Australia, UK, NZ urge nationals to leave RI
Australia, UK, NZ urge nationals to leave RI
Agencies, Jakarta
As Australian Prime Minister John Howard set his foot on Bali
island on Thursday, his government, together with the governments
of the UK and New Zealand, told their citizens to leave Indonesia
due to "new threats" following the Bali blasts that killed at
least 184, mostly foreigners.
Intense security was imposed on Bali's airport for the arrival
of Howard, who headed straight to the Australian Consulate where
he was to take part in a sunset service for victims and
relatives.
"As the sun sets over this beautiful island, we gather here in
sorrow, in anguish, in disbelief and in pain," Howard told the
mostly Australian congregation.
"I can on behalf of all the people of Australia declare to you
that we will do everything in our power to bring to justice those
who were responsible for this foul deed."
Meanwhile, foreign minister Alexander Downer said "disturbing
new information of generic threats" to Westerners in Indonesia
had prompted his government to sharply upgrade its travel
warnings for Indonesia and some other Southeast Asian countries.
"We are recommending that all Australians in Indonesia who are
concerned about their security should consider departure," Downer
said. "In particular short-term visitors whose presence in
Indonesia is non-essential should depart."
New Zealanders in Indonesia were also advised on Thursday to
leave the country.
Foreign affairs Minister Phil Goff said his ministry's
advisory was in line with a move by Australia urging its citizens
in Indonesia to leave if they felt unsafe.
Britain Foreign Secretary Jack Straw went even further and
said that it was not only advising its nationals to leave
Indonesia but was also pulling out non-essential diplomats from
Indonesia.
"I authorized the withdrawal of some dependents and non-
essential staff from the British embassy in Jakarta," he told
reporters.
Britain's move followed the decision of the U.S. government,
which has withdrawn non-essential staff from its diplomatic
missions in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Singapore told Indonesia on Thursday to take
"decisive" action against extremist Islamic groups in the wake of
the Bali bombing, saying a stable Indonesia was critical for
Southeast Asia.
"Governments involved in the worldwide fight against terrorism
will be watching closely how Indonesia handles this threat,"
Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said.
Indonesia has faced international accusations of not doing
enough to crack down on Islamic radicals, while accused members
of the al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) have been detained
in neighboring countries.