Fwd: Message from US Embassy

[hag2@xxxxxxxxxxx]

>>From the Library of Congress Office in Jakarta
>
>>X-PH: V4.1@xxxxxxxxxxx (Cornell Modified) 
>>From: William Tuchrello <wtuc@xxxxxxx>
>>To: "'cap-sea'" <cap-sea@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>Subject: Message from US Embassy
>>Date: Fri, 15 Oct 1999 14:08:00 +0700
>>X-Mailer: MailBeamer v3.17 (WinNT 4.x Service)
>>Sender: cap-sea-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>
>>Dear Colleagues,
>>
>>Current up-date.
>>
>>Will
>>William P. Tuchrello
>>Field Director, Southeast Asia
>>Library of Congress
>>American Embassy, Jakarta
>>Tel.  62-21-310-2127
>>Fax. 62-21-314-4945
>>Email: wtuc@xxxxxxx
>>
>>
>>
>>Wardens:  Please pass this message to American citizens in your   
>>organizations, companies and institutions.  This language revises the   
>>Travel Warning released on October 4, 1999 to clarify the situation in   
>>several parts of Indonesia and discuss further the ongoing MPR session.   
>> Note that the demonstrations in Jakarta on the late afternoon and   
>>evening of October 14 occured after this Travel Warning was drafted.
>>TRAVEL WARNING - INDONESIA
>>October 14, 1999
>>
>>U.S. citizens are urged to postpone non-essential travel to Indonesia.   
>> Of particular concern is the political period leading up to the   
>>selection of a new president later this month.  Those who do travel to   
>>Indonesia during this period should exercise caution as there is an   
>>increased likelihood of demonstrations in the major cities.
>>This Travel Warning discusses some of the more prominent areas of concern   
>>in Indonesia, but all American citizens who must travel to Indonesia at   
>>this time should be aware of their surroundings and use common sense to   
>>avoid situations and locations that could be inherently dangerous.
>>Demonstrations have occurred in the capital city of Jakarta and on all   
>>the major islands.  In some areas violence has been directed at American   
>>businesses.  Popular demonstrations against the current leadership are   
>>growing in frequency.  Demonstrations can be spontaneous and have the   
>>potential to turn violent.  Although most demonstrations have been   
>>peaceful, some protesters have been injured or killed in recent   
>>confrontations with police in Jakarta.
>>The newly elected national legislature, which convened October 1, will   
>>select a new president, consider ratification of the East Timor vote for   
>>independence and debate a number of other contentious issues that could   
>>be the catalyst for demonstrations.  Although the situation has remained   
>>generally calm in Jakarta since October 1, protests are possible which   
>>could lead to unpredictable conditions.  In addition, the Indonesian   
>>government will be in caretaker status for a portion of this time and it   
>>will be difficult or impossible to arrange meetings with many government   
>>officials.
>>The ongoing crisis in East Timor, and the introduction of a   
>>U.N.-authorized multinational force, have led to outbreaks of   
>>anti-foreign sentiment.  In Jakarta, Surabaya, and other large cities   
>>there have been frequent demonstrations at Western embassies and   
>>elsewhere focusing on East Timor.  American citizens in Jakarta and   
>>throughout Indonesia are urged to exercise caution and to avoid   
>>demonstrations.
>>American citizens are strongly urged to avoid travel to East Timor and,   
>>if there, to depart immediately. Violence erupted throughout East Timor   
>>after the August 30, 1999 United Nations-sponsored ballot in East Timor.   
>> While a multi-national force (INTERFET) has begun deployment and   
>>security has improved in Dili, the capital of East Timor, hostile   
>>militias remain active and have expressed a willingness to attack   
>>foreigners.
>>The province of Nusatenggara Timur, particularly the western half of the   
>>island of Timor, has been the scene of several physical assaults on   
>>foreigners by disgruntled pro-integration Timorese militia forces.   
>> American citizens are encouraged to defer nonemergency travel to the   
>>island of Timor, and to consider carefully whether to travel elsewhere in   
>>the province Nusatenggara Timur.
>>In the province of East Kalimantan, anti-foreign sentiment has reached a   
>>level that has led several international firms to withdraw nonessential   
>>staff.  American citizens traveling to East Kalimantan are urged to   
>>exercise particular caution.
>>Political changes have given new impetus to separatist movements in Aceh   
>>and Irian Jaya.  Violent incidents continue to occur in these regions,   
>>sometimes targeting American companies.  American citizens are strongly   
>>urged to defer all travel to Aceh.  In Irian Jaya, violence has been less   
>>frequent, but American citizens are nonetheless encouraged to evaluate   
>>the security situation carefully if travel to that province is necessary.   
>>   
>>
>>In the province of East Maluku, particularly the island of Ambon, serious   
>>communal violence broke out in January 1999 and continues.  American   
>>citizens are urged to avoid all travel to Ambon and surrounding islands   
>>and to depart immediately if they are already there.
>>In the past, demonstrations in Bali have been infrequent and generally   
>>have not affected tourist destinations.  However, it is possible that   
>>demonstrations and unrest could occur during the period the legislature   
>>is meeting in Jakarta or in response to events elsewhere in the country.
>>Americans should remember that much of the country, including many   
>>tourist destinations, can be isolated and difficult to reach by available   
>>transportation or communication links. Travelers and residents should   
>>ensure that passports and important personal papers are in order in the   
>>event that it becomes necessary to leave the country quickly.  Because   
>>the situation is uncertain and new outbreaks of violence are possible,   
>>American citizens are advised to consult the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta and   
>>the U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya for the most recent security   
>>information and generally to exercise caution.
>>The Department of State encourages American citizens considering travel   
>>to Indonesia to review carefully the information available in the State   
>>Department's Consular Information Sheet, available on the Internet at   
>>http://www.usembassyjakarta.org or on the Bureau of Consular Affairs'   
>>home page at http://travel.state.gov.  All Americans resident or   
>>traveling in Indonesia are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy   
>>in Jakarta (tel:
>>62-21-344-2211), the U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya (tel:
>>62-31-568-2287), or the U.S. Consular Agency in Bali (tel:   
>>62-361-233-605) and to obtain updated information on the security   
>>situation.  Registration may be completed in person, by fax or through   
>>the Embassy homepage.  There is no official U.S. presence in Timor.
>>This Travel Warning supersedes the October 4, 1999 Travel Warning for   
>>Indonesia.  It advises U.S. citizens to postpone travel to Indonesia,   
>>warns of demonstrations and unpredictable conditions in Jakarta, and   
>>notes that violence in some parts of Indonesia has targeted American   
>>companies.
>>
>
>
>
>Allen Riedy
>Curator
>John M. Echols Collection on Southeast Asia
>179 Kroch Library
>Cornell University
>Ithaca, NY 14853
>Tel: (607) 255-8889
>Fax: (607) 255-8438