Indonesia Travel Alert
JoAnne Green
This Travel Warning is being issued to remind U.S. citizens of ongoing
security concerns in Indonesia. This Travel Warning supersedes the May
10, 2005 Travel Warning for Indonesia.
Due to ongoing concerns about the possibility of terrorist attacks
directed against American or other western citizens and interests, the
Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens to defer
non-essential travel to Indonesia. The October 1, 2005 terrorist
attacks in Bali in which three simultaneous bombs exploded, killing 23
people and injuring more than 100, are a reminder that terrorists
remain active in Indonesia. The possibility remains that terrorists
will carry out additional attacks in Bali, Jakarta or other areas of
Indonesia in the near future.
The Department urges Americans who choose to travel to Indonesia
despite this Travel Warning to observe vigilant personal security
precautions and to remain aware of the continued potential for
terrorist attacks against American or other Western interests.
Americans should monitor local news broadcasts, be aware of their
surroundings at all times, vary their routes and times in carrying out
daily activities, and consider the level of preventive security when
visiting public places in Indonesia. Americans considering
non-essential travel to popular tourist and vacation areas in
Indonesia, such as Bali, despite this Travel Warning should consider
the level of security provided by hotels, restaurants, beaches and
other entertainment and recreation areas when planning their trips.
Terrorist attacks could occur at any time and could be directed against
any location, including those frequented by foreigners and identifiably
American or other western facilities or businesses in Indonesia. Such
targets could include but are not limited to places where Americans and
other Westerners live, congregate, shop or visit, including hotels,
clubs, restaurants, shopping centers, identifiably Western businesses,
housing compounds, transportation systems, places of worship, schools,
or public recreation events. Reports suggest attacks could include
targeting individual American citizens.
In addition to the October 1, 2005 bombings in Bali, several other
serious terrorist incidents occurred in Indonesia in recent years. A
terrorist bombing outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta on
September 9, 2004, killed eleven and injured more than 180 people. An
August 2003 terrorist bombing at a major international hotel in Jakarta
killed 12 persons and injured scores, including several American
citizens. A terrorist attack in Bali in October 2002 killed 202 people,
including seven Americans. Suicide bombers wearing explosives in vests
or backpacks carried out the October 1, 2005 bombings in Bali. Prior
terrorist attacks involved the use of vehicle-borne explosives.
The U.S. Mission in Indonesia restricts U.S. government employees'
travel to certain areas of the country and, at times, denies them
permission to travel to Indonesia. For the latest security information,
contact a U.S. Mission consular office. The U.S. Mission can
occasionally suspend service to the public, or close, because of
security concerns; in these situations, it will continue to provide
emergency services to American citizens. Sectarian, ethnic, communal
and separatist violence continue to threaten personal safety and
security in several areas. Over the past three years, domestically
targeted bombings have struck religious, political, and business
targets. In 2003, the Jakarta international airport, an open-air
concert in Aceh, and other Indonesian government facilities were
bombed.
Americans should avoid travel to Aceh. Northern parts of the island of
Sumatra, and particularly the province of Aceh, suffered severe damage
following an earthquake and series of tsunami waves on December 26,
2004. While reconstruction efforts are underway, communications
infrastructure, roads, medical care and tourist facilities on the
western and northern coasts of Sumatra, and on coastal islands off
Sumatra, were seriously damaged and have not yet been fully restored.
Infrastructure on the island of Nias was seriously damaged in an
earthquake on March 28, 2005. Adequate lodging facilities are difficult
to find in Aceh and Nias.
Americans should not travel to Aceh to participate in humanitarian
relief efforts except under the auspices of a recognized assistance
organization that has permission to operate in Indonesia. The
Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) signed a peace
accord on August 15, 2005, officially ending armed hostilities.
However, the overall security situation in Aceh remains unsettled.
Humanitarian workers should be cautious of their security when
traveling in Aceh due to the continuing potential for separatist and
terrorist violence, which could be directed against American or other
western humanitarian assistance workers.
Americans participating in relief efforts should make sure that their
organization has facilities in place to accommodate and feed staff, and
a security plan coordinated with Indonesian authorities. Travel by road
after dark is particularly dangerous. All travelers to Aceh should
follow health precautions for travelers to the tsunami area from the
U.S. Centers for Disease Control at http://www.cdc.gov/travel.
Americans considering travel to the province of Papua should exercise
extreme caution because of sectarian, ethnic, communal and separatist
strife. Papua's on-going separatist conflict has the potential to
become violent. In August 2002, two Americans were killed in Papua
under as yet unresolved circumstances.
Americans should avoid travel to Maluku, in particular the capital city
of Ambon. Since April 25, 2004, sectarian violence has killed at least
40 and injured more than 220 people.
Americans should avoid travel to Central, South and Southeast Sulawesi;
those considering travel to North Sulawesi should exercise extreme
caution. Sporadic violence occurred in Poso and in neighboring areas of
Central Sulawesi in 2003 and 2004, resulting in several fatalities.
Central Sulawesi's general security situation remains unstable;
bombings and killings occurred in late 2004 and 2005 in Poso and Palu.
A terrorist explosion at Tentana Market in Poso, Central Sulawesi on
May 28, 2005 killed 22 people.
The Philippine-based terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group poses an ongoing
kidnapping risk/threat in areas near Malaysia and the Philippines.
Americans who travel to Indonesia despite this Travel Warning should
obtain up to date health information before departing the U.S. The
websites of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control at
http://www.cdc.gov/travel and the World Health Organization at
http://www.who.int have up to date information on outbreaks of
contagious and tropical diseases. Americans considering travel to
Indonesia should read the Department of State's Fact Sheet on Avian
Influenza dated August 3, 2005, and should consult with their personal
physicians concerning avian flu.
Americans living and traveling in Indonesia are urged to register and
update their contact information with U.S. Embassy Jakarta, U.S.
Consulate General Surabaya or the U.S. Consular Agent in Bali.
Registration facilitates the U.S. Mission's contact with Americans in
emergency situations, and may be done on line and in advance of travel.
Information on registering can be found at the Department of State's
Consular Affairs website: https://travelregistration.state.gov.
Registration information and recent warden messages are also available
on the U.S. Embassy Jakarta website at http://jakarta.usembassy.gov.
SPECIAL NOTE: To protect yourself, your familly, your employees, and
your trip abroad, please visit
http://www.internationalriskmanagement.com