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."