Indonesia wants travel warnings rectified

Indonesia wants travel warnings rectified

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda asked on Tuesday
the United States, Britain and Australia to correct their travel
advice for Indonesia, saying that information on terrorist
threats and possible violence during anti-war rallies here were
groundless.

Speaking to reporters after national security talks here,
Hassan said the warnings were an "overreaction".

"Our police have followed up on the information, and they said
that it was not true.

"Those countries also warned their citizens of possible
violence targeting them should rallies across the nation turn
ugly. But up till now, such rallies have run peacefully," Hassan
said.

The talks were hosted by Coordinating Minister for Security
and Political Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Also in
attendance were defense minister Matori Abdul Djalil and dozens
of public figures, ranging from intellectuals to Muslim clerics.

Citing a reliable source, Australia warned its citizens on
Saturday of possible terrorist attacks on Westerners in Surabaya.

Also on Saturday, the United States renewed its existing
terrorism-related warning for U.S. citizens in Indonesia to
consider leaving due to possible retaliatory attacks for the war
in Iraq.

The State Department, echoing concerns first raised by the
U.S. and British embassies in Jakarta on Thursday and Friday,
said the conflict in Iraq would likely inflame anger in
Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation.

Separately, National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said the
information on a possible terrorist attack came from the
Australian Federal Police.

"We followed up the information and conducted a search of
passengers on a vessel, but found no indication of terrorists
onboard," Da'i said.

He was referring Friday's police search of KM Tidar at
Surabaya port for terror suspects.

Susilo said police would take immediate action to prevent
terrorist attacks even though he said that "information about
such threats is baseless."

The minister held a meeting with Indonesian Military Chief
Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, National Police Chief Gen. Da'i
Bachtiar and National Intelligence Agency chief A.M.
Hendropriyono to discuss the issue.

"I can ensure you that information about terrorist threats was
negative. There are no indications about that. But if those
countries categorize the anti-Western campaigns as an act of
terror, it is a positive call and we are going to take firm
action against civilian groups who threaten to harass Westerners
here," Susilo said.

The government, he added, was obliged to protect foreigners
and foreign properties.

Jakarta Police on Tuesday declared 10 members of the Islamic
Youth Movement suspects for allegedly targeting Westerners after
an antiwar rally in Central Jakarta.

Susilo said opposition to the U.S.-led military attack on Iraq
should not be followed by violence.

Meanwhile, National Police deputy spokesman Sr. Comr. Zainuri
Lubis said the police had had no complaints from foreigners in
the wake of antiwar rallies.

Citing a report from Banten Police, Zainuri said some 720
foreigners staying in the province refused to leave the country.

The police are focusing security efforts in Jakarta, Surabaya,
Java, Yogyakarta, Medan and Bali.