from today's Australian "e-travel blackboard":
Indonesia troubled by upgraded DFAT travel warning
10/07/2007
Branded NewsletterThe Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has revised its travel warning for Indonesia, cautioning travellers to avoid travel to the area due to imminent terrorist attacks. Despite this, Indonesia insists that the nation is calm.
The Prime Minsiter, John Howard said that there was sufficient intelligence to justify the new warning in a report by The Age. According to him, intelligence agencies have detected increased ‘chatter' referring to the possibility of new attacks from Indonesia.
"We don't change these things, we don't upgrade them, we don't make statements unless there is sufficient reason," Howard was quoted as saying in the report, "We recognise the sensitivities within Indonesia whenever something like this is done, but we have a greater duty to the safety of Australians."
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said that the new advisory was not an upgrade. However, the minister insists that the possibility of a revenge attack by the Jemaah Islamiyah following the arrest of leader Abu Dujana is not unlikely.
The updated DFAT advice warns against travel to the troubled Indonesian provinces of Maluku and central Sulawesi as a result of recent terrorist violence. It also recommends that Australians reconsider travel to Bali due to a "very high threat of terrorist attack".