Embassies urge their citizens to beware

Embassies urge their citizens to beware

WASHINGTON (Agencies): The United States, Australia and
France, citing riots, looting and other security threats, have
urged their citizens traveling in Indonesia to be careful and
avoid demonstrations.

The U.S. embassy in Jakarta told U.S. citizens to exercise
caution and seek advice before undertaking inter-city road travel
in the country, noting "an increasing pattern of security threats
and disturbances" affecting road travel in West Java, which it
said could spread to other areas.

In addition, continuing riots and looting in some parts of the
country increased the possibility of "increased tension and
criminal activity arising from economic uncertainty in
Indonesia," it added.

As a result, "American citizens should exercise prudence and
common sense and avoid demonstrations and other situation that
could turn violent," the embassy said in a public announcement to
be issued in Indonesia on Wednesday.

Additionally, it urged U.S. citizens to register with the U.S.
embassy in Jakarta or the consulates in Surabaya or Bali.

More information was available on the embassy home page at
http://www.usembassyJakarta.org.

Meanwhile the Australian ambassador to Indonesia has warned
Australians to take extra safety precautions because of civil
unrest linked to the financial turmoil, AP reported from
Canberra.

John McCarthy said Australians should exercise an "extra
measure of caution," when traveling outside Jakarta and the
holiday island of Bali.

"Unpleasant things are happening in Indonesia and people
should be careful to avoid that," McCarthy told Australian
Broadcasting Corp. radio.

McCarthy said that foreigners had not yet been targeted in the
violence, but public transport in Java should be avoided, "and
common sense should be applied in avoiding large crowds."

"Clearly the situation is volatile -- let's not mess about," he
said.

The French embassy in Jakarta also officially cautioned its
citizens over growing security concerns in Indonesia.

A statement issued by the embassy in Jakarta said that because
of "developments, particularly in Java, Sulawesi, Lombok, Flores
and Sumatra" it felt driven "to call on French nationals to be
cautious when traveling in the provinces".

"Within Jakarta, a measure of basis caution is recommended,"
the statement said, adding that certain districts were more
susceptible to trouble than others.

Eight districts of Jakarta, including Chinatown, the old town
center and commercial district and the modern center to the south
of the capital, figured on the list of potential trouble hot
spots.

The warning, which was issued through French community
leaders, was "a routine measure in any period of tension", a
French diplomat said.