U.S., Australia renew warning for citizens
U.S., Australia renew warning for citizens
Agencies, Jakarta
The Australian Embassy in Jakarta said its controversial travel warning against all non-essential travel to Indonesia had been vindicated after the deadly bombing at the U.S.-owned luxury JW Marriot hotel in Jakarta on Tuesday.
"This sort of event shows that our advice was pretty right on," embassy spokesman Kirk Coningham told The Jakarta Post.
A number of Indonesian ministers have criticized, among other nations, Australia and the U.S. over the travel advisories, which also warn against staying in leading hotels or frequenting areas popular with expatriates or tourists.
Coningham said it would review its warning and could not rule out the possibility Australian citizens would be advised to leave Indonesia.
The United States on Tuesday urgently renewed its calls for Americans in Indonesia to adopt tighter personal security measures following the bombing.
"This incident emphatically reminds all Americans the importance of following rigorous personal security practices as outlined in the current travel warning for Indonesia and in previous warning messages," the U.S. embassy in Jakarta said in a notice to Americans in the country.
The notice, a copy of which was provided to Agence France- Presse, said U.S. officials believed the current uncertain security situation in Indonesia would continue for the "foreseeable future."
"Americans who travel to or reside in Indonesia should keep a low profile, varying times and routes for all required travel, remaining acutely aware of their immediate environment," it said.
Indonesian Vice President Hamzah Haz has said the bombing that killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 100 others, might have been aimed at destroying U.S. interests in the country.
JW Marriott is a U.S.-based hotel chain and the hotel has in the past hosted many major U.S. functions, including this year's July 4th celebration. It has also housed high-ranking U.S. officials visiting Indonesia, including Secretary of State Colin Powell in 2002 and Australian Prime Minister John Howard earlier this year.
Tuesday's embassy notice recalled earlier alerts -- still in effect -- that warned U.S. citizens that terrorists would likely strike at so-called "soft targets" as security around official buildings is tightened.
Possible soft targets include facilities where Americans and westerners are known to live, congregate, shop or visit, it said, identifying such places as hotels, clubs, restaurants, shopping centers, housing compounds, transportation systems, places of worship, schools or outdoor recreation events.
The current State Department travel warning for Indonesia, dated June 12, urges U.S. citizens to defer all non-essential travel to the country, citing "ongoing terrorist threats" from "extremist elements" and recalling the October 2002 nightclub attacks on the resort island of Bali that targeted foreigners.
The Bali bombings have been linked to a group affiliated with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.