Terrorism in Indonesia - Where ??

[SundaWarrior]

Salam Everyone,

One of the major issues for Americans coming to Indonesia is
the "false" idea that terrorism is everywhere in Indonesia.  Let
me just say to anyone in America that has that feeling that it is not
so.  I have been to Indonesia "twice" by myself !!! and never have I
encountered any hostility from an Indonesian (On Java or Bali). 
In fact you are more likely to be a victim in New York City than you
are in Indonesia.  The people of Indonesia are peaceful and very friendly.
It is just like any other country you travel to - just be respectful of Indonesian people and culture and you will be treated in return with the utmost respect.
The reason I bring this up is because I constantly get emails from the U.S. government warning me not to go to Indonesia.  Here is part of an email
I received from the U.S. government just a few days ago(October 12th,2007):

SAFETY AND SECURITY:  Due to the possibility of terrorist attacks directed against American or other Western citizens and interests, the Department of State urges American citizens to evaluate carefully the risks of travel to Indonesia . The October 1, 2005, terrorist attacks in Bali, in which suicide bombers killed 20 people and injured more than 100, are a reminder that terrorists remain active in Indonesia . The possibility of future attacks in Bali, Jakarta , or other areas of Indonesia cannot be ruled out.

Terrorist attacks in Indonesia could occur at any time and could be directed against any location, including those frequented by foreigners, as well as identifiably American or other Western facilities or businesses in Indonesia . Such targets could include but are not limited to places where Americans and other Westerners live, congregate, work, study, shop, or visit, including hotels, clubs, restaurants, shopping centers, identifiably Western businesses, housing compounds, transportation systems, places of worship, schools, or public recreation events. While past terrorist attacks have involved the use of vehicle-borne explosives or suicide bombers carrying explosives in backpacks, terrorists may use other forms of attack in the future. Terrorists may target individual American citizen residents, visitors, students, or tourists, and tactics could include but are not limited to kidnapping, shooting, or poisoning.

In addition to the October 1, 2005, bombings in Bali, several other serious terrorist incidents occurred in Indonesia in recent years. A terrorist bombing outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta on September 9, 2004, killed eleven and injured more than 180 people. An August 2003 terrorist bombing at a major international hotel in Jakarta killed 12 persons and injured scores, including several American citizens. A terrorist attack in Bali in October 2002 killed 202 people, including seven Americans. Suicide bombers wearing explosives in vests or backpacks carried out the October 1, 2005, bombings in Bali . Prior terrorist attacks involved the use of vehicle-borne explosives.

The U.S. Mission in Indonesia restricts U.S. government employees' travel to certain areas of the country and, at times, denies them permission to travel to specific locations. As of September 2007, employee travel to the provinces of Papua, Central Sulawesi , and Maluku requires the concurrence of the Embassy’s Regional Security Officer. Americans seeking the latest travel restriction information may contact a consular office. The U.S. Mission can occasionally suspend service to the public, or close, because of security concerns; in these situations, it will continue to provide emergency services to American citizens.

The Department of State urges Americans in Indonesia to avoid crowds, maintain a low profile, and be vigilant about security at all times. Americans are advised to monitor local news broadcasts, vary their routes and times in carrying out daily activities, and consider the level of preventive security when visiting public places in Indonesia . Americans who choose to vacation in Indonesia despite the security risks are advised to consider the level of preventive security when choosing hotels, restaurants, beaches, entertainment venues, and recreation sites.

I encourage those Westerners that have been to Indonesia to give your thoughts on this topic and also for Westerners who have not been to Indonesia
to let us know what you think about the whole issue.

Thank You
Nicholas


   

[Gajah]

The Department of State urges Americans in Indonesia to avoid crowds, maintain a low profile, and be vigilant about security at all times.

This part made me laugh....American.....low profile You could always sew a Canadian flag on your backpack

I believe it's all a matter of perspective mixed with a healthy dose of common sense and pure luck. Don't travel to known hotspots when there is news of a 'flare up'. Be careful in tourist areas, especially nightclubs & bars. Trust your 'spider sense'. Don't walk around with a vest and shorts holding an enormous camera.......

As I am quite dark, tan well, have a big broken nose and a goatee beard, everyone assumes I'm an Arab so I just get 'salamed' a lot, so I always salam back. That does the trick

If you are mostly mixing with local people and eating at warungs you will encounter nothing but generous hospitality.

However, on a more sombre note, my wife was injured in a terrorist attack and her best friend was badly mutilated. Wrong place at the wrong time! It happens, but the chance is very very low.

I've spent a lot of time in Indonesia and the worst I've had is the odd smutty comment when out with my wife. Usualy happens in Jakarta. I mostly ignore it but sometimes reply with something like 'jangan nyomong maki maki, kurang ajar lu'....but that could get you into trouble. However the look on the face of the perpetrator when the bule not only understands the smutty remark but comes back with a retort is sometimes worth it:w

[Rebo Paing]

... However the look on the face of the perpetrator when the bule not only understands the smutty remark but comes back with a retort is sometimes worth it

  very funny Martin. Maybe you could learn Arabic, mix it with Betawi and really impress us!

[Gajah]

This part made me laugh....American.....low profile  You could always sew a Canadian flag on your backpack

Hope I didn't offend you Nick...just my sense of humour. It's just that I remember four travelling 'Canadians' from Brooklyn in the early '90s.

  very funny Martin. Maybe you could learn Arabic, mix it with Betawi and really impress us!

Well, this is phonetic as I can't do the script but.....Boos teezee ja-hosh

[SundaWarrior]

This part made me laugh....American.....low profile  You could always sew a Canadian flag on your backpack

Hope I didn't offend you Nick...just my sense of humour. It's just that I remember four travelling 'Canadians' from Brooklyn in the early '90s.

Not at all Gajah. I stuck out like a sore thumb in Java.  I was the only 6ft tall white guy around.

Salam,
Nicholas

[EricB]

Hello Nicholas,

I have been to Indonesia about 13 times right now, I also never encountered any trouble towards me personal.
Maybe because I'm 6ft3" (1,87)  .............but I'm white blond and look like an ancestor of the dutch coloniser 
Off-course I speak the language (and also some Arab) that can be of any help while visiting a foreign country, more important is to know and accept the culture of a place you are visiting, either it is Indonesia or any other country in the world.

I have had many discussions about politics, religion, possible terrorism and other matters, sometimes I start those discussions myself to see what is going on in the mindset of the people I'm involved with.


In my humble opinion the US government is to narrow minded, and by sending out e-mail like that; they are confirming the way I think about them.
The US cannot be the global police-force who is helping the world to be a better place, what happend on 9/11 is horrible, that they react is understandible.
But ........I'm laughing ... especially after 9/11 ........... is it so hard to capture a man with a beard on a horse and who is living in a cave
For God sake, these dudes are trained by the americans in the past, now we are chasing them ....WTF is going on 
The whole world must participate and what is the result ............... ??
Look at all the money waisted in Afghanistan and Iraq, not to mention happenings in the past 



my 2 cents

[Gajah]

In my humble opinion the US government is to narrow minded, and by sending out e-mail like that; they are confirming the way I think about them.
The US cannot be the global police-force who is helping the world to be a better place, what happend on 9/11 is horrible, that they react is understandible.
But ........I'm laughing ... especially after 9/11 ........... is it so hard to capture a man with a beard on a horse and who is living in a cave
For God sake, these dudes are trained by the americans in the past, now we are chasing them ....WTF is going on 
The whole world must participate and what is the result ............... ??
Look at all the money waisted in Afghanistan and Iraq, not to mention happenings in the past   

LOL, Mas Eric I thought he was on a donkey However, isn't the whole point not to catch him? This allows the Bush/Lockheed Martin administration to make billions......

And yes the US do conveniently forget that they also supplied what are now the Taliban with at least 64million dollars in funding.

I think if the UK stopped kow towing and Europe make a stronger stance, the worlds largest rogue state may be reigned in a little!

Much to my shame I have to admit the US could not have invaded Iraq without Britains support. However, we must also remember the worlds largest demonstration against the war was in the UK.

[f4iz]

.... However, we must also remember the worlds largest demonstration against the war was in the UK.

Are you sure about that ?
I think maybe the worlds largest demonstration against the Iraq war is in Iraq by the iraqis themselves, it started before the war and it continues till today.

[Gajah]

Maybe I should have said the largest public anti war rally? The London Demo was indeed he biggest, larger than any in the Muslim world I may add! People cannot always be held responsible for the actions of their governments, but such demonstrations should be seen as a display of public opinion.

Unfortunately, the perceived democratic process that involves putting an X a piece of paper next to a names of politicians with varying levels of corruption every five years, is no match for the oil or weapons industry.

I would suggest looking into how many of the Bush administration are on, or have been on Lockheed Martin's payroll!

Faiz, perhaps you have misunderstood me! The worlds largest rogue state that I was refering to the USA and not Iraq

[f4iz]

Faiz, perhaps you have misunderstood me! The worlds largest rogue state that I was refering to the USA and not Iraq

Sorry, I was making a light comment on the subject.
I think a few reasons most muslims country don't protest the war  could be that the leaders of these country depend on US economically and militarily or they have enough problems of their own.

Regards,
Faiz

[Ranggalana]

Maybe I should have said the largest public anti war rally? The London Demo was indeed he biggest, larger than any in the Muslim world I may add! People cannot always be held responsible for the actions of their governments, but such demonstrations should be seen as a display of public opinion.

Unfortunately, the perceived democratic process that involves putting an X a piece of paper next to a names of politicians with varying levels of corruption every five years, is no match for the oil or weapons industry.

I would suggest looking into how many of the Bush administration are on, or have been on Lockheed Martin's payroll!

Faiz, perhaps you have misunderstood me! The worlds largest rogue state that I was refering to the USA and not Iraq

The London Rally was huge and I was there, part of it. The feeling was that Blair would ignore us anyway, but we filled Central London... protesters were everywhere from Hyde Park, St James' Park, down Buckingham Pallace, Whitehall, Tafalgar Square, down the Strand right up to St Pauls Cathedral.... Must have been several hundred thousand people there, black, white, yellow, brown ... all races. Muslims, Christians, football fans, all religions... And the government went along its decided course anyway.

What does it mean? Representative Democracy has been made inefective and unnecessary. With the internet, we could have democracy with very little government very soon. But we need those thinkers to formulate what we want, and need. The old ways of democracy are obsolete and don't work anymore. I want more power, as a citizen of the world, influenced by all decissions of US Presidents, I demand my right to vote for him / her. If someone has power over me, I have a right to vote that power in or out - that is democracy.

In the future, when all the world joins in the elections of US Presidents, the most important consituencies would be China, India, and Indonesia... Before the rest of us can vote for the US president, his position as most powerful man on the planet is immoral.

Warm salaams to all,
Bram

[SilatJunkie]

Selamat Bram;

In order for that to be reasonable, then all must be able to vote for any leader anywhere, and that would probably require the willingness on the whole world to be open to change and that's not ever going to happen. IMO.

Hormat saya,
Sean

[Ranggalana]

* useles quote removed by moderator *

You shouldn't need to vote for positions that don't affect you, should you? Like you wouldn't need a vote in the election of my village head here would you? I don't care who becomes the mayor of London, but I am very much affected by who becomes the British PM!

I wish that I could vote in the US in the next elections. I would vote Obama:

As President, I will end the war in Iraq.  We will have our troops home in sixteen months.  I will close Guantanamo. I will restore habeas corpus.  I will finish the fight against Al Qaeda. And I will lead the world to combat the common threats of the 21st century – nuclear weapons and terrorism; climate change and poverty; genocide and disease.  And I will send once more a message to those yearning faces beyond our shores that says, “You matter to us.  Your future is our future.  And our moment is now.” (for more follow this link : http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post_group/ObamaHQ/C5Q2 )

Obama for President! What do the sahabats think?

Warm salams,
Bram.

[Gajah]

I wish that I could vote in the US in the next elections. I would vote Obama:

Mind you, I think many of the predominatly black inhabitants of Florida wish they could have voted in the last US election.........

I find it outrageous that the Bush administration has the audacity to take the moral stance regarding democracy, when the Bush administration exists due to election rigging

[SilatJunkie]

Selamat Bram

No, of course not. I was really referring to national leaders not local govt.

As for Obama, I wish every politician delivered half of everything they promised.

hormat saya,
Sean