Indonesia orders security clampdown
JAKARTA, Indonesia – Indonesia ordered a nationwide security crackdown today after Australia, Britain and New Zealand warned terrorists were preparing to attack ahead of Christmas.
Australia’s warning was unusually specific, saying it had “credible information” that terrorists could be targeting Hilton hotels in the country. The foreign ministry warned Australians in Indonesia to avoid all international hotels and other places where foreigners gather.
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, has been hit by three terrorist attacks blamed on Islamist militants in the past three years. Local police and foreign governments repeatedly have warned more attacks were likely.
“We are doing our utmost to increase our vigilance,” said Jakarta police spokesman Ciptono, who uses a single name. “In light of the threat, the national police chief has ordered the Christmas and New Year’s security operation, which was supposed to start Saturday, to begin immediately.”
Ciptono was referring to the police’s annual Christmas security operations, which normally involve the deployment of tens of thousands of officers to public places, including shopping malls, churches and hotels.
“In the lead-up to the Christmas and New Year holiday period we continue to receive reports that terrorists in the region are planning attacks against a range of targets,” the Australian foreign ministry said in its travel advisory for Indonesia.
“Terrorist attacks could occur at any time, anywhere in Indonesia and could be directed against any locations known to be frequented by foreigners,” it warned.
It advised Australians to defer all nonessential travel to Indonesia, and said Australians already there who fear for their safety should consider leaving the country.
The Australian statement did not elaborate on where the intelligence came from.
The warning came on the eve of a two-day visit to Jakarta by Australia’s defense minister, Robert Hill. The trip was going ahead as planned.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, speaking in Papua New Guinea where he was attending a conference, urged Australians to stay away from Western hotels in Indonesia.
“This is credible information from intelligence. We wouldn’t be passing it on if we weren’t particularly concerned about the information,” Downer said.
The Hilton chain has three hotels in Indonesia; in the capital, Jakarta; on the tourist island of Bali; and in the industrial city of Surabaya on Java island.
The British government also warned of a higher danger of terrorist attack in the Southeast Asian nation during the holidays.