In Reply to: what is your opinion Les? posted by madedua on Tuesday, 10. July 2007 at 15:12 Bali Time:
I believe I can be objective in my sentiments about this long-running DFAT "Advisory". To me it shrieks of "double-standards"! The Indonesian Government, together with the Australian experts who have been providing assistance to them, should be applauded for their efforts in "rounding-up" and arresting principals of J.I. It is no great secret that many have now moved-on to "safer" (for them at least) paces like Southern Thailand and Philippines, both of which have had their share of bombings.
I have no doubt that Australian Intelligence HAS received "information filtering through" regarding "possibile" attacks in Indonesia but even they have admitted that none of this information was either destination or time specific. I would be very surprised if they were not receiving similar information regarding other destinations World-Wide. It sure didn't take them long to arrest the Doctor at Brisbane Airport with respect to London/Glasgow.
With so many potential"hot-spots" globally, how can the Australian Government seriously continue to maintain "Indonesia including Bali" at the present level when other places which have been the subject of numerous recent terrorism incidents have not seen their level increased.
We must realise that there has been NO change in the level of "advisory" from DFAT with respect to Indonesia since October 2002 when it was reduced to the present level (originally "defer non-essential travel"). I expect that in their eyes it is significantly easier to leave it where it has been than, in the case of other countries, to increase theirs at the risk of "offending" one of their "bosom buddies"!
I have been watching the ABC and other News Bulletins reporting on this subject with interest. There is a high level of "sensationalism" in the presentation...NEVER a mention of first paragraph - whilst this advice has been reviewed and updated, the level of status has not changed....ALWAYS "NEW TERRORIST THREAT" - often mentioning Bali specifically when, in the text of the Advisory, there has been no change relative to Bali since the previous one. It is laughable that Howard and Costello can't even get their stories to match when interviewed!!!
Let's face it, NOBODY knows WHEN/WHERE the next terrorist attack will be. I sincerely think the Australian Government should be ashamed of the manner in which Indonesia is presently being treated in comparison with other Countries who are experiencing REAL PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW.