qaeda-linked Jamaah Islamiyah (JI)
\nplans to strike Western-linked targets. The police have said the
\ntwo JI fugitives might be staying around Jakarta and recruiting
\nfollowers for their next operation.<\/p>\n
The police identified as potential targets places frequented
\nby foreigners, in particular embassies, international schools,
\noffice buildings and shopping malls.<\/p>\n
Australians are advised to avoid all travel to Aceh and Maluku
\nprovince, particularly Ambon. "Australians in Aceh and Maluku
\nshould depart," the statement said.<\/p>\n
"We continue to receive reports that terrorists may be
\nplanning attacks against foreigners involved in the tsunami
\nrelief effort in Aceh and other parts of northern Sumatra," it
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the British Embassy also advised its nationals that
\nterrorists in Indonesia were planning further attacks on
\nWesterners and Western interests.<\/p>\n
The latest terrorist bomb attack that occurred on May 28 in a
\ntraditional market in Tentena, Central Sulawesi, killed 21 people
\nand injured dozens of others. It was the second deadliest attack
\nsince the Bali bombings in 2002, which killed 202 people, 88 of
\nthem Australian tourists.<\/p>\n
The Australian Embassy in Jakarta was also hit by a suicide
\nbomb attack in September 2004, killing 11 Indonesians, and
\nwounding more than 200 people.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Marty
\nNatalegawa said that while the government appreciated any efforts
\nby foreign countries to protect their citizens traveling
\noverseas, he expected foreign countries issuing travel warnings
\nagainst Indonesia to also communicate their concerns with the
\nIndonesian government.<\/p>\n
"We always hope that countries that issue travel advisories
\ncommunicate their concerns to the Indonesian government ... so we
\ncan take anticipatory measures. This is something that needs
\nfurther improvement."<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-play-down-new-australian-warning-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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