Govts anticipate backlash from Muslim extremists
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Within hours following the implementation of the government regulations against terrorism, foreign countries began to issue renewed travel warnings to their citizens underlining a possible backlash from Muslim extremists in Indonesia after the arrest of several prominent Muslim leaders.
Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom warned their citizens on Saturday to be extremely cautious in public places.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Saturday that he had been informed of the warnings issued by the international community of a possible backlash in response to Jakarta's stand against terrorism.
"They assess the travel warnings as they receive threats," Hassan said.
"The possible backlash from certain groups after the government conducted a series of actions in fighting terrorism is the basis behind the issuance of the travel warnings," he added.
Jakarta has moved to crack down on many Muslim extremist groups following the Bali carnage, which claimed the lives of more than 180 people last week.
Immediately after the bombing, the well-known Laskar Jihad group was disbanded and the Islamic Defender Front (FPI) saw its leader Habib Rizieq Shihab detained at police headquarters.
The government's latest move was to arrest Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, the leader of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI).
Ba'asyir is reportedly suffering from heart and respiratory disease and is in a hospital heavily guarded by police.
The move was immediately supported by a new regulation that allows the police to use intelligence reports as evidence in detaining a person.
The chairman of Muhammadiyah, the second largest Muslim organization in the country, Ahmad Syafi'i Ma'arif, said that he welcomed the new regulations and hoped that the government would use them proportionally to maintain order.
He added that he had ordered his followers to support security in the country.
"I have been sending those words out to our members across the country, that they should help in maintaining security," Syafi'i said.
Reuters reported that the Australian government warned on Saturday of a possible backlash in Indonesia following the arrest of Baasyir.
"It is possible that there could be a backlash from those people and that is something we have got to be very wary of," Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said.
The British government has extended its travel warnings to much of Southeast Asia, urging Britons to exercise "extreme caution in public places".
"There is an increased threat to British nationals and British interests from terrorism in Southeast Asia," The Foreign Office said on Saturday.
Visiting Baroness Amos said here that the British government would make the decision on whether to evacuate the embassy staff by next week and admitted that they received additional information, but could not discuss the nature of the threats.
Similar warnings also issued by the U.S. state department said that: "The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta has received information that indicates extremist elements may be planning additional attacks targeting U.S. interests in Indonesia, particularly U.S. government officials and facilities."