U.S. citizens allowed to leave

U.S. citizens allowed to leave

JAKARTA (JP): Because of rising security threats against
Americans in the country, the U.S. government warned its citizens
on Thursday to defer travel to Indonesia and allowed all its
nonessential personnel to leave the country.

The U.S. State Department said in a travel notice, the second
issued this week, that all American citizens in Indonesia should
consider their personal security situations and if necessary
consider leaving the country.

U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Robert S. Gelbard took up the
problem of threats against Americans with Coordinating Minister
for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on
Thursday.

"We are deeply disappointed with the failure of the police to
act," Gelbard told reporters after the meeting.

"They have been good in terms of defensive measures, for
example when there has been a demonstration at the embassy, but
they have not been prepared to act or to arrest people who break
the law when there are sweeps, when they are threats against the
lives of Americans, or when there are other actions which are
clearly in violation of the law.

"I have met the police several times, but thus far, they (the
police) showed reluctance to act," Gelbard said after the
meeting.

Also present at the meeting were Jakarta Police chief Insp.
Gen. Sofjan Jacoeb, the British Ambassador to Indonesia Richard
Gozney and the U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander in Chief Adm. Thomas
B. Fargo.

Gozney also expressed similar concern, saying that he had met
with Sofjan to discuss the protection of Westerners, particularly
Britons, who resided in or were traveling in Indonesia.

Sofjan, meanwhile, reiterated that the police would continue
to provide maximum security protection for Americans and other
expatriates here, but would not arrest those from militant groups
arbitrarily.

"Our legal system is totally different from theirs, as arrests
can only be made by police after the crime has been committed. As
long as it is only in the form of verbal threats, no legal
action, including arrest, can be taken," Sofjan said.

He noted that he had taken his own course of action to prevent
harassment of Americans and other expatriates, including meeting
with Habib Riziq, a leader of the hard-line Islam Defenders Front
(FPI) that had threatened to drive Americans out of the country
should the U.S. attack Afghanistan.

"I received the assurance from him that his group would not
commit any acts of violence against Americans in Jakarta," Sofjan
said.

Meanwhile, about 2,000 people protested outside the heavily-
guarded U.S. Embassy here, burning the U.S. flag and an effigy of
George Bush, that bore the message "The Big Bandit."

The protesters also carried a number of anti-American posters,
such as "Bush Bullshit," "Bush Busuk (depraved)," and "If
Afghanistan is attacked, jihad will be waged."

Anti-American rallies also occurred in Medan, Balikpapan, and
Banjarmasin. All ended peacefully.

Dozens of students from various universities in Medan, North
Sumatra, staged a protest at the province's legislative council
building. Protesters burned tires, however, no clashes were
reported.

Students also hit the streets in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan,
where hundreds of Americans work for oil companies.

They students issued an ultimatum to Americans in the town to
leave or declare that they were against U.S. plans to wage war
against Afghanistan.

A small demonstration also took place in Banjarmasin in South
Kalimantan, where only three Americans are registered in the
province.

Meanwhile, Central Java Governor Mardiyanto expressed in
Semarang on Thursday his opposition to the conduct of militant
groups in Surakarta that visited a number of hotels to search for
Americans.

"I hope all parties will think rationally before conducting
activities such as hunting down foreigners because such actions
will have a negative impact on society," he said.

Meanwhile, Bali Police deputy chief Sr. Comr. Wenny Warouw
stressed in Denpasar on Thursday that stern measures would be
taken against any group or individual that terrorized foreigners
in Bali.

"I warn any persons who intend to launch a sweep that we will
not tolerate this unlawful action. And, if they still try to do
so, we will not hesitate to take stern measures to prevent that,"
he said in a snap news conference at Bali Police Headquarters in
Denpasar.

In September, an average of 25,000 foreigners were staying in
Bali on any given day. Of the total, 1,800 were American
citizens. (zen)