U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs

Travel Warning -   Indonesia

January 09, 2007

United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520

This Travel Warning updates information concerning the security situation in Indonesia and reminds Americans of the risks associated with travel to that country.  This Travel Warning supersedes the November 18, 2005, Travel Warning for Indonesia.

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 three 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.

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.

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 early 2007, employee travel to the provinces of Aceh, Papua, Central and South 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.

Americans who choose to travel to Indonesia despite this Travel Warning should obtain up-to-date health information before departing the United States.  The websites of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control at http://www.cdc.gov/travel and the World Health Organization at http://www.who.int have current information on outbreaks of contagious and tropical diseases.  Americans considering travel to Indonesia should read the Department of State’s Fact Sheet on Avian Influenza dated July 2006, and should consult with their personal physicians concerning avian flu.

Americans living and traveling in Indonesia are urged to register and update their contact information with U.S. Embassy Jakarta, U.S. Consulate General Surabaya, or the U.S. Consular Agent in Bali.  Registration facilitates the U.S. Mission's contact with Americans in emergency situations and may be done on line and in advance of travel.  Information on registering can be found at the Department of State’s Consular Affairs website: https://travelregistration.state.gov.  Registration information and recent warden messages are also available on the U.S. Embassy Jakarta website at http://jakarta.usembassy.gov.

Americans can obtain information on travel and security in Indonesia from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States; or 1-202-501-4444 from outside the United States and Canada.  Americans also can call the Embassy in Jakarta at (62)(21) 3435-9000, the Consulate General in Surabaya at (62)(31) 295-6400, and the Consular Agent in Bali at (62)(361) 233-605.  American citizens should read the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet for Indonesia, the latest Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, and Fact Sheet on Avian Influenza, all available at http://travel.state.gov.