U.S. EMBASSY  WARDEN MESSAGE

August 2, 2006

U.S. Embassy Jakarta
U.S. Consulate General Surabaya

Warden Message

The U.S. Embassy informs American citizens that several groups in Indonesia have held or are planning to hold demonstrations protesting the current situation in the Middle East. Many demonstrators express strong anti-Israeli and anti-American sentiments. While most legitimate groups intend their demonstrations to be peaceful, any demonstration can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. Demonstrators in Jakarta on August 1, 2006 carried realistic-looking toy guns and bombs that were confiscated by the police.

In Jakarta, the U.S. Embassy, Indonesian government buildings, and the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle are popular sites for demonstrations. Demonstrations may also be held at U.S. Government facilities in other large cities in Indonesia. University campuses and large public parks are also possible sites of demonstrations. Many groups publicize demonstrations in advance. The Embassy urges Americans to avoid the areas announced as demonstration sites, and to exercise caution if caught close to a demonstration. The Embassy urges Americans to avoid crowds, maintain a low profile, and be vigilant about security at all times.

The U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya intend to maintain normal consular services during demonstrations, but may have to close on short notice if security conditions prevent public access to the Embassy or Consulate grounds. American citizens seeking consular services may call the Consular Section at the numbers below before coming to the Embassy or Consulate to inquire about possible demonstrations. If it is necessary to curtail or suspend visa interviews because of demonstrations, applicants should reschedule their interview appointments following normal scheduling procedures.

Americans living and traveling in Indonesia are urged to register and update their contact information with the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya, or U.S. Consular Agency 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 U.S. Department of State’s Consular Affairs website at <http://travelregistration.state.gov> and at the Embassy’s website at <http://jakarta.usembassy.gov>. All Travel Warnings, Public Announcements and recent warden messages are posted on the Embassy website.

The Embassy is located at Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan No. 4-5, Jakarta; the 24-hour telephone number is 62-21-3435-9000. The telephone number of the U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya is 62-31-295-6400; the number for the U.S. Consulate in Medan is 62-61-415-2200; the number for the U.S. Consular Agency in Bali is 62-21-361-233-605.