The Sydney Morning Herald, February 22, 2005
Aceh alert based on several sources - Downer
By Tom Allard
Four separate pieces of intelligence that extremist bomb makers had moved into
Sumatra were the basis for the weekend travel warning to aid workers in Aceh, the
Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, said yesterday.
As the Federal Government rode out a minor diplomatic storm after Indonesia and the
United States claimed ignorance about the new terrorist threat, Mr Downer said the
change in the travel advisory was sparked by a formal recommendation from ASIO
and his department.
He said Australian embassy officials in Jakarta were told to relay the information
promptly to the relevant authorities in Indonesia, including the military.
"It is hard to believe people would sink so low as to threaten aid workers, but there is
no doubt that there is a small number of people - and you only need a small number -
who have moved into Sumatra and Northern Sumatra," Mr Downer said. "They have
some bomb-making capabilities. And we are very concerned about what they could
do."
The aid workers helping with the reconstruction of the region devastated by the Boxing
Day tsunami would be fully briefed on appropriate security precautions shortly. Those
not with a recognised aid group have been urged to leave.
The remarks came after Indonesia's President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and
other Indonesian officials said they knew nothing about the threat. A US embassy
spokesman also said his country would not be adjusting its travel warning.
Despite these statements, the Government insisted Australia had shared its
intelligence with other countries.
The Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, said yesterday that their reluctance to
acknowledge it might relate to their more "secretive" nature.
"How much information people put into the public arena about these matters varies
from place to place," Mr Ruddock said.
"Some are more secretive about these things than others.
"Others also have sometimes reasons to try to play down the risk. We have an
obligation in relation to Australians to ensure that they are fully informed."
The Prime Minster, John Howard, said that the warning was in place for good reason
and that warnings were not issued lightly.
Copyright © 2005. The Sydney Morning Herald.
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