The Straits Times, Saturday, June 5, 2004
Western govts urge nationals to leave Indonesia
Fears of more terrorist attacks rise as the country prepares for its first presidential
election next month
By Robert Go
JAKARTA - Western governments have urged their nationals to stay out of Indonesia
'unless necessary' as security concerns rise and the country gears up for its first
direct presidential election on July 5.
The British government, on its Jakarta embassy website, says: 'If you are already in
Indonesia you should consider leaving if your presence is not essential.'
The United States, Australia and Canada gave similar warnings.
A foreign security analyst based in Jakarta said: 'There has been a pattern of chatter
similar to that before the Bali and Marriott blasts. The advice to people is that they
should be extra vigilant in the next few weeks.'
The analyst was referring to the deadly blasts in Bali in October 2002, which claimed
the lives of more than 200, and the bombing at the JW Marriott hotel in Jakarta last
August, which killed 15 people.
Indonesian officials, while acknowledging the heightened threat level as Indonesia
heads towards the presidential election, said they were responding to specific threats.
General Da'i Bachtiar, the national police chief, told reporters last Tuesday: 'We have
followed up on warnings from several foreign countries stating that Indonesia will be
attacked by terrorists.
'However, after thorough analysis by comparing all intelligence data, we don't see any
threat.'
Observers said terrorists are just one facet of the challenge faced by Indonesia.
Separatism and sectarian violence have plagued the country in recent years, and
demonstrations and clashes pitting supporters of various candidates are possible
now.
Separatist issues remain unresolved in Aceh, the country's northern-most province,
and in Papua to the far-flung east. The military is active in both areas, and the martial
law period in Aceh was downgraded in the middle of May to a state of civil
emergency.
The police have accused separatists of planting bombs in Medan, the capital of North
Sumatra, and the military continues to battle rebels in isolated pockets throughout
Aceh.
There was a recent recurrence of sectarian violence in Ambon, in Maluku province,
after nearly two years of relative peace.
Police officers in Central Sulawesi, which has also seen outbreaks of religiously
motivated conflicts, continue to seize caches of arms and explosives.
A court official involved in the prosecution of religious militants in the area was gunned
down last week.
Politicians have signed declarations on peaceful campaigning, and efforts such as
rotating the schedules for candidates have been taken to ensure that supporters of
different presidential hopefuls do not clash.
There are growing concerns that student groups will hold large demonstrations against
candidates with military backgrounds, particularly retired General Wiranto, the former
armed forces commander who is dogged by allegations of human rights abuses.
Analysts acknowledge the threat factors, but argue that there is likely to be a repeat
of the relative peace seen during the parliamentary elections in April.
Mr Sukardi Rinakit, executive director of the Centre for Political Studies in Jakarta,
said: 'The threats exist, but at this point, our view is that it won't go bad. Indonesians
are tired of conflict.'
On the subject of student groups and politically motivated demonstrations, Mr Sukardi
and others agree that the hotbed of protests in 1998 has dried up and the student
movement is no longer as potent a force as it was a few years ago.
READY: POLICE ON FULL ALERT
JAKARTA - Indonesia's police put nearly 170,000 officers, about two-thirds of its total
force, on full alert status this week, and high-ranking officials say they expect little
trouble.
Lieutenant-General Adang Dorojatun, deputy chief for police operations, said: 'We've
decided to step up security to ensure that there will be no disturbance.'
In potential hotspots such as Jakarta, at least 16,000 officers are on full duty at all
times.
He said intelligence specialists are also analysing any material suggestive of threats.
-- Robert Go
Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holding. All rights reserved.
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