Homeland Security

DATE=6/16/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=INDONESIA/SECURITY (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-316759

BYLINE=TIM JOHNSTON

DATELINE=JAKARTA

HEADLINE: Indonesia Tightens Embassy Security

INTRO: The authorities in Indonesia have tightened security around several foreign embassies and areas frequented by expatriates after warnings of increased terrorist threats to western interests in the country. As Tim Johnston reports from Jakarta, diplomats have been warning of renewed threats for the past couple of months.

TEXT: Diplomats and the police say that security has been tightened around five particular embassies: those of the United States, Britain, Australia, Spain and Sweden. All of the five except Sweden have been active in the military campaign in Iraq.

None of the embassies has started to reduce its staff numbers, however, a sign that diplomats believe the danger has not yet risen to unacceptable levels.

But almost all the five embassies thought to be under threat have warned their nationals to avoid unnecessary travel to Indonesia and, if they do come, to remain vigilant.

Charles Humfrey is the British Ambassador to Indonesia.

/// HUMFREY ACT ///

"I think the message we have been putting across is that it is sensible for people to keep up their guard. We have made these points for a good while now in our travel advice and we felt it was useful to remind people of what we said in that, particularly since it is a long time since anything has happened."

/// END ACT ///

Indonesia is no stranger to terrorism. The regional Muslim group known as Jemaah Islamiyah, or JI (eds: jay eye), carried out the world's worst terrorist act since the September 11 attacks in the United States. In October 2002, members of JI bombed two popular tourist nightclubs on the island of Bali, killing 202 people.

Last August, the group, which has been linked to the al-Qaida terror network, also bombed the American-run J.W. Marriott hotel in Jakarta, killing 12.

The Indonesian police say they have caught most of those responsible for the Bali and Jakarta bombings, but few analysts believe that JI's campaign of terror is finished.

Diplomats say privately that the level of so called chatter among militants has risen significantly over the past two months, giving rise to fears that they are planning another attack.

The diplomats say recent reports of highly trained assassination squads infiltrating into Indonesia may be premature, but they do believe that an attack targeted on a specific western objective is not at all unlikely. (Signed)

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