Foreign embassies continue to urge their citizens to leave
JAKARTA (JP): Several foreign embassies here urged their citizens yesterday evening to immediately leave the country in anticipation of today's large-scale demonstrations to commemorate National Awakening Day.
A statement signed by British Ambassador Robin Christopher yesterday afternoon said: "There is a risk that the security situation may deteriorate, particularly in Jakarta."
"With the exception of Bali, British citizens should now leave Indonesia, preferably avoiding travel on May 20."
The ambassador's statement pointed to at least four commercial flights leaving the country last night in addition to a specially requested British Airways Boeing 747 flying to Kuala Lumpur.
British nationals in Indonesia needing further assistance can contact the embassy directly through a 24-hour telephone line at 392-8622/8624.
Thousands of foreigners have left the country following the widespread riots which hit Jakarta on Thursday.
Many are also worried that large-scale rallies planned for today by the pro-reform movement to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the nationalist movement against Dutch rule could escalate into violence.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore similarly urged its nationals to leave Indonesia "as soon as possible".
Those who have relatives in Indonesia have also been asked to advise them to return to Hong Kong as soon as possible.
Embassy
Many embassies strived to continue full operations yesterday despite having already pulled out a number of their staff members and many of their nationals living here.
"We are open, although the counselor office is not processing visas," an official at the United States Embassy told The Jakarta Post here yesterday. "We hope to resume normal visa operations on Friday, conditions permitting."
"Some staff members have left (Indonesia), but we are trying to be 100 percent operational," the official said, adding that much of the embassy's work was now focused on facilitating the departure of its citizens wishing to leave.
As many as 1,165 American citizens left Indonesia over the last three days on both U.S. government-chartered and privately chartered flights, the official said. "We don't have the number on how many have left on commercial flights".
The Australian Embassy, according to spokesman John Milne, has flown in additional immigration staff to help with the jump in visa applications.
On Monday, the embassy received as many as 1,120 visa applications -- mostly for tourist visas -- way above the 200 daily applications received on average in April, he said.
"The embassy is working as usual," Milne told the Post.
He added that plans to reduce or evacuate staff "depend on the situation".
The Australian government has thus far chartered three flights which have flown 758 Australians home.
Australian carrier Qantas Airways said yesterday that the government had chartered a Boeing 747-400 which would leave early this morning to take up to 383 passengers from Jakarta.
There were an estimated 20,000 Australians in Indonesia before unrest flared up last week.
At this point, it is uncertain how many foreigners left Indonesia over the past week.
An official at the Ministry of Justice's immigration office contacted by the Post yesterday said: "There is no number so far because the departures are still going on." (aan/mds)