SAFETY IN INDONESIA

Safety Indonesia: Following the bombings in Bali in October 2005, there remains a high risk of terrorism directed against foreigners throughout the country and reports indicate that terrorists are planning further attacks on Westerners and western interests and are likely to be carried out at locations frequented by tourists. Extreme caution is advised in public places, including transport terminals, shopping malls and public buildings, and especially in restaurants, hotels and places of entertainment in tourist areas. The security situation remains unsettled in Sulawesi and foreigners are advised to avoid parts of Maluku, particularly Ambon, and Central Sulawesi. Visitors are also advised to be cautious if travelling to Aceh. Religious violence between Christians and Muslims and unstable politics has also made many parts of Indonesia unsafe for travelers; there is continued risk of harassment of Westerners by fundamentalists.

Indonesia has a high crime rate and theft and petty crime is common in tourist areas and on public transport. Credit card fraud is on the increase. It is strongly recommended that visitors contact their foreign office for the latest travel advice before travelling to Indonesia. Flooding and landslides occur frequently during the rainy season between December and March. In May 2006 a severe earthquake near Yogyakarta in Central Java caused massive damage and disruption to infrastructure, and killed over 5,000 people.

A major earthquake in the Indian Ocean in July 2006 triggered a tsunami that hit the south coast of Java in Indonesia, killing over 500 people, and displacing about 500,000 more. All houses and hotels along Pangandaran beach were destroyed. Another earthquake in March 2007 hit Sumatra killing at least 50 people, and an earthquake and its aftershocks in September 2007 caused damage and destruction to Sumatra.