The Jakarta Post, 12/14/2004 1:01:51 PM
Australia advises against Indonesian travel on terror reports
CANBERRA (Bloomberg): Australia's government advised its citizens to avoid travel to
Indonesia due to continued reports of planned terrorist attacks against foreigners.
"In the lead up to the Christmas and New Year holiday period, we continue to receive
reports that terrorists in the region are planning attacks against a range of targets,"
the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement released in
Canberra.
A suicide bombing outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta on Sept. 9 killed 11
people. Jamaah Islamiyah, a Southeast Asian group linked to the al-Qaeda terrorist
network, claimed responsibility for the attack. The group is also blamed for the 2002
attack on the Indonesian island of Bali that killed at least 202 people, 88 of them
Australians.
"The possibility of another attack against Australians cannot be ruled out," the
government said.
Australia's Jakarta embassy will operate reduced services over the holiday period due
to the heightened security environment, the statement said. (*)
All contents copyright © of The Jakarta Post.
|
