http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029390590&a=KCountryAdvice&aid=1013618385558
Still Current at: 2 October 2005
Updated: 1 October 2005
Indonesia
This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Summary and
Terrorism sections. The overall level of the advice has not changed.
SUMMARY
a.. On 1 October 2005 between 1815hrs and 1900hrs local time, at least 3
bombs exploded in Central Kuta and Jimbaran beach in Bali. There have been a
number of deaths and injuries, including foreigners. If you are in Indonesia,
you should exercise extreme caution at all times because there remains a high
threat from terrorism. For further advice and assistance you should contact the
FCO helpline on 0207 008 8765.
b.. People still intending in the immediate future to travel to Bali should
review thoroughly information on the local situation, and ensure they are
taking full precautions and following local advice.
c.. We advise against all travel to Aceh, except for those involved in
post-tsunami humanitarian and reconstruction work or in preparation for the
Aceh Monitoring Mission. Parts of Aceh remain affected by a long running
internal conflict. Two aid workers were shot and injured in separate shooting
attacks on 23 June and 7 July respectively. There is a risk that further
incidents may occur. You should exercise caution when travelling to remote
areas.
d.. We advise against travel to some parts of Maluku, especially Ambon, and
some parts of Central Sulawesi, which are experiencing civilian unrest. At
least 20 people were killed in a bomb attack in Central Sulawesi on Saturday 28
May.
e.. There have been renewed outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu) amongst
poultry and a small number of pig farms throughout west and central Indonesia.
There have been a number of human fatalities in this latest outbreak. The World
Health Organisation is still investigating the possibility of human-to-human
transmission. Travellers to Indonesia are unlikely to be affected, but you
should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where
you may come into close contact with wild or caged birds; and ensure poultry
dishes are thoroughly cooked.
f.. There remains a high threat from terrorism in Indonesia. We continue to
receive reports that terrorists in Indonesia are planning further attacks on
Westerners and Western interests. Attacks could occur at any time, anywhere in
Indonesia and are likely to be directed against locations and buildings
frequented by foreigners.
g.. The Indonesian Police are on a state of high alert in Jakarta, and have
deployed additional personnel around the city, including additional security
arrangements for embassies.
h.. Terrorists have shown in previous attacks, like the attack on the
Australian Embassy, the Marriott Hotel, Jakarta and the Bali bombings, that
they have the means and the motivation to carry out successful attacks.
i.. Penalties for illegal drug importation and use are severe and can include
the death penalty.
j.. Large public demonstrations are being planned in Jakarta and other cities
in Indonesia to protest against fuel shortages and impending fuel price rises
which will take effect on 1 October.
k.. We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical
insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your
policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. Please see: Travel
>Insurance
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Terrorism
There remains a high threat from terrorism in Indonesia. We continue to receive
reports that terrorists in Indonesia are planning further attacks on Westerners
and Western interests. Attacks could occur at any time, anywhere in Indonesia,
and are likely to be directed against locations and buildings frequented by
foreigners. The terrorists have shown in previous attacks that they have the
means and the motivation to carry out successful attacks.
On 1 October 2005 between 1815hrs and 1900hrs local time at least 3 bombs
exploded in Central Kuta and Jimbaran beach in Bali. There have been a number
of deaths and injuries, including foreigners. If you are in Indonesia, you
should exercise extreme caution at all times because there remains a high
threat from terrorism. For further advice and assistance you should contact the
FCO helpline on 0207 008 8765
People still intending in the immediate future to travel to Bali should review
thoroughly information on the local situation, and ensure they are taking full
precautions and following local advice.
The Indonesian Police are on a state of high alert in Jakarta, and have
deployed additional personnel around the city, including additional security
arrangements for embassies.
The large car bomb, which exploded outside the Australian Embassy on 9
September 2004 killing 11 people, underscores the ongoing terrorist threat in
Indonesia. The extremist group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), which has links to
Al-Qaida is thought to have been responsible for this attack as well as the
Bali bombings, which killed 202 people in October 2002, and the Marriott Hotel
bombing in Jakarta, which killed 12 people in August 2003.
If you are planning to travel overland or by boat to Malaysia or the
Philippines, you should be aware that Abu Sayaf, a Philippines based terrorist
group also pose a risk and plan to kidnap foreign tourists from the islands and
coastal areas of Malaysia and the Philippines, especially Eastern Sabah. Please
see the FCO Travel Advice for Philippines and Malaysia.
Please read "Security and General Tips and Risk of Terrorism when Travelling
Overseas" pages for further information and advice. Readers may also wish to
look at the Australian and US Travel Advice.
Crime
You should beware of street crime and pickpockets. Take personal security
measures such as:
a.. Taking particular care to safeguard your passport and credit/ATM cards.
We receive regular reports of credit card theft after shop employees copied
card details You are advised not to lose sight of your credit card during
transactions;
b.. Beware of thieves while travelling on public transport. We receive
regular reports of extortionate fares or robberies by unlicensed airport taxi
drivers. Their vehicles are usually in poor condition, are unmetered, and do
not have a dashboard identity licence. When taking a taxi, use one from a
reputable firm, preferably booked by phone or arranged by your hotel, or booked
by a registered taxi firm inside the airport.
c.. For longer journeys it is a sensible precaution to notify friends of
travel plans, contact them on arrival and where possible travel in convoy.
d.. We receive occasional reports of tourists who have been robbed after
bringing visitors to their hotel rooms. In some cases their drinks were
drugged. Ensure your passport and wallet and other valuables are secure at all
times.
Political Situation
Large public demonstrations are being planned in Jakarta and other cities in
Indonesia to protest against fuel shortages and impending fuel price rises
which will take effect on 1 October. Demonstrations are part of the Indonesian
political culture, and are usually peaceful but, there is always potential for
violence and traffic disruptions. You should therefore avoid large crowds and
public gatherings.
You should be aware of offending Muslim sensitivities. Westerners have
occasionally been harassed by fundamentalists in bars and nightclubs,
particularly around major Islamic holidays. You should be particularly vigilant
during the fasting month of Ramadhan, which begins in early October.
Local Travel
Our additional advice for British nationals in Indonesia who are travelling
outside Jakarta is as follows:
Aceh
You should avoid travel to Aceh. The coastal areas of the province of Aceh and
some parts of North Sumatra suffered widespread casualties and damage in the
tsunami on 26 December 2004. The Indonesian authorities have declared the
waters inside the 12 nautical mile limit around Aceh closed to all foreign
ships. British vessels are advised to avoid the exclusion zone.
Parts of Aceh remain affected by a long running internal conflict. If you are
travelling to Aceh to engage in humanitarian or reconstruction work, you should
do so only in conjunction with a well-established and reputable organisation
that has permission to operate in Indonesia. You should ensure that your
organisation has a security plan approved by the Indonesian authorities, and is
actively linked to the local security advice of the UN Office for Crisis and
Humanitarian Affairs in Banda Aceh. A peace agreement (Memorandum of
Understanding - MoU) was signed on 15 August but sporadic armed clashes may
still occur. Those involved in the preparations for the Aceh Monitoring Mission
should follow the rules and regulations as laid out by the Head of Mission
(designate).
Caution should be exercised at all times and in all places, especially outside
Banda Aceh. Travel after dark is particularly risky. A foreign aid worker was
shot and injured while travelling by car at night in West Aceh on 23 June 2005.
A second foreign aid worker was injured on 7 July after up to 15 shots were
fired at her car in South Aceh, again at night. There is a risk that further
incidents may occur. You should exercise caution when travelling to remote
areas.
All agencies and donors working in Aceh must register with the Indonesian
Government's BRR office in Banda Aceh. Regulations regarding entry into and
permission to remain in Aceh can change at any time. You should check with the:
Indonesian Embassy in London prior to travel to obtain the most recent
information on entry requirements and registration procedures while in Aceh.
Maluku and North Maluku Provinces
You should avoid all travel to Maluku, particularly Ambon. Violence in Ambon
has resulted in a number of deaths and serious injuries. The situation in
Maluku and North Maluku remains unsettled.
Central Sulawesi
You should avoid travel to Central Sulawesi. There continues to be intermittent
violence and sporadic sectarian clashes in this area. At least 20 people were
killed in a bomb attack in Central Sulawesi on 28 May.
Papua
Papuan separatists have kidnapped foreigners in the past, most recently in
2002. There remains a small but significant risk. You should steer clear of any
street protests, which can rapidly turn violent. Permits are required to travel
to Papua, and these can be obtained from the: Indonesian Embassy in London.
Road Safety
If you plan to hire a car, you should note that traffic discipline is poor and
city streets are congested. There is considerable advantage in hiring a car
with a driver and this is not especially expensive. If you break down or have a
minor accident you should stay with your vehicle with the car doors locked
until the police arrive. Motorcyclists can be particularly dangerous.
Air Safety
Small commercial aircraft crash periodically in remote parts of Indonesia. You
should be aware that the maintenance of such aircraft might not be as
comprehensive as in the UK.
103 passengers many local residents died when a Mandala Airlines aircraft
crashed in Medan on 5 September 2005.
Sea Safety
Inter-island travel by small boats can be dangerous as storms appear quickly
and navigational equipment is often limited. There have been attacks against
ships in and around the waters of Indonesia. Mariners are advised to be
vigilant; reduce opportunities for theft; establish secure areas onboard; and
report all incidents to the coastal and flag state authorities.
LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
Drugs
Do not get involved with illegal drugs. Possession, trafficking and manufacture
of such drugs are serious offences in Indonesia. Those caught face lengthy
prison sentences or the death penalty, usually after a protracted and expensive
legal process. Even the possession of small amounts of drugs such as marijuana
or ecstasy can lead to prison sentences longer than four years. Convicted
traffickers or users of hard drugs such as cocaine or heroin face the death
penalty in Indonesia. In August 2005, the Indonesian police launched a campaign
against illegal drug use. This included raids of popular nightclubs across
Indonesia, including Bali and Jakarta, and urine tests of suspected drug users.
A number of foreigners were arrested in these raids.
Gambling
Gambling is illegal in Indonesia. There have been cases where tourists have
fallen victim to organised gambling gangs, resulting in the loss of large
amounts of money.
Overstayers
Visa overstayers or those in violation of their visa conditions face large
fines and/or detention followed by deportation at their own expense.
Private Accommodation
Foreigners in Indonesia who are staying in private accommodation (not hotels)
must register their presence with the local police or face a fine of Rp 5
million (£290).
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
All British nationals in Indonesia should ensure that their passport is valid.
You are required to retain your arrival card for presentation to Immigration on
departure.
All passports must be valid for a minimum period of six months upon arrival.
Entry to Indonesia may be refused and airlines may not carry passengers holding
passports with less than six months validity. Overstaying without the proper
authority is a serious matter and visitors can be held in detention or refused
permission to leave the country until a fine is paid.
British tourists need to purchase a tourist visa on arrival at one of the main
air or sea ports. A three-day visa on arrival costs US $10 and a 30-day visa
costs US$25 per person. If you are not arriving at one of the main points of
entry you will need to obtain a visa prior to travel. If you require a visa for
anything other than tourism, or if you require further information on entry
requirements, you should contact the: Indonesian Embassy in London.
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware
that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility
before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before
permitting the children to leave the country. They may want to see birth
certificates, a letter of consent from the other parent or some evidence as to
your responsibility for the child. Indonesian authorities do not normally
require such evidence, but if you have concerns please check with the:
Indonesian Embassy in London.
HEALTH
You are advised to consult with your GP about vaccinations and health issues
before travelling. Medical care can be very expensive. The standard of local
medical care can be poor. Some medical tests cannot be done reliably in
country. Good medical attention for serious injuries or illness is likely to be
unobtainable in remote areas, and may require expensive medical evacuation
costing up to tens of thousands of pounds. You should take out full medical and
travel insurance covering all eventualities. You check any exclusions, and that
your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. Please see:
Travel Insurance
You should ensure that your vaccinations are adequate and up-to-date.
Do not drink tap water or water that is not bottled and sealed. Hygiene
standards in restaurants vary. Beware of food from streetside vendors, which
might be contaminated and cause diarrhoea or worse bacterial diseases such as
typhoid or cholera. If you feel unwell, you should see a good doctor.
There has been considerable damage to the underlying health care in areas
affected by the 26 December earthquake and tsunami. Flooding, stagnant water,
disruption of sewer lines, and poor quality sanitation conditions are conducive
to development of disease. Those in affected areas are advised to purchase
bottled water, as local water sources may be contaminated.
Polio
The Indonesian authorities have reported outbreaks of polio in west Java and
southern Sumatra and have instituted local vaccination programmes.
For the latest information, including the number of confirmed human fatalities,
prevention measures and other FAQs, you should visit the World Health
Organisation (WHO) website at: http://w3.whosea.org/en/Section1226.asp.
Dengue Fever and Malaria
Malaria exists in parts of Indonesia and you should seek medical advice before
travelling.
Dengue Fever is also endemic in much of the country and particularly during the
rainy season (December to April) incidences of dengue increase considerably.
For these reasons, you should take sensible precautions against mosquitoes.
Avian Influenza (bird flu)
Since January 2004, there have been over 50 human deaths in Asia confirmed as
resulting from Bird Flu (also known as Avian Flu and Avian Influenza). The
World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported on the possibility of a human flu
pandemic following the outbreak. Further information and advice is provided in:
Avian Influenza in Asia: FCO Factsheet. Ragunan Zoo in Jakarta closed on 19
September after bird flu was detected in caged birds.
If you are intending visiting other countries in the region, we recommend that
you also check our Travel Advice for those destinations.
For further information on health, check the Department of Health's website at:
www.dh.gov.uk.
NATURAL DISASTERS
Earthquakes
Indonesia is located in an earthquake zone, and major earthquakes can occur at
any time. There have been numerous aftershocks in Sumatra since the disastrous
26 December earthquake and tsunami that caused massive devastation to coastal
areas in Aceh and parts of North Sumatra. There was also a major earthquake on
28 March 2005, affecting Nias Island.
Floods
Flash floods and more widespread flooding occur regularly during the rainy
season from December to March. A flash flood at an orang-utan reserve popular
with backpackers in Bohorok, Sumatra, killed over 100 people in late 2003.
Landslides, sometimes exacerbated by deforestation, occur in rural areas during
the wet season.
Volcanoes
There are numerous volcanoes in Indonesia, any of which can erupt without
warning. You are advised to check local conditions before travelling to
volcanic areas.
The Indonesia Directorate of Vulcanology has warned of increased volcanic
activity at a number of volcanoes across Indonesia including Mt. Gunung Talang
(near Padang) and Mt. Gunung Marapi (near Bukittinggi) in central Sumatra, Mt.
Anak Krakutau off west Java, Mt Tangkuban Perahu near Bandung in central Java
and Mt. Gunung Semeru in east Java. Localised earthquake tremors have been
associated with this activity. Travellers should exercise caution, check local
news reports and follow local advice. The capacity of the emergency and rescue
services to deal with large natural disasters is limited.
GENERAL
If things go wrong when overseas, please see the What We Can Do To Help page of
the FCO website.
Foreigners in Indonesia must show evidence of their identity if requested by,
for example, the Police. You should carry photocopies of the relevant pages of
your passport and your arrival card to avoid losing the original, which should
be kept in a safe place.
When leaving the country by plane, you will need to pay an Airport Tax of
100,000 Rupiah.
It is important that all resident British nationals register with the Embassy
either through the Embassy's web site, by fax or by mail. Please inform the
Embassy if you are leaving Indonesia for more than ten days. It is also very
important that you notify the Embassy upon return.
OTHER
Indonesia Country Profile
CONTACT DETAILS
Address: Deutsche Bank Building, 19th Floor
80 Jalan Imam Bonjol
Jakarta 10310
Telephone: (62) (21) 319 01314 (Consular)
(62) (21) 390 7484-87 (Visa)
Facsimile: (62) (21) 316 0858
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Consular)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Office Hours: GMT: Mon-Thurs 0045 - 0900 & Fri 0045 - 0545
Visa public telephone enquiries: Mon-Thurs 0830 - 0930 (GMT 0130 - 0230)
See Also: UK Overseas Mission: Indonesia
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