Western hotels potential terror targets in RI: U.S.
Western hotels potential terror targets in RI: U.S.
P. Parameswaran, Agence France-Presse, Washington
Western hotels are potential targets of terrorist attacks in Indonesia ahead of the third anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 mayhem, the United States said in an updated travel alert on Tuesday (Wednesday in Jakarta).
It reminded citizens to defer non-essential travel to the Southeast Asian archipelago.
In the travel warning, the State Department alerted American citizens to "security concerns regarding identifiably western hotels and reminds travelers of the ongoing terrorist threat for Indonesia."
U.S. government travelers to Indonesia "have been directed to avoid identifiably western hotels," the statement said, updating an advisory issued about three months ago.
Americans were reminded to "defer all non-essential travel to Indonesia" but those continuing to travel there despite the advisory were told to observe personal security precautions, including "continued potential for terrorist attacks against Americans, U.S.- or other Western interests."
The travel alert came ahead of the third year of the devastating Sept.11, 2001 attacks that left nearly 3,000 people dead in the United States, blamed on the al-Qaeda terror network of Osama bin laden.
The State Department said on Tuesday that the U.S. government continued to receive information that Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), regarded as al-Qaeda's Southeast Asian chapter, and other extremist groups might be planning attacks against American and other Western interests in Indonesia.
The JI was blamed for bombings that killed or injured American citizens at Jakarta's Marriott hotel in August 2003 and at Denpasar, Bali in October 2002.
Americans in Indonesia were advised to maintain a low profile, vary daily routines, avoid crowds and demonstrations, and keep abreast of current Indonesian events.
"The potential remains for violence and terrorist actions against U.S. citizens and interests throughout the country," the travel alert said.
Since security has increased at official U.S. facilities, terrorists could seek "softer" targets, it warned.
They include places where Americans and other Westerners live, congregate, shop or visit, it said, listing among other targets clubs, restaurants, shopping centers, transportation systems, places of worship and schools.
The State Department also warned that the JI and other Islamic militant groups might use the Sept. 20 Indonesian presidential elections as an "opportune" occasion to conduct attacks.
"Election-related violence is possible. Americans should avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, which could turn violent or cause unexpected traffic disruptions," it said.
Americans were also asked to avoid travel to restive Aceh and Malaku provinces as well as central, south and southeast Sulawesi and to exercise "extreme caution" when heading to strife-torn provinces of Papua and West Timor (East Nusa Tenggara), and North Sulawesi.
Indonesia restricts foreigners' travel to Aceh, where one foreigner was killed and another wounded by security forces in the past year.
Although Indonesia replaced martial law in Aceh with a state of civil emergency on May 19, 2004, its security situation "remains highly uncertain," the advisory said.