Foreign Office Warns Against Indonesia Travel

The Foreign Office today advised British nationals against undertaking non-essential travel to Indonesia, and told those who are already there to consider leaving the country.

At the weekend the US and Australia also updated their travel advice on Indonesia and warned their citizens against visiting the country, citing credible information that attacks on westerners in the country may have been planned in response to the US-led war against Iraq. In a statement on its website, the Foreign Office informed the public that "We continue to receive information that indicates extremists may be planning additional attacks targeting western interests and may take advantage of heightened tensions over Iraq to launch an attack."

The Foreign Office urged UK nationals remaining in Indonesia to stay abreast of the international situation and take extreme care while there. "If you choose to remain in Indonesia you should exercise caution in public places, in particular places of entertainment such as nightclubs, bars, restaurants, shopping malls, outdoor recreational areas and places of worship," the website advised. "You should be particularly careful throughout Java and Bali and in cultural and tourist locations in other islands."

The Indonesian government acknowledged foreign countries' responsibilty to their citizens but expressed concern that the warnings of terror threats would give "a skewed impression" of the situation in the country. Indonesia has seen daily protests against the war since it began last Thursday, but they have been small and peaceful compared with many held in other countries around the world. "The demonstrations here have all been in an orderly manner," foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natelagawa said. "We are not going to doubt [foreign governments'] obligations to protect their nationals, but we are concerned that the warnings give a skewed impression of what is really going on here."