Police play down new Australian warning

Eva C. Komandjaja and Ivy Susanti, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

The National Police reacted coldly to a travel advisory issued by the Australian government on Friday, by stressing that the police had not received any new information on terrorist activities in the country.

Da'i said he did not know why the Australian government issued the travel warning since the police had not received any fresh information that could serve as a reason for the updated warning.

"I don't know whether this (travel warning) is merely an extension of the previous warning (based on previous indications) or whether the (Australian) government found new facts that made them issue the warning," Da'i said. "We ourselves have not received any."

But he quickly said that despite the absence of new information related to terrorist activities here, the police would maintain tight security in several places that are likely to become a target of terrorist attacks.

The Australian government updated its travel advisory on Friday warning Australians against travel to Indonesia for the second time in a week.

"We continue to receive a stream of credible reporting suggesting that terrorists are in the very advanced stages of planning attacks in Indonesia," the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement as quoted by AP.

"Attacks could occur at any time, anywhere in Indonesia and could be directed at any locations known to be frequented by foreigners," it added.

The travel advisory follows repeated warnings by the Indonesian police in recent weeks that a group allegedly led by two key members of the al Qaeda-linked Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) plans to strike Western-linked targets. The police have said the two JI fugitives might be staying around Jakarta and recruiting followers for their next operation.

The police identified as potential targets places frequented by foreigners, in particular embassies, international schools, office buildings and shopping malls.

Australians are advised to avoid all travel to Aceh and Maluku province, particularly Ambon. "Australians in Aceh and Maluku should depart," the statement said.

"We continue to receive reports that terrorists may be planning attacks against foreigners involved in the tsunami relief effort in Aceh and other parts of northern Sumatra," it added.

Meanwhile, the British Embassy also advised its nationals that terrorists in Indonesia were planning further attacks on Westerners and Western interests.

The latest terrorist bomb attack that occurred on May 28 in a traditional market in Tentena, Central Sulawesi, killed 21 people and injured dozens of others. It was the second deadliest attack since the Bali bombings in 2002, which killed 202 people, 88 of them Australian tourists.

The Australian Embassy in Jakarta was also hit by a suicide bomb attack in September 2004, killing 11 Indonesians, and wounding more than 200 people.

Meanwhile, Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa said that while the government appreciated any efforts by foreign countries to protect their citizens traveling overseas, he expected foreign countries issuing travel warnings against Indonesia to also communicate their concerns with the Indonesian government.

"We always hope that countries that issue travel advisories communicate their concerns to the Indonesian government ... so we can take anticipatory measures. This is something that needs further improvement."