Expats advised to avoid public places

Expats advised to avoid public places

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

All foreigners staying in Indonesia have been urged to stay on
alert and avoid public places across the country following the
devastating bomb attack in Bali on Saturday night.

A number of embassies of major countries, including the U.S.,
had issued a travel warning to their respective citizens here.

The United States even mulls to reduce its diplomatic presence
in Indonesia following the deadly car bomb attack.

"The embassy is currently re-evaluating the extent of its
presence in Indonesia," the notice from the State Department
said.

"Americans visiting or residing in Indonesia are advised to
examine the necessity of continuing to remain in Indonesia."

"We continue to advise all Americans to exercise a high level
of security awareness, and to keep a low profile," it said.

On Friday, the State Department had refused to deny reports
that its ambassador in Jakarta had warned that he might withdraw
some staff unless Indonesian authorities improved security after
a September 23 grenade explosion near an embassy residence.

The Washington Post and Wall Street Journal earlier reported
that Ambassador Ralph Boyce told Indonesian officials that he
could be forced to evacuate non-essential staff.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Marty
Natalegawa said on Sunday his office would brief foreign
diplomats on Monday.

"Most embassies will be on alert, and our office plans to
brief foreign diplomats on Monday regarding the current
situation," Marty told The Jakarta Post on Sunday evening.

He further said that a number of foreign embassies here had
asked for more security officers to guard their vicinities.

Unwilling to mention the name of the embassies, Marty said
simply that the request came from the countries whose citizens
fell victim to the bombing incident.

"However, we are sure that the police would be on full alert
and they will increase security to protect the foreign
compounds," Marty remarked.

The country's most deadly bomb explosion ever, hit Bali,
previously considered untouchable by the violence and social
unrest that plagues much of the rest of the country. The car bomb
blast killed at least 181 people and injured 281 others.

Most of the victims were believed to be Australian tourists.
The attack prompted most tourists there to head immediately for
the airport to get the first available flight out of the country.

Also on Sunday, the United Kingdom Ambassador Richard Gozney,
who was still trying to locate 15 British nationals who remain
missing following the incident, asked all British citizens to
defer travel to Indonesia.

In an interview aired by a local radio station, he asked the
British residents of Indonesia to dine at home and avoid all
public places across the country.

Such a warning was also issued by the Australian government
urging all Australians to stay at home.

The Japanese government also asked its citizens to avoid
visiting Bali, and to stay alert while in Indonesia.

There are no definite expiry dates for these travel warnings,
most of which, in the past, always exempted Bali, but that image
of a safe Bali was shattered on Saturday night.