U.S., Australia issue RI travel warning<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The United States and Australia warned their citizens on Sunday
\nagainst traveling to Indonesia, citing possible election-related
\nviolence.<\/p>\n
\"Election-related violence\/attacks are possible, U.S. citizens
\nare reminded that they should avoid demonstrations and large
\ngatherings, which could turn violent,\" said the U.S. State
\nDepartment travel advisory issued on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\"The Jamaah Islamiyah organization (JI) and\/or other similar
\nterrorist groups may use these elections as opportune occasions
\nto carry out attacks,\" the advisory said.<\/p>\n
JI, a regional terrorist network linked with Osama bin Laden's
\ninternational terrorist group al-Qaeda, has been blamed for a
\nstring of terrorist attacks in the country, including the deadly
\nBali bombing that killed over 200 people on Oct. 12, 2002, and
\nthe J.W. Marriott Hotel attack that killed 12 people in Jakarta
\non Aug. 5, 2003.<\/p>\n
A similar warning was also issued on Sunday by the Australian
\ngovernment, advising its citizens to exercise extreme caution
\nthroughout Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"Caution should be exercised in particular in Jakarta,
\nincluding the central business and embassy districts and around
\npremises associated with the Indonesian government,\" the warning
\nstated.<\/p>\n
The Australian Embassy also cautioned its citizens over the
\npossible activities of militant Muslim groups conducting raids at
\nnightspots in the capital.<\/p>\n
\"We also caution about raids by militant Islamic groups
\nagainst bars, nightclubs and other public places which might
\nseek to identify Australians,\" the warning said.<\/p>\n
Some Islamic militant organizations such as the Islam
\nDefenders Front (FPI) had often conducted antivice
\nand prostitution raids in the past at bars and nightclubs in
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
The U.S., which has led the international campaign against
\nterrorism, and Australia have issued travel advisories warning
\ntheir citizens to defer nonessential travel to Indonesia since
\nthe Oct. 12, 2002 Bali bombing, which killed more than 200
\npeople, mostly Australian holidaymakers.<\/p>\n
Another terror attack on Aug. 5, 2003 at the J.W.Marriott
\nhotel in South Jakarta also forced the two countries to maintain
\nthe warning as American citizens have been the targets of
\nterrorist attacks by al-Qaeda and JI around the globe.<\/p>\n
The warnings have been updated from time to time, but this was
\nfor the first time it was renewed due to the upcoming election in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country, will hold its
\nfirst ever direct presidential election in July, contested by
\nfive presidential candidates.<\/p>\n
Given the country's lack of experience in organizing a direct
\nmulti-party presidential election, political parties have warned
\nthat the upcoming election would be rife with manipulations that
\ncould lead to violence.<\/p>\n
Already die-hard supporters of Abdurrahman Wahid, who was
\ndisqualified by the General Elections Commission (KPU) on
\nSaturday due to his poor eyesight, have been staging daily
\nprotests against the ruling.<\/p>\n
The first direct legislative election proceeded peacefully
\nlast April 5, which was participated in by a total of 24
\npolitical parties.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-australia-issue-ri-travel-warning-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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