Australia Fears its Nationals Were Targeted

October 14, 2002

In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks on the US, the profound shock that most Australians felt was followed by a sense of relief that, for once, their country's geographical isolation from the western world was a blessing.

Such atrocities, it was felt, could never reach Australia, a country that had largely been spared from significant terrorist attacks.

That complacency has been swept away by the weekend's explosionsin Bali, a mecca for Australian tourists, especially the young.

There was little doubt in Australia that, if the Bali bombs are shown to be the work of Islamic terrorists, Australia was a key target.

There was little doubt in Australia on Sunday night that, if the Bali bombs are shown to be the work of Islamic terrorists, Australia was a key target, even though the attacks occurred in a neighbouring state.

"It is a tough thing to say this, but one would have to assume that quite a number of the dead would be Australians," said Alexander Downer, foreign minister.

On Monday Robert Hill, the Australian defence minister, told Senate that 14 Australian were dead, more than 110 were injured and 220 were unaccounted for. John Howard, prime minister, said earlier that he hoped all injured Australians would be evacuated to hospitals in Australia within 36 hours.

"This is a huge national tragedy for Australia and for Australians," said†Mr Howard. "People should get out of their minds that it can't happen here. It can, and it has happened to our own on our doorstep."

Commentators said that until the government had evidence to the contrary, it would have to assume the worst.

"And the worst is that the attacks were indeed ordered by al-Qaeda, and that the many Australians who died were not collateral victims but the selected target," said John Edwards, chief economist at HSBC in Sydney and a one-time senior adviser to Paul Keating, the former prime minister.

The Australian centre-right coalition, which has a history of strained relations with Jakarta, offered Indonesia medical help and the use of its police and intelligence services in tracking down the perpetrators. However, it was also quick to press Indonesia to take a tougher stand on combating terrorism within its borders.

"I can only say again that the war against terrorism must go on with unrelenting vigour and with an unconditional commitment," Mr Howard said. "We would like to see a maximum effort on the part of the Indonesian government to deal with the terrorist problem within their own borders. It's been a problem for a long time."

The bombings are also likely to add to criticism in Australia over the Howard government's vocal and almost unequivocal support for the Bush administration's war on terrorism, including its potential pre-emptive action against Iraq.

The government's critics have urged the coalition not needlessly to endanger Australian lives and especially not with loose rhetoric.

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