US Department of State, Thu Jan 11 13:07:38 2007
US travel warning updates
Indonesia
January 09, 2007
This Travel Warning updates information concerning the security situation in Indonesia
and reminds Americans of the risks associated with travel to that country. This Travel
Warning supersedes the November 18, 2005, Travel Warning for Indonesia.
Due to the possibility of terrorist attacks directed against American or other Western
citizens and interests, the Department of State urges American citizens to evaluate
carefully the risks of travel to Indonesia. The October 1, 2005, terrorist attacks in Bali
in which suicide bombers killed 20 people and injured more three than 100 are a
reminder that terrorists remain active in Indonesia. The possibility of future attacks in
Bali, Jakarta, or other areas of Indonesia cannot be ruled out.
Terrorist attacks in Indonesia could occur at any time and could be directed against
any location, including those frequented by foreigners, as well as identifiably
American or other Western facilities or businesses in Indonesia. Such targets could
include but are not limited to places where Americans and other Westerners live,
congregate, work, study, shop, or visit, including hotels, clubs, restaurants, shopping
centers, identifiably Western businesses, housing compounds, transportation
systems, places of worship, schools, or public recreation events. While past terrorist
attacks have involved the use of vehicle-borne explosives or suicide bombers carrying
explosives in backpacks, terrorists may use other forms of attack in the future.
Terrorists may target individual American citizen residents, visitors, students, or
tourists, and tactics could include but are not limited to kidnapping, shooting, or
poisoning.
The Department of State urges Americans in Indonesia to avoid crowds, maintain a
low profile, and be vigilant about security at all times. Americans are advised to
monitor local news broadcasts, vary their routes and times in carrying out daily
activities, and consider the level of preventive security when visiting public places in
Indonesia. Americans who choose to vacation in Indonesia despite the security risks
are advised to consider the level of preventive security when choosing hotels,
restaurants, beaches, entertainment venues, and recreation sites.
In addition to the October 1, 2005, bombings in Bali, several other serious terrorist
incidents occurred in Indonesia in recent years. A terrorist bombing outside the
Australian Embassy in Jakarta on September 9, 2004, killed eleven and injured more
than 180 people. An August 2003 terrorist bombing at a major international hotel in
Jakarta killed 12 persons and injured scores, including several American citizens. A
terrorist attack in Bali in October 2002 killed 202 people, including seven Americans.
Suicide bombers wearing explosives in vests or backpacks carried out the October 1,
2005, bombings in Bali. Prior terrorist attacks involved the use of vehicle-borne
explosives.
The U.S. Mission in Indonesia restricts U.S. government employees' travel to certain
areas of the country and, at times, denies them permission to travel to specific
locations. As of early 2007, employee travel to the provinces of Aceh, Papua, Central
and South Sulawesi, and Maluku requires the concurrence of the Embassy's Regional
Security Officer. Americans seeking the latest travel restriction information may
contact a consular office. The U.S. Mission can occasionally suspend service to the
public, or close, because of security concerns; in these situations, it will continue to
provide emergency services to American citizens.
Americans who choose to travel to Indonesia despite this Travel Warning should
obtain up-to-date health information before departing the United States. The websites
of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control at http://www.cdc.gov/travel and the World
Health Organization at http://www.who.int have current information on outbreaks of
contagious and tropical diseases. Americans considering travel to Indonesia should
read the Department of State's Fact Sheet on Avian Influenza dated July 2006, and
should consult with their personal physicians concerning avian flu.
Americans living and traveling in Indonesia are urged to register and update their
contact information with U.S. Embassy Jakarta, U.S. Consulate General Surabaya, or
the U.S. Consular Agent in Bali. Registration facilitates the U.S. Mission's contact
with Americans in emergency situations and may be done on line and in advance of
travel. Information on registering can be found at the Department of State's Consular
Affairs website: https://travelregistration.state.gov. Registration information and recent
warden messages are also available on the U.S. Embassy Jakarta website at
http://jakarta.usembassy.gov.
Americans can obtain information on travel and security in Indonesia from the
Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States; or
1-202-501-4444 from outside the United States and Canada. Americans also can call
the Embassy in Jakarta at (62)(21) 3435-9000, the Consulate General in Surabaya at
(62)(31) 295-6400, and the Consular Agent in Bali at (62)(361) 233-605. American
citizens should read the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet for
Indonesia, the latest Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, and Fact Sheet on
Avian Influenza, all available at http://travel.state.gov.
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