Australian firms ready to protect staff, assets in RI

Australian firms ready to protect staff, assets in RI

SYDNEY (AFP): Australian companies with interests in Indonesia
were preparing Monday to protect their employees and assets if
the political turmoil in Jakarta escalates, company officials
said.

Mining giant BHP Billiton Ltd, Coca Cola Amatil Ltd, ANZ
Banking Group Ltd and Qantas Airways Ltd were among the estimated
400 Australian companies with operations throughout Indonesia.

The companies were monitoring the stand-off between embattled
Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid and Indonesia's National
Assembly, ready to act if the political turmoil unfolding in
Jakarta descended into violence on the streets of the capital.

Wahid's attempts to declare a state of emergency and thwart
his impeachment failed as key institutions including the army and
the country's supreme court ignored his moves to maintain control
of the troubled archipelago.

Australian companies said they were prepared for the worst,
most having contingency plans in place following bloody riots
surrounding the resignation of former president Suharto in 1998.

However some companies were taking no chances, including BHP
Billiton which told its 200 Jakarta-based employees to stay home
Monday.

BHP Billiton country director Andrew Wilson said the company
was putting the safety of its employees first and had hotels
lined up for staff to go to in the event of a crisis.

"We made a cautious decision to say don't come to work,"
Wilson said.

However, Wilson said he was still telling his staff from
outlying offices across Indonesia to travel to the capital for
business.

Soft drink giant Coca Cola Amatil (CCA) also placed its 8,000
staff across its 10 Indonesian plants on high alert, but CCA
investor relations manager Peter Steel said there had been no
impact on production.

"We don't send people out if we think there's any risk in
terms of selling products -- but as far as we're concerned it's
business as usual."

"We have pretty detailed plans to ensure the safety of our
employees as well as our assets," Steel added.

An ANZ spokeswoman said events in Jakarta were being closely
monitored with security plans in place for staff at its
representative office and its 85 percent-owned ANZ Panin Bank.

Australia Indonesia Business Council president Peter Neville
said if supporters of President Wahid descended on Jakarta en
masse, there was a real threat that the country could descend
into chaos.

But he said that while most companies had contingency plans in
place, they were still trading.

"So I think that's an indication that people think the
transition will take place reasonably peacefully."