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.