Foreign embassies continue to urge their citizens to leave
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)