Australia urged to reconsider trip to RI due to kidnap threat

Australia urged to reconsider trip to RI due to kidnap threat

The government urged Australians on Wednesday to reconsider their need to travel to Indonesia in light of warnings that terrorists are planning to kidnap foreigners.

Indonesian authorities warned on Tuesday that terrorists are plotting to kidnap high-ranking officials, including foreigners -- apparently shifting away from suicide bombings.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade referred to the warning on Wednesday in its latest travel advise warning against visiting the near neighbor over the Christmas and New Year period.

"We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Indonesia, including Bali, at this time due to the very high threat of terrorist attack," the department said on its website.

"Indonesian authorities warned publicly that terrorists in Indonesia may be planning to kidnap foreigners, including over the Christmas/New Year period," it added.

The department has long advised Australians to defer nonessential travel to Indonesia due to the threat of terrorist attack.

But Jakarta's new ambassador to Australia, Hamzah Thayeb, said Australians should not to turn their backs on Indonesia as a vacation destination.

"Nobody can be certain what will happen," he said. "Our concern would be if nobody was coming to Indonesia." -- AP