U.S., Australia issue RI travel warning

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta

The United States and Australia warned their citizens on Sunday against traveling to Indonesia, citing possible election-related violence.

"Election-related violence/attacks are possible, U.S. citizens are reminded that they should avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, which could turn violent," said the U.S. State Department travel advisory issued on Sunday.

"The Jamaah Islamiyah organization (JI) and/or other similar terrorist groups may use these elections as opportune occasions to carry out attacks," the advisory said.

JI, a regional terrorist network linked with Osama bin Laden's international terrorist group al-Qaeda, has been blamed for a string of terrorist attacks in the country, including the deadly Bali bombing that killed over 200 people on Oct. 12, 2002, and the J.W. Marriott Hotel attack that killed 12 people in Jakarta on Aug. 5, 2003.

A similar warning was also issued on Sunday by the Australian government, advising its citizens to exercise extreme caution throughout Indonesia.

"Caution should be exercised in particular in Jakarta, including the central business and embassy districts and around premises associated with the Indonesian government," the warning stated.

The Australian Embassy also cautioned its citizens over the possible activities of militant Muslim groups conducting raids at nightspots in the capital.

"We also caution about raids by militant Islamic groups against bars, nightclubs and other public places which might seek to identify Australians," the warning said.

Some Islamic militant organizations such as the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) had often conducted antivice and prostitution raids in the past at bars and nightclubs in Jakarta.

The U.S., which has led the international campaign against terrorism, and Australia have issued travel advisories warning their citizens to defer nonessential travel to Indonesia since the Oct. 12, 2002 Bali bombing, which killed more than 200 people, mostly Australian holidaymakers.

Another terror attack on Aug. 5, 2003 at the J.W.Marriott hotel in South Jakarta also forced the two countries to maintain the warning as American citizens have been the targets of terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda and JI around the globe.

The warnings have been updated from time to time, but this was for the first time it was renewed due to the upcoming election in Indonesia.

Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country, will hold its first ever direct presidential election in July, contested by five presidential candidates.

Given the country's lack of experience in organizing a direct multi-party presidential election, political parties have warned that the upcoming election would be rife with manipulations that could lead to violence.

Already die-hard supporters of Abdurrahman Wahid, who was disqualified by the General Elections Commission (KPU) on Saturday due to his poor eyesight, have been staging daily protests against the ruling.

The first direct legislative election proceeded peacefully last April 5, which was participated in by a total of 24 political parties.