The Jakarta Post, 12/21/2005 6:31:23 PM
Australia urges citizens to reconsider travel to Indonesia due to
kidnap threat
CANBERRA, Australia (AP): The government on Wednesday urged Australians to
reconsider their need to travel to Indonesia in light of warnings that terrorists are
planning to kidnap foreigners.
Indonesian authorities warned Tuesday that terrorists are plotting to kidnap
high-ranking officials, including foreigners - apparently shifting away from suicide
bombings.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade referred to the warning Wednesday in it
latest travel advice warning against visiting the near neighbor over the Christmas and
New Year period.
"We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Indonesia, including Bali, at this
time due to the very high threat of terrorist attack," the department said on its Web
site.
"Indonesian authorities warned publicly that terrorists in Indonesia may be planning to
kidnap foreigners, including over the Christmas/New Year period," it added.
The department has long advised Australians to defernonessential travel to Indonesia
due to the threat of terrorist attack.
But Jakarta's new ambassador to Australia, Hamzah Thayeb, said Australians should
not to turn their backs on Indonesia as a vacation destination.
"Nobody can be certain what will happen," he said. "Our concern would be if nobody
was coming to Indonesia." (**)
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