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

This information is current as of today, Tue Nov 22 13:32:27 2005.

INDONESIA

November 18, 2005

This Travel Warning updates information on the security threat to westerners in Indonesia.  The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens to defer non-essential travel to Indonesia.  This Travel Warning supersedes the October 26, 2005 Travel Warning for Indonesia.

The U.S. Embassy reminds Americans in Indonesia of the continued serious security threat to Americans and other westerners in Indonesia.  The information obtained in the November 9 raid in which Indonesian police killed Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist Azahari Bin Husin shows that JI-affiliated terrorists were in the advanced stages of planning additional attacks against westerners in Indonesia.  Specifically, the police discovered in the raid 35 bombs prepared and ready to use in attacks.  Police also found a videotaped threat from a hooded terrorist who threatened specific attacks against Americans, Australians, British and Italians.  The Embassy and the Indonesian Government take these threats very seriously.

The Embassy further informs Americans that a recently discovered Internet website provides detailed instructions on how terrorists can attack and kill individual westerners on the streets of Jakarta.  The website, written in Indonesian, specifically mentions locations in the Kuningan area known to be frequented by many western pedestrians, including hotels, office buildings with international tenants, and pedestrian overpasses.  The website also mentions recreation and entertainment sites frequented by westerners, and refers in general to hotels, sports centers and exhibition halls. Roads leading to and from such locations, tollbooths, and parking lot entrances and exits could also be targeted.

The bombs and other materials in the Azahari safe house and the information on the website make it clear that terrorists in Indonesia are likely changing their tactics to include targeting of individual western citizens.  In addition to past information which indicated that terrorists would target specific businesses or buildings, the new information shows that terrorists are likely now planning to attack westerners riding in cars or walking on streets, sidewalks or pedestrian overpasses in Jakarta.  The Embassy considers that the information on the website was developed by persons with serious terrorist intent.

The Embassy reminds Americans that in recent years terrorist attacks have occurred in Indonesia during the Christmas and New Year�s holiday season.  The possibility of terrorist attacks appears even higher this year in view of the new threat information detailed above.  Due to these serious security concerns, the Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer non-essential travel to Indonesia.

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.  The Embassy urges Americans in Indonesia to evaluate very carefully the security implications of all their daily activities in light of the above information.  Americans should maintain a vigilant security posture at all times, be aware of their surroundings, and vary the routes and times of their daily activities. 

The most recent terrorist attack was the October 1, 2005 bombings in Bali that killed 20 people.  A terrorist bombing outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta on September 9, 2004, killed 11 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. 

In addition, 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.

The U.S. Mission in Indonesia restricts U.S. government employees' travel to certain areas of the country. 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.

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.