The Age [Australia], October 18 2002
Get out! Australians warned
October 18 2002
By Mark Forbes, Phillip Hudson with AAP
Canberra
Prime Minister John Howard today warned more terrorists attacks in the region were
very likely.
Mr Howard stressed it was important that Australians heeded updated travel warnings
from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
"I think further terrorist attacks in the region are very likely ... well, there was one
yesterday in the Philippines," he told Melbourne radio 3AW.
Mr Howards comments follow a similar warning yesterday from Foreign Minister
Alexander Downers who said new intelligence revealed a "very real risk of further
attack".
The warning comes as the government conceded the number of Australians killed in
the Bali bombing was likely to rise to 119. Already 30 Australians have been
confirmed dead.
Mr Downer said the new warning was "based on disturbing new information of generic
threats to Australians and Australian interests in Indonesia".
"We urge Australians to exercise extreme caution, particularly in commercial and
public areas known to be frequented by foreigners such as clubs, restaurants, bars,
schools, places of worship, outdoor recreation events and tourist areas," Mr Downer
said.
Intelligence sources suggested the further terrorist threat to Western targets in
Indonesia was detected by agents operating inside the country and was "human
intelligence", not intercepted communications.
It is feared the Bali bombing was planned as the first in a series of Indonesian attacks
to be launched by groups associated with al Qaeda.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government continued to defend its failure to publicise US
reports predicting terrorist attacks on tourist targets, possibly in Bali. Angry tourists
returning from Bali described the decision as unbelievable.
Former senior intelligence officers claimed the failure showed Australian intelligence
had "fallen asleep at the wheel".
Prime Minister John Howard, who flew to Bali for a memorial service for the victims of
the bombing yesterday, said the public would have to decide if the judgment of
Department of Foreign Affairs staff not to issue further travel warnings was fair.
He said the decisions were made in good faith and there were no specific warnings of
the Bali attack. Opposition Leader Simon Crean said the issue still needed to be
pursued after receiving a confidential briefing on the US intelligence report. "The
circumstances in which the Americans upgraded their warning and the Australians
didn't is a cause for concern," he said.
In other developments:
- Indonesian authorities were reported to be intensively questioning seven
Indonesians and one foreigner over the bombing, amid reports the attack was
orchestrated by militants from Yemen and Malaysia. The alleged leader of
Jemaah Islamiah, Abu Bakar Bashir, could also face legal action.
- Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri won parliamentary backing for an
emergency anti-terrorism decree.
- Acting Prime Minister Peter Costello told parliament "serious concerns" were
held for 119 Australians. Up to 50 of the dead and missing are believed to be
from Western Australia.
- About 80 people injured in the bombing remained in hospitals around the
country, including 15 foreigners. One-quarter were in a critical condition or in
intensive care, including Kangaroo defender Jason McCartney and Jodie
Cearns, the stepdaughter of Olympic gold medallist Glynis Nunn-Cearns.
Mr Downer said the new threat, received yesterday morning, was more serious than
threats received before last weekend's Bali bombing.
Travel warnings were also upgraded last night for Malaysia, Singapore, the
Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Burma, East Timor and Brunei.
"I'm not making any guarantees about anywhere," Mr Downer said. "We are
recommending that all Australians in Indonesia who are concerned about their
security should consider departure. In particular short-term visitors whose presence in
Indonesia is non-essential should depart."
Mr Downer said the government was considering withdrawing non-essential diplomatic
staff from Indonesia because of the latest threat.
He said Australians in Bali for non-essential reasons should certainly consider
leaving.
The travel advice says that all travel to Bali should be deferred and those remaining on
the island should stay inside hotels and avoid public places.
Mr Downer said the government was being cautious in issuing the warnings and could
not be certain of the accuracy of the threat. It was directed at Western interests, and
Australia was perceived as Western.
He told parliament questions about the adequacy of travel warnings were important
and "very legitimate" but after a review of intelligence material he believed the advice
was "appropriate on the basis of information that was available at the time".
He said the advice issued on September 20 for Indonesiforeigners. One-quarter were
in a critical condition or in intensive care, including Kangaroo defender Jason
McCartney and Jodie Cearns, the stepdaughter of Olympic gold medallist Glynis
Nunn-Cearns.
Mr Downer said the new threat, received yesterday morning, was more serious than
threats received before last weekend's Bali bombing.
Travel warnings were also upgraded last night for Malaysia, Singapore, the
Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Burma, East Timor and Brunei.
"I'm not making any guarantees about anywhere," Mr Downer said. "We are
recommending that all Australians in Indonesia who are concerned about their
security should consider departure. In particular short-term visitors whose presence in
Indonesia is non-essential should depart."
Mr Downer said the government was considering withdrawing non-essential diplomatic
staff from Indonesia because of the latest threat.
He said Australians in Bali for non-essential reasons should certainly consider
leaving.
The travel advice says that all travel to Bali should be deferred and those remaining on
the island should stay inside hotels and avoid public places.
Mr Downer said the government was being cautious in issuing the warnings and could
not be certain of the accuracy of the threat. It was directed at Western interests, and
Australia was perceived as Western.
He told parliament questions about the adequacy of travel warnings were important
and "very legitimate" but after a review of intelligence material he believed the advice
was "appropriate on the basis of information that was available at the time".
He said the advice issued on September 20 for Indonesia "specifically referred to the
general threat of bombing by terrorists" but Australia had no specific information about
the Bali bomb attack.
"If anyone had known about it in advance, then in our case we would have moved
heaven and earth to ensure that Australians were nowhere near Bali," Mr Downer said.
"If anyone had known about it in advance, then in our case we would have moved
heaven and earth to ensure that Australians were nowhere near Bali," Mr Downer said.
Copyright © 2002 The Age Company Ltd
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