The Sydney Morning Herald, December 23 2002
New alert: stay out of Indonesia
By Tom Hyland and Freya Petersen
The Department of Foreign Affairs has renewed its travel advice to Australians amid
fears of new terrorist attacks in Indonesia over Christmas and new year.
Authorities in Jakarta are reported to have mobilised thousands of troops and police in
anticipation of possible attacks on churches, especially on Christmas Eve.
Foreign and local authorities fear a repeat of Christmas 2000, when churches were
targeted in a wave of attacks that killed 19 people across the country. The concerns
have intensified since the Bali bombings and a more recent blast in Makassar.
"Threats against Australians and Australian interests in Indonesia remain high ...
particularly over Christmas and the new year period," the department warned.
A spokeswoman said last night that the upgrade of its travel advice for Indonesia on
Friday had been prompted by "new information received immediately beforehand".
The advice, on the department's website, also reads: "We have received reports that
places of worship, office buildings, shopping centres and upmarket entertainment
areas may also be targeted."
It repeated that Australians should consider deferring non-essential travel to Indonesia
and that those living there should exercise extreme caution in places frequented by
foreigners, including churches.
Similar advice was issued by the United States and British embassies on Friday.
The British embassy warned that the detention of the cleric Abu Bakar Bashir and the
possible arrest of other extremists "could lead to a strong reaction from their
supporters".
Copyright © 2002. The Sydney Morning Herald.
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