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Travel notice not given { September 26 2002 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.dfat.gov.au/qwon/2002/qwn_021017h.htmlActually, I was surprised that it had been so long since they had issued an update. In relation to their embassy notices, on 26 September 2002 the American Embassy in Jakarta issued an embassy notice that stated:
Americans and Westerners should avoid large gatherings, and locations known to cater primarily to a Western clientele such as certain bars, restaurants and tourist areas.
I have noticed that some in the media have reported that the Americans had specifically referred to Bali.
http://www.dfat.gov.au/qwon/2002/qwn_021017h.html
Answers to questions by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Trade and their representatives in the Senate.
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Questions without Notice
17 October 2002
Indonesia: Terrorist Attacks
Mr HARTSUYKER (2.10 p.m.) —My question is addressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Is the minister aware of media reports that Australia's travel advice did not reflect warnings contained in a US embassy notice issued in Jakarta on 26 September 2002 and the US global warning of 10 October 2002?
Mr DOWNER —I thank the honourable member for Cowper for his question. The question he raises is an important one, and this whole issue is a very legitimate issue. After the events of 12 October, one of my first tasks was to review the travel advisories that had been sent out by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in cooperation with the embassy in Jakarta. I have also taken time to look at travel advisories sent out by other governments.
To understand this issue of travel advisories, first of all it is important to appreciate that there are essentially three different types of travel advice. Firstly, there is the global advice; regardless of what country somebody may be proposing to visit, there is advice for them. In Australia we call that the Travellers Bulletin, on global issues. The United States has an equivalent called the Worldwide Caution and issued by the State Department. Secondly, Australia has specific Travel Advices, and the United States has an equivalent, although they are not called travel advices but Travel Warnings. Thirdly, our embassies issue from time to time Embassy Bulletins, and the United States embassies do the same thing. Their equivalents to the embassy bulletins are called Embassy Notices.
On 20 September, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued a travel advice for Indonesia that specifically referred to the general threat of bombing by terrorists. Bearing in mind that we had no information about the bomb attack that did take place, of course there was no reference to that specific incident, tragically—and of course, if anyone had known about it in advance, then in our case we would have moved heaven and earth to ensure that Australians were nowhere near Bali and particularly that part of Bali. In any case, on 20 September a travel advice for Indonesia was issued which did refer to the general threat of bombings by terrorists. I think the Prime Minister referred to this yesterday. I will remind the House:
Bombs have been exploded periodically in Jakarta and elsewhere in the past, including areas frequented by tourists. Further explosions may be attempted. In view of the ongoing risk of terrorist activity, Australians should maintain a high level of personal security awareness at all times.
I had a look at the equivalent travel advice issued by the Americans. Prior to 12 October, their most recent travel warning specific to Indonesia was on 23 November 2001, so it was rather old. Actually, I was surprised that it had been so long since they had issued an update. In relation to their embassy notices, on 26 September 2002 the American Embassy in Jakarta issued an embassy notice that stated:
Americans and Westerners should avoid large gatherings, and locations known to cater primarily to a Western clientele such as certain bars, restaurants and tourist areas.
I have noticed that some in the media have reported that the Americans had specifically referred to Bali. I met with the American ambassador in Jakarta yesterday, and he explained to me—and this is borne out by an examination of their documents—that neither in their travel advice nor in their embassy notices was there any reference at all to Bali.
On 3 October, the Australian Embassy in Jakarta issued an embassy bulletin, which as I said is more or less the equivalent of the American Embassy notice, and it was somewhat similar to the American Embassy notice. It said:
As in the past around religious holidays, militant groups may conduct intimidatory activity against night clubs, bars and other places where expatriates are known to gather.
Bombs have been exploded periodically in Jakarta and elsewhere in the past, including areas frequented by tourists. Further explosions may be attempted.
The third to the fourth of October, I know, was a period of a religious holiday; 12 October was not, as far as I know, a religious holiday. We are coming into the period of Ramadan, but this did refer to `around religious holidays'. It makes, of course, very similar points to the American Embassy notice.
Thirdly, in relation to the worldwide advisory, the Australian travel bulletin—or, as the Americans say, the worldwide cautions—on 10 October the Americans issued a worldwide caution which was focused on a specific threat made against American interests as contained within the then most recent Osama bin Laden tape—which members will recall, I am sure, because it was substantially in the media. The bin Laden threat was reflected in the US caution of 10 October and a US FBI alert of 9 October, and these were then reflected to in a DFAT travel bulletin, which is the equivalent of the US worldwide caution, issued on 11 October Australian time. It was entitled, `Terrorist threat to United States interests in United States and overseas'. That bulletin was, as these bulletins are, posted on the DFAT web site. It said:
In light of the warnings by the United States Government, Australian travellers and residents overseas are advised to remain alert to their own security.
The US caution was global and, of course, it covered every country in the world. It did not single out Indonesia or any part of Indonesia or any other country, let alone any specific province or city.
With regard to the threat to Australia's interests in Indonesia, DFAT had already issued a travel advice on 20 September which specifically referred to maintaining personal vigilance. As I have pointed out, an embassy bulletin of 3 October warned about intimidatory activity against nightclubs and the like. As the House will recall, yesterday the Prime Minister said that, with regard to the intelligence, there was a generic threat to a number of cities in provinces in Indonesia. This included Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Kalimantan, Lombok, Bali and Sumatra. I think the opposition saw this intelligence material last night—at least, I think the Leader of the Opposition did. He, of course, is not here today, but I think the Leader of the Opposition saw this intelligence material last night. The point here is that this threat was not only non-specific and broad based across Indonesia but also, importantly, contingent upon the arrest of certain individuals. Of course, those arrests did not occur and has not occurred.
That, to the best of our knowledge at the moment, is the full extent of the Australian intelligence that might refer to threats in Bali. But, as the Prime Minister said yesterday—and, I think, very sensibly—all the intelligence material is being referred to the Inspector-General of Intelligence and he will obviously examine the material to see whether the intelligence community and my department have responded appropriately.
But, as the US government stated on 15 October, the United States itself had no specific information about the planned bombing in Bali and that, of course, if it had had such information, it would have issued a public warning regarding the potential danger. It did not issue such a warning; indeed, one United States Embassy staff member who I met a day or so ago had been holidaying in Bali on the weekend of 12-13 October at the time the bombing took place.
As the Prime Minister has stated in the House, like the US government, the Australian government, of course, had no specific information. Having reviewed the warnings contained in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's travel advice of 20 September, the embassy's Jakarta bulletin of 3 October and the DFAT travel bulletin—the global travel bulletin—on 11 October and having looked at the intelligence material, I think they were appropriate on the basis of the information that was available at the time. I choose my words carefully, because the great tragedy here is that no intelligence agency, to the best of our knowledge—including, by the way, the Indonesian intelligence agencies—had any foreknowledge of this bomb attack taking place. Obviously, if we had had that foreknowledge, we would have been able to take appropriate action.
Mr Speaker, I apologise for taking a bit of time on this issue, but I am sure honourable members are interested in it; it is a reasonable and important question. Let me just say in conclusion that today I have announced that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's travel advisory will be upgraded for Indonesia yet again. The decision to amend today our travel advice is based on disturbing new information of generic threats to Australians and Australian interests in Indonesia. We have been recommending since the Bali atrocity that Australians defer all non-essential travel to Indonesia. We are now recommending that all Australians in Indonesia who are concerned about their security should consider departure. In particular, short-term visitors whose presence in Indonesia is non-essential should depart. We urge Australians to exercise extreme caution, particularly in commercial and public areas known to be frequented by foreigners, such as clubs, restaurants, bars, schools, places of worship, importantly, outdoor recreation events and tourist areas. The government also strongly advises Australians in Indonesia to monitor carefully developments that might affect their safety. We are also revising our travel advice notices for a range of countries in South-East Asia to highlight the need for vigilance, given the ongoing risk of terrorist activity.
Although I was not here yesterday, I understand that the member for Griffith asked the Minister for Trade if a number of travel advisories could be tabled from a number of different countries. Let me apologise to the House that it has not been possible yet to get the back copies of the British and, I think, Canadian travel advisories. We have to get those from the post because they have been replaced by new travel advisories and the web site does not have the old travel advisories on it that the department can find. What we have been able to get is the United States travel advisories, which I know will be of particular interest. I am certainly happy to table those American travel advisories. I think they will be of substantial interest to the House.
Mr Rudd —On indulgence, I thank the minister for what he has just said in relation to the travel advisories from the past. The question to the Minister for Trade yesterday was for past Australian travel advisories for the previous 12 months as well.
The SPEAKER —The minister has taken that on notice.
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