In Reply to: Anybody had an email from Consular posted by shubbaz on Friday, 27. June 2008 at 16:29 Bali Time:
NEW TRAVEL ADVICE FOR INDONESIA
This Advice was issued on Friday, 27 June 2008, 13:00:20, EST.
The travel advice for Indonesia has been reviewed and reissued.
Summary:
- We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Indonesia, including
Bali, at this time due to the very high threat of terrorist attack.
- If you do decide to travel to Indonesia, you should exercise extreme
caution. We continue to receive reports indicating that terrorists are
planning attacks against a range of targets, including Western interests
and places frequented by foreigners.
- There have been recent arrests of high level terrorist operatives in
Indonesia, but we assess terrorists are continuing to plan attacks. These
attacks could take place at any time, including in places frequented by
foreigners. Terrorist attacks against Westerners in Bali and Jakarta
indicate these areas are priority targets. You should take particular care
to avoid places known to be terrorist targets. See the Terrorism section
for details.
- Australians should avoid all protests, demonstrations and rallies as they
can turn violent.
- Australians should exercise a high level of vigilance and personal
security awareness at all times.
- We advise you to read carefully the sections on travel to Aceh, Central
Sulawesi Province, East Kalimantan, Maluku, Papua and West Timor where
additional safety risks exist.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed human deaths from avian
influenza in Indonesia, including Bali. See the Health Issues section below
for advice to Australians travelling to or resident in Indonesia.
- You should telephone ahead for an appointment before going to the
Embassy.
- Because of the serious terrorist threat we strongly recommend that you
register your travel and contact details with us so we can contact you in
an emergency.
- Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas:
- Organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and
activities are not covered by your policy
- Subscribe to this travel advice to receive free email updates each time
it's reissued.
Safety and Security
Terrorism
Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information
about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.
We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Indonesia due to the
very high threat of terrorist attack. Ask yourself whether, given your own
personal circumstances, you're comfortable travelling to Indonesia knowing
there is a very high threat from terrorism and you may be caught up in a
terrorist attack. Ask yourself whether travel could be deferred or an
alternative destination chosen. If, having considered these issues, you do
decide to travel to Indonesia, you should exercise extreme caution.
There have been recent arrests of high level terrorist operatives in
Indonesia, but we assess terrorists are continuing to plan attacks. These
attacks could take place at any time. You should be particularly vigilant
during holiday periods such as Easter and Christmas.
Indonesian authorities warned terrorists may be planning to kidnap
foreigners.
Attacks against Westerners in Bali and Jakarta indicate that these areas
are a priority target for terrorists. Suicide attacks against locations
frequented by foreigners in Bali and Jakarta such as the 1 October 2005 and
12 October 2002 Bali bombings and bomb attack outside the Australian
Embassy in Jakarta in September 2004 killed and injured many people.
Westerners were also targeted in the bombing of a five-star hotel in
central Jakarta in August 2003. We cannot rule out the possibility of
another attack targeting Westerners, including Australians.
In planning your activities, consider the kind of places known to be
terrorist targets and the level of security provided at venues. You should
take particular care to avoid places known to be terrorist targets. Tourist
areas and attractions throughout Indonesia and tourists travelling to or
from these places, including those in tour groups or tour buses, could be
targeted. Other possible targets include international hotels, clubs,
sporting clubs and venues, restaurants, international fast food outlets,
bars, nightclubs, cinemas, theatres, Jakarta's embassy district and
diplomatic missions elsewhere, international schools, expatriate housing
compounds and Western interests and businesses. Places frequented by
foreigners, central business areas, office buildings, churches and other
places of worship, airlines, airports, public transport and transport hubs,
shopping centres, premises and symbols associated with the Indonesian
Government, and outdoor recreation events are also potential targets.
Due to security concerns, security at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta and
the Consulate-General in Bali is at a high level. The Australian Embassy
has advised its staff and their families to be particularly careful in how
they travel or walk to and from the Embassy.
Civil Unrest/Political Tension
Political rallies, protests and demonstrations occur regularly. Most are
publicised in advance and are often held near the Presidential Palace,
major government buildings and embassies. You should avoid protests,
demonstrations and rallies as they can turn violent with little notice. You
should also maintain a high level of vigilance and security awareness.
The outcomes of judicial processes, including trials of extremists and the
implementation of sentences, could prompt a strong reaction from their
supporters such as demonstrations and acts of violence.
International events and political developments may prompt demonstrations
in Indonesia. You should also read our travel bulletin entitled Release of
a film by Netherlands MP Geert Wilders.
Aceh: A peace accord officially ended hostilities in August 2005. However,
the overall security situation remains unsettled. There are isolated
incidents of violence, often of a criminal nature. Before travelling to
Aceh, you should contact Indonesian authorities to determine whether your
activities require official approval.
Central Sulawesi Province: The security situation in Central Sulawesi
province (including Palu, Poso and Tentena) is unsettled. There is a risk
of bomb attacks and shootings. Police raided militant strongholds in early
2007 and clashed with extremists, a number of whom were killed or arrested.
Foreigners could be caught up in violence and attacks directed at others,
but could also become the targets of violence. There have been attacks on
inter-provincial and inter-city buses in the area of Poso, including those
carrying tourists. Churches could also be targeted.
East Kalimantan: In northern areas of East Kalimantan, there is a danger of
kidnapping for ransom by anti-government groups, criminals and terrorists
operating from the southern Philippines.
Maluku: Maluku province (particularly Ambon) is subject to outbreaks of
internal violence and bomb attacks. The security situation remains
unsettled.
Papua: Political tensions associated with anti-government groups in Papua
and inter-ethnic tensions may lead to violence. If you are travelling to
Papua for reasons other than tourism, you will require a travel permit
(Surat Keterangan Jalan). Permits. can be obtained from the National Police
Headquarters in Jakarta. Applications may take some time to process.
West Timor: The security situation remains unsettled, particularly in areas
near the border with East Timor, where security incidents continue to occur
and have the potential to inflame local tensions. Foreigners were evacuated
from the border town of Atambua during riots in early 2008.
Crime
Petty crime is common and robberies are increasing. Violence is sometimes
used. Thieves on motorcycles commit 'snatch theft' of handbags from
pedestrians. Thefts from cars stopped at traffic lights have been reported
and tourists have been robbed while repairing car tires punctured by
criminals.
Fraud: Credit card and ATM fraud is increasing. You should monitor
transactions statements and only use ATMs in secure locations such as
banks, shops or malls.
Drink spiking: There have been reports of tourists being robbed after
bringing back visitors to their hotel rooms. In some cases, the victims'
drinks were spiked. Foreigners have died after consuming brand name alcohol
adulterated with methanol bought from 'black market' traders.
Taxis: Cases of robbery and temporary confinement involving taxis have been
reported in urban areas, particularly in Jakarta. Victims have been forced
to withdraw funds from credit or debit cards at ATMs to obtain their
release. Lone female travellers appear most vulnerable. You should only use
official taxi companies that can be booked by phone or from stands at major
hotels and from inside the airport. You should check taxis carefully as
unscrupulous operators have taxis that look similar to those run by
reputable companies.
Local Travel
Public transport, including buses, rail and ferries, are crowded, poorly
maintained and have limited safety equipment.
Mountain treks, including some on Mt Rinjani in Lombok, are only suited to
experienced climbers. We recommend you travel with a guide and seek
information on the level of difficulty.
Piracy occurs in the coastal areas of Indonesia. See our travel advice on
shipping and ports for more information. The International Maritime Bureau
issues weekly piracy reports on its website.
Airline Safety
Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed
to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their
carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of
countries. Contact your airline for further information.
If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or
aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through
organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)
and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has
published fact sheets on security for air travellers.
The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign
assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual
airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for
aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO. The FAA has
determined that Indonesia's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is
not in compliance with ICAO safety standards for the oversight of
Indonesia's air carrier operations. For more information, visit the FAA
website. The US embassy in Jakarta has advised Americans travelling to and
from Indonesia to fly directly to their destination on international
carriers whenever possible.
The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines subject to
operating bans or restrictions within the EU. On 4 July 2007, all
Indonesian airlines were banned from operating in the EU.
CASA assesses the safety of all aircraft flying within, to and from
Australia. CASA has certified Garuda International to operate flights
between Australia and Indonesia. CASA cannot assess the safety of any
Indonesian carriers operating within Indonesia or to countries other than
Australia.
Indonesia's DGCA assesses the operational performance of Indonesia's
commercial airlines. The results of this assessment can be found in
Indonesian on the DGCA website.
Australian Embassy officials are advised to use discretion when considering
which airline provides the best travel options, to use the DGCA assessment
as a point of reference and to consider travelling with international
carriers where possible. When staffs at Australia's overseas missions are
advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns, this will be
included in the travel advisory.
Natural Disasters, Severe Weather and Climate
Earthquakes: Indonesia is in an active earthquake region with a continuing
high level earthquake activity. There were 14 earthquakes measuring more
than 4.8 on the Richter scale during 2007. All caused deaths, injuries or
significant damage. Five were centred near southern Sumatra.
Tsunamis: All oceanic regions of the world can experience tsunamis, but in
the Indian and Pacific Oceans, there is a more frequent occurrence of
large, destructive tsunamis because of the many large earthquakes along
major tectonic plate boundaries and ocean trenches. See the Tsunami
Awareness brochure.
Floods: Floods and mudslides occur regularly during the wet season from
December to April. Flooding has caused deaths and the displacement of
people. Key services, such as transport, telecommunications, emergency and
medical care, and the supply of food and water can be disrupted. The high
risk of contracting a water-borne disease may persist after the water
recedes.
Volcanoes: There are many active volcanoes throughout Indonesia. Alert
levels can be raised and evacuations ordered at short notice. If you plan
to travel to an area near an active volcano, you should check the
Indonesian Directorate of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation's
daily updates (in Indonesian) on the status and alert level and the
Smithsonian Institution's weekly updates.
In the event of a natural disaster, you should follow the advice of local
authorities. More information is available from the Humanitarian Early
Warning Service.
Wildlife Watching
Australians are advised to maintain a safe and legal distance when
observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use
reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park
regulations and wardens' advice.
Money and Valuables
Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas,
such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards.
Check with your bank whether your ATM card will work overseas.
Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and
travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the
original and leave another copy with someone at home. You should carry a
copy of your passport with you for identification purposes.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive
watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
You should only use licensed money changers and count the cash given to
you.
As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock
your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from the Civil
Aviation Safety Authority.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who
may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in
a safe place.
You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If
your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the
nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as
possible.
You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport
replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of
validity or type of replacement passports.
For Parents
If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare
facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security,
care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise
the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or
childcare facilities in Australia.
Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the
smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare
Accreditation Council.
Local Laws
When you are in Indonesia be aware that local laws and penalties, including
ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are
arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help
you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help
Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services
Charter.
Penalties for drug offences are severe and include the death penalty.
Penalties for possession of even small amounts of recreational drugs
include heavy fines and imprisonment. Indonesian police target illegal drug
use and possession across Indonesia, in particular popular places and
venues in Bali and Jakarta.
Serious crimes, such as murder and piracy, may attract the death penalty.
Gambling is illegal. Tourists have fallen victim to organised gambling
gangs, particularly in Bali, resulting in the loss of large sums of money
and threats of violence if travellers are unable to pay the debt.
Some aspects of Sharia (Islamic) Law have been introduced in Aceh.
Travellers should seek to inform themselves of relevant provisions. Visit
the Indonesian Embassy website for further information.
You should obey signs that prohibit photography. If in doubt, seek advice
from local officials.
To drive in Indonesia, you will require an Indonesian or international
driver's license appropriate to the type of vehicle. An Australian license
is not sufficient.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering,
bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply
to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while
overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of
children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home
under
Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of
up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity
with children under 16 while outside of Australia.
Local Customs
There are conservative standards of dress and behavior in many parts of
Indonesia. You should find out what customs are observed in your
destination and take care not to offend. If in doubt, seek local advice.
Information for Dual Nationals
Indonesia's citizenship legislation now permits children born to an
Indonesian parent and a foreign parent to maintain citizenship of both
countries until their 18th birthday.
For more information, contact your nearest Embassy or Consulate of
Indonesia or visit Indonesia's the Department of Law and Human Rights
website (in Indonesian).
Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further
information for dual nationals.
Entry and Exit Requirements
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and
quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or
Consulate of Indonesia for the most up-to-date information.
You should ensure you have the correct, current visa at all times,
otherwise you may be fined, jailed, deported or banned from re-entering
Indonesia for a period of time.
Your passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from your date of
arrival. Visitors may be granted a seven day visa on arrival for a fee of
USD10 or a 30 day visa on arrival for a fee of USD25. Both visas are
non-extendable and non-transferable. The period of stay for visas is
calculated from the day of arrival. For example, if a tourist with a seven
day visa arrived on a Sunday, they must depart Indonesia the following
Saturday. If the tourist departed on the following Sunday, they would be
considered to have overstayed their visa. This principle also applies to 30
day visas. Fines are imposed for each additional day in Indonesia.
If you are staying in private accommodation, you are required to register
with the local Rukun Tertangga (RT) Office and the local police when you
arrive. If you plan to be in Indonesia for more than 90 days, you must
register with the local immigration office and hold the correct visa.
Under Indonesian law, you must carry identification (an Australian
passport, Kartu Ijin Tinggal Sementara (KITAS) or Residents Stay Permit) at
all times.
Health Issues
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that
will cover any overseas medical costs, before you depart. Confirm that your
insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what
circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember,
regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel
insurance, you can't afford to travel.
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about
preventive measures, immunisations, including booster shots of childhood
vaccinations you may require, and disease outbreaks overseas. The World
Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our
'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with
medicines and staying healthy while overseas.
Medical facilities are generally below western standards and in many
regions hospitals provide only basic facilities. Hospitals often require
confirmation of medical insurance cover or up-front payment prior to
providing any services, including emergency care. In the event of a serious
illness or accident, medical evacuation to Singapore or Australia is
recommended, costing between $A10,000 to $A85,000 depending on
circumstances and location.
Decompression chambers are located at Bali's Sanglah General Hospital and
hospitals in Jakarta and Manado.
Mosquito-borne and other insect borne illnesses are common throughout the
year. Malaria (including chloroquine-resistant strains) is prevalent
throughout rural areas, but is uncommon in Jakarta. Dengue fever occurs
throughout Indonesia, including in Bali and the major cities, and is
particularly common during the rainy season. Outbreaks of chikungunya have
been reported, while Japanese encephalitis and filariasis are also present,
particularly in rural agricultural areas. We encourage you to consider
having vaccinations before travelling, taking prophylaxis against malaria
where necessary and taking measures to avoid insect bites, including using
an insect repellent at all times.
Japanese encephalitis vaccine is currently unavailable in Australia. The
Department of Health and Ageing is working with vaccine suppliers to make a
vaccine available as soon as possible. For further details see the
Department of Health and Ageing's website or consult your doctor.
Water-borne, food-borne, parasitic and other infectious diseases (including
cholera, hepatitis, measles, typhoid and tuberculosis) are prevalent with
more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. Other diseases
(including HIV/AIDS, polio and rabies) are a risk for travellers. We advise
you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, and avoid ice cubes
and uncooked food. Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering
from diarrhea.
Avoid temporary 'black henna' tattoos as they often contain a dye which can
cause serious skin reactions. For further information see the Australasian
College of Dermatologists' website.
Smoke haze: It is typical for there to be a smoke haze across much of the
north-west part of the archipelago from July to October. Kalimantan and
Sumatra are generally the worst affected areas. You should be aware the
smoke haze could affect your health and travel plans. A current smoke haze
map can be seen on the Singaporean National Environment Agency website.
Avian influenza: The World Health Organization has confirmed human deaths
from avian influenza in Indonesia, including Bali. The Department of Health
advises Australians who reside in Indonesia for an extended period to
consider, as a precautionary measure, having access to influenza antiviral
medicine for treatment. Long-term residents are at a greater risk of
exposure to avian influenza over time. You should seek medical advice
before taking antiviral medicines. Australians intending to travel to
Indonesia for shorter periods are at much lower risk of infection but
should discuss the risk of avian influenza with their doctor as part of
their routine pre-travel health checks.
If the avian influenza virus mutates to a form where efficient
human-to-human transmission occurs, it may spread quickly and local
authorities could move quickly to impose restrictions on travel. Australian
travellers and long-term residents in Indonesia should be prepared to take
personal responsibility for their own safety and well-being, including
deciding when to leave an affected area and ensuring they have appropriate
contingency plans in place. Australians in Indonesia should monitor the
travel advice and bulletin for updated information and advice and ensure
that their travel documents, including passports and visas for any
non-Australian family members, are up-to-date in case they need to depart
at short notice.
In September 2005, the Australian Government decided as a precautionary
measure to hold a limited supply of the antiviral medicine oseltamivir
(Tamiflu) and protective face masks at its missions in Indonesia. The
antiviral would primarily be used to protect emergency staff providing
consular and other essential services in the event of a widespread outbreak
of avian influenza amongst humans. Australian missions will not be in a
position to provide influenza antiviral medicines to Australians in
affected areas and it is the responsibility of individual Australians to
secure their own supply of such medicines (such as Tamiflu or Relenza).
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian
influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a
list of these countries, visit the OIE website.
Where to Get Help
Access to the Australian Embassy in Jakarta is by appointment only.
An appointment for consular services can be made by calling +62 21 2550
5500 or +62 21 2550 5555.
Australian Embassy
Jalan H R Rasuna Said Kav C 15-16
Jakarta Selatan 12940 Indonesia
Telephone: +62 21 2550 5555
Facsimile: +62 21 526 1690
Website: http://www.indonesia.embassy.gov.au/jakt/home.html.
In Bali, you can obtain consular assistance from:
Australian Consulate General
Jalan Tantular 32
Renon
Denpasar, Bali, 80234 Indonesia
Telephone: +62 361 241 118
Facsimile: + 62 361 221 195 (general enquiries)
Facsimile: +62 361 241 120 (visa enquiries)
Email: Bali.congen@dfat.gov.au
In Medan, you can obtain limited consular assistance from:
Australian Consulate
Jalan R A Kartini 32
Medan 20152
North Sumatra Indonesia
Telephone: +62 61 415 7810
Facsimile: +62 61 415 6820
If you are travelling to Indonesia, whatever the reason and however long
you'll be there, we strongly recommend you register with the Department of
Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any
Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you
provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a
natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.
In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the Embassy, Consulate
General or the Consulate, you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency
Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.
In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may
be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.
Consular Section
Australian Embassy Jakarta
Jalan H R Rasuna Said Kav C 15-16
Jakarta Selatan 12940
Indonesia
Telephone: +62 21 2550 5500
Facsimile : +62 21 2550 5499
E-mail : consular.jakarta@dfat.gov.au