Indonesia on Alert After Warnings of Terrorist Attack

Dec 16, 2004
Space War

JAKARTA (AFP) — Indonesia was on high alert Thursday after Australian-led warnings of a terrorist attack before Christmas, amid fears that Islamic militants wanted for the Bali bombings are poised to strike again.

Police in the world's largest Muslim-populated country said an operation had been launched for the festive period, with thousands of extra men deployed to prevent attacks in a period previously targeted by Islamic extremists.

Canberra warned of a possible attack on a Hilton hotel while security chiefs in Jakarta said they were preparing for more strikes by two fugitive Malaysians believed to be behind a series of blasts in the country.

These include the October 2002 Bali bombings in which 202 people, including 88 Australians, were killed; an attack on the Jakarta Marriott hotel last year which killed 12; and a September 9 explosion at the Australian embassy in which 11 died.

Former professor Azahari Husin is accused of building the bombs used in all three attacks, allegedly coordinated with the help of recruiting expert Noordin Mohammad Top.

They are suspected to be leading members of Jemaah Islamiyah, accused of being the Southeast Asian arm of Al-Qaeda, which has staged a series of attacks in recent years.

National police spokesman Paiman said the pair -- who have so far eluded an international hunt -- could be planning an attack in the pre-Christmas period.

"During this festive season we have launched an operation codenamed Lilin (candle) to deal with, among other things, terrorist bombings," Paiman told

On Wednesday Australia said it had received intelligence suggesting an impending terrorist strike in Indonesia, possibly targeting one of three Hilton hotels located in Jakarta, the second city of Surabaya and Bali.

The Australian statement said other targets could not be ruled out and urged Australians in Indonesia to avoid international hotels and other places where foreigners gather.

Britain and the United States have also warned that their citizens in Indonesia over Christmas and the New Year faced a "heightened risk" of attack. New Zealand has cautioned against non-essential travel to the country.

But Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda Thursday insisted there was "nothing new" in Canberra's statement and said Bali's beaches and hotels remained crowded with Australians and other foreigners.

"We wish that if Australia had credible information they would pass it to our police because cooperation between our police forces are excellent," he told reporters after meeting visiting Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill.

Meanwhile Hill, who is on a two-day visit to Jakarta, insisted Jakarta had been consulted about the threat. He said he was happy with Indonesia's response.

"I think what we know has been made public and obviously we spoke with Indonesian friends first. We have an obligation in Australia that when we believe there is a threat that we inform Australians about that threat," he said.

Before the alerts, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had ordered the deployment of extra police to safeguard churches following recent attacks on Christians on Sulawesi island.

Indonesia was hit by a wave of bomb attacks on 38 churches or priests on Christmas Eve 2000 in which 19 people perished. Those attacks have also been blamed on Jemaah Islamiyah.

Canberra stepped up security links with Jakarta after the Bali blasts with Australian police specialists playing a key role in the investigations. The cooperation was extended after September's embassy attack.

Yudhoyono, who was installed as president in October, has promised to get tougher on Islamic extremists -- a stance welcomed in Canberra which views him as an ally.

In another development, Australian airline Qantas said it would refund tickets and waive cancellation fees for passengers wishing to scrap travel plans to Indonesia in light of the warnings.

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