US closes embassy in Jakarta

Hey Nick
Home alone tonight so obviously too much time on my hands. Don’t mean to harp on the Schapelle thing but all our news today is going on about how concerned she is that she will be assasinated on her way to court tomorrow when the verdict is due. I do sympathise but surely if she was so innocent the real owner of the drugs would have let something slip by now? I’m so over the Australian attitude that we are better than other countries and should completely disregard their judicial systems. As a long-standing Bali visitor and supporter the travel boycotts and blame on a country that I’m sure would dearly love to gain media spotlight for more worthy reasons, seems so wrong. I wish her well however I wish only good things for Bali too.

Di,
I hear ya!!!!
I have a gorgeous Indonesian friend that was born in Austrlia & she is a Travel Agent, this morning she called me quite upset that a number of people have called & cancelled their trips to Bali, she tried to explain to them that they’d not get full refunds as they booked etc whilst knowing all that is happening & the Travel Warnings that have been in place since AFTER the October bombings etc!
But these persons just went on & on about how Bali is wrong etc, etc! They did not know she is Indonesian or how strongly she feels that Bali is not to blame for any of this etc… She ended up arguing with them about it & then the regular courier man showed up & asked why she was stressed so she explained he then also attacked her about never travelling to Bali…
She called me coz she was so annoyed & angered by it all…
We just don;t understand why Bali & the Balinese are being attacked for something that if planted was planted in OZ…? Should we not be angrier with what happens at our airports?
I am over all the racist cfomments/remarks, as a wife of a Balinese & mother of mixed Balinese/Aust children I find it sickening that a large amount of persons have gone back to Racist remarks! I wish the best for Schapelle, but I will never know if she is Guilty or Innocent only she will! But for heavens sake it’s not thE balinese people that have done this to her, if drugs were planted then it was from OZ!

The closed embassies things are only a mere play, it’s more like then terror attacks themself than a preventative move against attacks.

what are your thoughts on the latest warning from the US gov? my fiancee and I are planning on staying at 3 Aman resorts in August 2005 and I’m a bit freaked out:

Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520

—-

This information is current as of today, Tue May 31 11:58:44 2005.

INDONESIA
May 10, 2005

This Travel Warning is being issued to update security information in Indonesia and to note that the Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens to defer all non-essential travel to the country. This warning supersedes the March 24, 2005 Travel Warning for Indonesia.

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 Americans, U.S. or other Western interests in Indonesia. The potential remains for violence and terrorist actions against U.S. citizens and interests throughout the country.

The terrorist threat in Indonesia remains high. 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.

Jemaah Islamiah has cells in several Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia, and connections with al-Qaeda. 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 injured several American citizens, and seven Americans died in a terrorist attack in Bali in October 2002.

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. Regulations regarding entry into and permission to remain in Aceh can change at any time. As of March 26, 2005, all foreigners wishing to travel to Aceh require written permission from the Indonesian authorities. 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 humanitarian assistance workers.

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. Americans participating in relief efforts should make sure that their organization has facilities in place to accommodate and feed staff and a security plan approved by Indonesian authorities. 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.

The Philippine-based terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group poses an ongoing kidnapping risk/threat in areas near Malaysia and the Philippines.

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. Americans in Indonesia should maintain a low profile, vary daily routines, avoid crowds and demonstrations, and keep abreast of local news and developments that may affect the security situation.

Americans can obtain information on travel and security in Indonesia from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States; or 1-202-501-4444 from outside the United States and Canada. Americans also can call the Embassy in Jakarta at (62)(21) 3435-9000, the Consulate General in Surabaya at (62) (31) 295-6400, and the Consular Agent in Bali at (62) (361) 233-605. American citizens should read the Department of State’s Consular Information Sheet for Indonesia and latest Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, both available at http://travel.state.gov.

Hi, my boyfriend and I are coming to Bali in July. We have heard mixed reports on the safety situation in Indonesia. Should we be worried and what is the real danger if any?

I am an Indonesia woman. I don’t like if the expatriates in Indonesia doing bad to them house maid! We are also a human! We need respect also! We got small salary but we will be happy if the Expatriates treat us as a human. I like to give you more info but i am afraid if they will do something to me and to them House maid or employee.