Dangers of terrorism in Indonesia

Hi Guys,

Recently the assessments of threats of terrorism in Indonesian have got more
serious, if you are thinking of going out there, check it it out carefully.
Here is an assessment from the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, which I
received a day or two ago and an recent article from The Jakarta Post.

The Bali bombing occurred after the US Embassy strengthened it's protection
against car bombers, so it seems the bombers simply chose a soft target when
thwarted at the US Embassy. The same could happen again, in the very near
future.

If you are planning to go out there be careful.

Selamat Jalan,

Pete Loud
"Maps of Indonesia",
http://users.powernet.co.uk/mkmarina...indonesia.html



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This email is to advise you that an article matching one of your interests
has been published on the FCO website:

Indonesia

We advise against all non-essential travel to Indonesia. There is a high
general threat from terrorism in Indonesia. We continue to receive
information that indicates terrorists are planning further attacks,
including against Westerners, throughout the country. If you are already in
Indonesia you should consider leaving if your presence is not essential. If
you choose to remain in Indonesia you should exercise extreme caution in
public places, such as but not limited to hotels, nightclubs, bars,
restaurants, shopping malls, outdoor recreational areas, public and
commercial buildings, transport terminals, and places of worship.

We advise against all travel to Aceh. The Indonesian government has declared
martial law in Aceh and violence has increased.

Attacks have occurred in Central Sulawesi in October and November, which
have left at least 19 people dead. You are advised to avoid the Poso area.


To view the article in full, visit the page below:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?...ate/ShowPage&c
=Page&cid=1007029390590&a=KCountryAdvice&aid=10136 18385558
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Terrorists may soon strike again: Police

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Police issued a fresh warning on Wednesday asking operators and owners of
buildings in the capital to beware of possible terrorist attacks, adding
that terrorists might strike again soon.

A top police officer familiar with the investigation into terrorism in
Indonesia told The Jakarta Post and Kompas dailies that building managements
should be on alert as "the attacks could be carried out any time."

"It is of paramount importance, and necessary for building managements,
policemen and the public to be on alert as terrorist suspects Dr. Azahari
and Noordin M. Top are still at large and may launch another attack at any
time," the one-star police general said, asking to remain anonymous.

He was referring to Malaysian citizen terrorist suspects, known for their
expertise in rigging bombs like those that exploded in Legian, Bali, on Oct.
12 last year and the car bomb that ripped through the lobby of JW Marriott
Hotel, Jakarta, on Aug. 5.

Azahari and Noordin managed to evade a police dragnet after the police
managed to capture Marriott bombing suspects Thohir and Ismail, in Cirebon,
West Java.

The officer showed a list of targets written on a note in Asmar Latin Sani's
handwriting. Asmar was the one who allegedly blew himself up, along with the
Marriott bomb. The note was discovered in Azahari's rented rooms on Jl.
Kebon Kembang, Bandung, West Java.

Among the targets were Citibank Landmark, Setiabudi (South Jakarta),
Citibank Pondok Indah (South Jakarta), the Caltex office, Kebon Jeruk (West
Jakarta), residences of expatriates in Kemang (South Jakarta), Hero shopping
center in Kemang (South Jakarta), Kem Chicks, Kemang (South Jakarta), JW
Marriott Hotel (South Jakarta) and international schools, including Jakarta
International School and the Australian International School.

The officer asserted that the locations could still become possible targets
for another terrorist attack, recounting the previous experience of the
Marriott bombing.

"The police already knew that Asmar would commit a suicide bombing as we
intercepted an e-mailed message he sent to Toni Togar (another terrorist
suspect arrested in Bengkulu) on April 19, saying that he was prepared for a
suicide bombing. Unfortunately, he simply detonated the bomb at a time that
we had not expected," he said.

Asked about the possibility that Azahari and Noordin had managed to enter
Jakarta despite an intensive and massive police manhunt across the country,
he said, "It's possible. We have no clue at all about their whereabouts
right now."

He added that both suspects might have recruited new people to launch
further attacks.

"Remember -- while they were on the run after the Bali bombings, they were
still capable of launching another attack on the Marriott," he said.

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