The Age [Australia], December 24 2002
Airports to display travel warnings
By Josh Gordon, Tom Hyland
Warnings advising travellers of overseas threats could soon be available at airports
and post offices under a Federal Government campaign to begin early next year.
Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer yesterday said the government was
seeking to make travellers more aware of potential hot spots.
Options being considered include touch-screen computers in airports and post offices
providing the latest inform-ation on specific countries, and an advertising campaign.
The move follows criticism that warnings issued to tourists travelling to Bali
immediately before the terrorist attack were insufficient despite intelligence
information.
The move comes as the Indonesian Government again criticised foreign countries for
warning their citizens against travel to that country, even though local police have said
they were "preparing for the worst" over Christmas.
Renewed travel advice issued by Australia, Britain and the United States on Friday
referred specifically to the risk of terror attacks over the period.
Mr Downer yesterday said the reviewed travel warning was not based on new
information about a specific threat, but earlier information "that there could be attacks
especially on churches in Indonesia".
President Megawati Sukarnoputri called on foreign governments to lift the warnings, in
what was reported to be the first time she has publicly raised the issue.
"I say everywhere to friendly nations and to foreigners living in Indonesia that terrorism
can occur anywhere, at any time and can be carried out by anyone," Mrs Megawati
told members of her political party in Jakarta on Sunday.
"So, if it occurs in Indonesia, don't prevent people from visiting."
Indonesian police investigating the Bali bombing yesterday released the names and
pictures of six new suspects, bringing to 11 the total of suspects still on the run. The
new suspects include two Malaysians said to have provided technical and financial
support to the bombers.
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd said travel warnings in Australia
were still not good enough, 10 weeks after the Bali attack. He contacted 20 travel
agents on Friday after the warning to Australians was reissued.
"Of the 20 agents telephoned, only four made any reference to the existence of any
adverse travel advisories for Indonesia," Mr Rudd said. "The vast majority of those
contacted simply proceeded with providing booking information."
But Mr Downer said it would be "draconian" to make travel agents force the latest
warnings on all travellers.
"I don't think, in a free society, passing laws requiring every travel agent to present a
traveller with every travel advisory is necessary or sensible," Mr Downer said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday issued a travel warning urging
Australians to defer all non-crucial travel to Venezuela. It follows massive
demonstrations and fuel and food shortages because of a strike by workers employed
by the state-run oil company.
Copyright © 2002 The Age Company Ltd
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