U.S. citizens allowed to leave<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Because of rising security threats against
\nAmericans in the country, the U.S. government warned its citizens
\non Thursday to defer travel to Indonesia and allowed all its
\nnonessential personnel to leave the country.<\/p>\n
The U.S. State Department said in a travel notice, the second
\nissued this week, that all American citizens in Indonesia should
\nconsider their personal security situations and if necessary
\nconsider leaving the country.<\/p>\n
U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Robert S. Gelbard took up the
\nproblem of threats against Americans with Coordinating Minister
\nfor Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
\"We are deeply disappointed with the failure of the police to
\nact,\" Gelbard told reporters after the meeting.<\/p>\n
\"They have been good in terms of defensive measures, for
\nexample when there has been a demonstration at the embassy, but
\nthey have not been prepared to act or to arrest people who break
\nthe law when there are sweeps, when they are threats against the
\nlives of Americans, or when there are other actions which are
\nclearly in violation of the law.<\/p>\n
\"I have met the police several times, but thus far, they (the
\npolice) showed reluctance to act,\" Gelbard said after the
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
Also present at the meeting were Jakarta Police chief Insp.
\nGen. Sofjan Jacoeb, the British Ambassador to Indonesia Richard
\nGozney and the U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander in Chief Adm. Thomas
\nB. Fargo.<\/p>\n
Gozney also expressed similar concern, saying that he had met
\nwith Sofjan to discuss the protection of Westerners, particularly
\nBritons, who resided in or were traveling in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Sofjan, meanwhile, reiterated that the police would continue
\nto provide maximum security protection for Americans and other
\nexpatriates here, but would not arrest those from militant groups
\narbitrarily.<\/p>\n
\"Our legal system is totally different from theirs, as arrests
\ncan only be made by police after the crime has been committed. As
\nlong as it is only in the form of verbal threats, no legal
\naction, including arrest, can be taken,\" Sofjan said.<\/p>\n
He noted that he had taken his own course of action to prevent
\nharassment of Americans and other expatriates, including meeting
\nwith Habib Riziq, a leader of the hard-line Islam Defenders Front
\n(FPI) that had threatened to drive Americans out of the country
\nshould the U.S. attack Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
\"I received the assurance from him that his group would not
\ncommit any acts of violence against Americans in Jakarta,\" Sofjan
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, about 2,000 people protested outside the heavily-
\nguarded U.S. Embassy here, burning the U.S. flag and an effigy of
\nGeorge Bush, that bore the message \"The Big Bandit.\"<\/p>\n
The protesters also carried a number of anti-American posters,
\nsuch as \"Bush Bullshit,\" \"Bush Busuk (depraved),\" and \"If
\nAfghanistan is attacked, jihad will be waged.\"<\/p>\n
Anti-American rallies also occurred in Medan, Balikpapan, and
\nBanjarmasin. All ended peacefully.<\/p>\n
Dozens of students from various universities in Medan, North
\nSumatra, staged a protest at the province's legislative council
\nbuilding. Protesters burned tires, however, no clashes were
\nreported.<\/p>\n
Students also hit the streets in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan,
\nwhere hundreds of Americans work for oil companies.<\/p>\n
They students issued an ultimatum to Americans in the town to
\nleave or declare that they were against U.S. plans to wage war
\nagainst Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
A small demonstration also took place in Banjarmasin in South
\nKalimantan, where only three Americans are registered in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Central Java Governor Mardiyanto expressed in
\nSemarang on Thursday his opposition to the conduct of militant
\ngroups in Surakarta that visited a number of hotels to search for
\nAmericans.<\/p>\n
\"I hope all parties will think rationally before conducting
\nactivities such as hunting down foreigners because such actions
\nwill have a negative impact on society,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Bali Police deputy chief Sr. Comr. Wenny Warouw
\nstressed in Denpasar on Thursday that stern measures would be
\ntaken against any group or individual that terrorized foreigners
\nin Bali.<\/p>\n
\"I warn any persons who intend to launch a sweep that we will
\nnot tolerate this unlawful action. And, if they still try to do
\nso, we will not hesitate to take stern measures to prevent that,\"
\nhe said in a snap news conference at Bali Police Headquarters in
\nDenpasar.<\/p>\n
In September, an average of 25,000 foreigners were staying in
\nBali on any given day. Of the total, 1,800 were American
\ncitizens. (zen)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-citizens-allowed-to-leave-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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