Australians asked not to visit Papua

Australians asked not to visit Papua

Agence France-presse, Sydney

Australian authorities here on Wednesday added the Papua province
to its growing list of places Australians should avoid due to
possible terrorist attacks.

The Australian foreign ministry said new information had
emerged indicating Australians faced threats in Papua, a big
mining area where there has been a low-level insurgency.

"Australians should avoid travel to Papua," the ministry said
in its latest travel advice.

"Australians there should exercise caution and monitor local
developments that might affect their safety, especially in view
of the heightened security situation following the the recent
incidents in the Freeport mine area," it said.

The government has issued numerous security updates for
Australians across southeast Asia since a car bombing by
suspected Islamic militants killed more than 190 people --94 of
them believed to be Australian-- in Bali on Oct. 12.

The foreign ministry reiterated in Wednesday's update that
Australians who are not on essential business should leave
Indonesia, including Bali. --AFP