ABC AUSTRALIA, 11/06/2004 09:02:34
Indonesia dentist arrested over threats against westerners
An Indonesian dentist has been arrested in connection with a series of threats made
against Westerners on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.
Our Indonesia correspondent, Tim Palmer, says the threats sparked a terror alert from
the Australian Government.
Last month the Australian Government issued updated travel advice to Indonesia,
describing intelligence of a specific and credible terrorist threat to Westerners in the
Central and South Sulawesi provinces.
The warning came after threats to the PT Inco Nickel mine and smelter near Saroako,
and when Canadian and British travel advisories followed, around 60 expatriate
workers, including Australians, were evacuated.
Now it has been revealed by Indonesian police that rather than being made by Islamic
extremist groups, the threats came from the company's dentist, an Indonesian
Christian, who sent 200 S-M-S messages threatening Westerners because he feared
he was to be replaced by an expatriate.
It is expected evacuated workers will begin returning to the mine later this week.
11/06/2004 09:02:34 | ABC Radio Australia News
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