Foreign scholars leave RI

Foreign scholars leave RI

A number of American and Australian scholars have left
Indonesia for home after their research projects were canceled
following the devastating Bali bomb attack.

An official at the U.S. Embassy who requested anonymity said
on Tuesday that one of the 25 American scholars here under the
Fullbright scholarship must return to the U.S. as her sponsor
canceled the program. The other scholars, however, will stay and
the Fullbright program would still continue, he added.

Separately, Australian Embassy spokesman Geoffrey Leach said
the exodus of students was caused by safety reasons.

"But agencies in Australia have never ordered the students to
return home. They went back because of our travel warning," he
said.

However, no fellows will be sent to Indonesia under the
exchange of journalists involving Australia and Asian countries
sponsored by Medialink until the situation here was safe, he
added. -- JP