Police play down new Australian warning

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."