U.S., Australia issue RI travel warning

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.