Australian Government warns of 'advanced stage' attack plans in Indonesia
February 26, 2016
Jakarta: The Australian government has warned terrorists may be in the advanced stages of preparing attacks in Indonesia.
The updated travel advice on the Department of Foreign Affairs' website smartraveller came as Justice Minister Michael Keenan met Jakarta police chief Tito Karnavian to discuss the recent Jakarta attacks and Australia's ongoing efforts with Indonesia to combat terrorism in the region.
Mr Keenan said it was likely there would be more attacks in South-east Asia as violent extremists sought to inspire young people to take up their cause.
"Indonesia and our neighbours are all targets for [Daesh]-inspired terrorism in the same way as Australia," Mr Keenan said.
"This is of grave concern for Australia and the Australian government. We are working in close co-operation with our neighbours to keep the region safe from terror."
Mr Keenan has been to Indonesia three times since becoming justice minister, with the discussion mainly centred around shared counter-terrorism efforts.
Australian and Indonesian authorities have a history of strong cooperation in the field, with Australia supporting Indonesia in the investigation of several major terrorist attacks in Indonesia, resulting in arrests and convictions.
Indonesian authorities have proven highly effective in disrupting terrorist plots and networks. There have been more than 900 terrorism-related arrests and about 650 convictions since 2002.
"Recent indications suggest that terrorists may be in the advanced stages of preparing attacks in Indonesia," the smartraveller website entry for Indonesia says.
However the overall level of advice for the country has not changed.
"We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Indonesia, including Bali," it says.
Security in Bali has been immediately increased following the warning, with police and military personnel patrolling the airport.
Bali airport authority head Yusfandri Hona told Fairfax Media the authority was also conducting background checks on airport staff.
"We have further increased security throughout the airport in response to the travel warnings," he said after a meeting held to discuss threat.
Mr Yusfandri said this was on top of the high security alert put in place after the January 14 attacks.
Terror expert and chair in Global Islamic Politics at Deakin University Greg Barton said he suspected Australian authorities had intercepted communications that showed increased "chatter" that was cause for concern.
"When they intercept communications they might not necessarily get access to the contents of the message but may see an increase in frequency between two nodes of concern," Professor Barton said.
He said messaging services, such as Telegram, may contain encrypted messages but a flurry of activity could indicate imminent attacks.
"Some times places and times also come up in unencrypted messages," he said.
Professor Barton said prior to the 2002 Bali bombings the American Embassy had issued warnings of possible attacks in places such as Bali.
He said the Australian government had been criticised after the bombings for not having done so: "The position now is it is better to be safe with public communication."
The warning comes after the Australian government also warned of a possible attack in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, indicating Australian agencies have received specific information about a potential terrorist plot.
Malaysia later said it was not aware of what might have prompted such a warning.
Indonesia is currently debating measures to tighten its anti-terror laws passed after the January 14 suicide bombings and shootings in Central Jakarta, which left eight dead.
"We can detect a terrorist network but we can't act before they have committed a crime," said national police chief Badrodin Haiti. "That is the weakness of our laws."
The draft legislation, seen by Fairfax Media, says an individual could be detained for up to six months if it was suspected they would carry out an act of terrorism.
It would also become an offence to join a terrorist group such as Islamic State, or recruit others, with a maximum punishment of seven years' jail.
The Bali police and airport authority convened meetings immediately after the updated warning from Australia.
National police spokesman Agus Rianto told Fairfax Media Indonesia was safe and security was under control.
"It is understandable if people are worried however [special forces police unit] Detachment 88 continues to chase people based on interrogations of people arrested recently," Mr Agus told Fairfax Media.
About 40 people have been detained in connection with the police probe to uncover the network of those involved in the Jakarta attacks.
Mr Agus said bombmaking materials such as nails and fertiliser had been found during the arrests.
"The President [Joko Widodo] said we are not afraid, however we remain alert," he said.
"The police along with related agencies and the people are working together to monitor the situation to make sure the security is there."
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the Australian government worked closely with the Indonesian government to address terrorism. "It is a shared threat," she said.
"I urge all Australians travelling, whether to Indonesia or elsewhere, to purchase travel insurance, register on smartraveller and to read the travel advice carefully before they travel."
Australian Government warns of 'advanced stage' attack plans in Indonesia
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Police insist Indonesia is ‘safe’
thejakartapost.com, Jakarta | National | Fri, February 26 2016, 6:36 AM
In response to a travel warning issued by the Australian government, the National Police has insisted that Indonesia is a safe country.
"We guarantee the safety throughout Indonesia following the terrorism threat warning issued by Australia," National Police spokesman Brig. Gen Agus Rianto said on Thursday, as quoted by the Antara news agency.
Still, police would not overlook any threats and would take all information into account, he added.
The Australian government through the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued a warning on Thursday on possible "advanced stage" terrorist plans in Indonesia, urging Australian citizens to be on high alert at possible terrorist targets such as nightclubs, restaurants, international hotels and airports in places like Jakarta and Bali.
Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi said every country had the right to issue travel advisories for its citizens. She added that Indonesia would not issue an excessive response to the warning.
The ministry contacted the National Police regarding security, with the police responding that conditions in the country were safe.
"We are always on alert, but we don't depend on alerts given by other countries," she said as reported by kompas.com.
Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said the government would use the warning from Australia as input for the authorities.
"We will tell the world that Indonesia is very safe and the government is able to control all security issues," he said at the State Palace, adding that control had been proven by police officers' ability to secure the capital and take down terrorists within three hours after the terrorist attack last month.
The attack on a police post and a Starbucks coffee shop on Jl. MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta left eight people dead, including four terrorists, and more than 25 injured. (rin)
Police insist Indonesia is ‘safe’ | The Jakarta Post
