The Jakarta Post, 2/16/2007 11:54:23 AM
Australia advises citizens to avoid Sulawesi
CANBERRA (AP): Terrorists may be planning attacks on Sulawesi Island, the
Australian government warned Friday, adding the region to the areas of the Southeast
Asian country it advises its citizens to avoid.
The warning came about three weeks after Indonesian police shot or arrested more
than 20 Islamic militants in Central Sulawesi town of Poso.
The International Crisis Group - which monitors extremists in Indonesia and elsewhere
- warned the action could provoke reprisaal attacks on authorities and government
buildings.
"We strongly advise you to not travel to Aceh, Maluku and Central Sulawesi due to
the unstable security situation and risk of terrorist attack," Australia's Foreign Affairs
Department said in a travel warning posted Friday on its Web site.
"Recent credible reports indicate that terrorists may be in the advanced stages of
planning attacks in Sulawesi. You should avoid all government buildings and
infrastructure," it said.
Australia has warned its citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to most parts of
Indonesia since the 2002 nightclub bombings on Bali island that killed 202 people,
including 88 Australian tourists. (**)
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