LAKSAMANA.Net, October 17, 2002 01:57 PM
Howard Flies to Bali, Aussies Urged to Leave
October 17, 2002 01:57 PM
Laksamana.Net - Australian Prime Minister John Howard flew to Bali on Thursday
(17/10/02) to attend a memorial service for those who killed in the weekend bombings,
while Australians are now being urged to leave Indonesia following new information of
further threats.
Howard is not scheduled to visit Jakarta or meet with President Megawati
Sukarnoputri.
His decision to visit Bali comes amid growing anger among Australians over the slow
process of identifying those killed in the Bali blasts and repatriating their remains.
More than 180 people were killed on Saturday when blasts tore apart two nightclubs
packed with foreign tourists in Bali's main nightlife area Kuta.
Australia's Foreign Affairs Department on Thursday said 33 Australians had been
confirmed dead, while another 46 were feared dead.
Australian Attorney General Daryl Williams on Wednesday announced the
government would offer a reward of up to A$2 million to encourage the provision of
information leading to the arrest of the culprits.
Although no one has claimed responsibility for the Bali blasts, suspicion has fallen on
Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network and his regional allies grouped in the Jemaah
Islamiah group, which is said to be led by Indonesian Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir.
The US last year offered an as yet unclaimed reward of $25 million for the capture of
bin Laden and his top Al-Qaeda deputies after September 11 attacks on New York
and Washington that killed about 3,000 people.
Suffering
Before departing for Bali, Howard said the visit would enable him to "assess the
situation on the ground".
"It is important I have the opportunity of having a look at things and...be there at this
service," he was quoted as saying by Reuters.
"I hope in a small way to express the feelings of the rest of the Australian community
towards those people who have suffered and lost so much."
Howard praised Australian consular for doing their best amid very stressful and
challenging circumstances.
He plans to return to Australia for an official day of mourning to be held on Sunday
when a minute's silence will be observed at midday.
Australia, the US, the UK, Germany and Japan have sent teams of police
investigators and forensics experts to Bali to help Indonesian authorities probe the
bombings.
Former president Abdurrahman Wahid on Wednesday said the foreign intelligence
personnel in Bali should leave immediately because Indonesia is a sovereign nation,
quite capable of investigating the blasts by itself.
"The sooner they leave the better," he was quoted as saying by state news agency
Antara.
"We have our own sovereignty, so why use the services of foreigners? If our
intelligence men need training, just go there [to other countries]," he said.
Wahid said the involvement of an international team in the Bali investigations doesn't
mean that Indonesia's intelligence officers are inferior or unprofessional.
"Actually, it has nothing to do with the skills and professionalism of Indonesian
intelligence agencies, it is the country's political leaders who have no guts in issuing
orders."
He said Indonesia's leaders are afraid to issue orders because they fear their own sins
might be uncovered.
Australians Urged to Leave
Media release from Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer on October
17, 2002.
Indonesia - New Travel Advice
I am announcing today the Australian Government's decision to upgrade our travel
advice for Indonesia.
The decision to amend our travel advice is based on disturbing new information of
generic threats to Australians and Australian interests in Indonesia.
We have been recommending since the Bali atrocity that Australians defer all
non-essential travel to Indonesia. We now recommend 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.
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.
The Government also strongly advises Australians in Indonesia to monitor carefully
developments that might affect their safety.
We are also revising our travel advice notices for a range of other South East Asian
countries to highlight the need for vigilance given the ongoing risk of terrorist activity.
Travel advices are available from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website
at www.dfat.gov.au/travel.
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