Warden Message: Possible Violent Demonstrations After Trial in South Jakarta

June 15, 2011

This warden message is to alert U.S. citizens in Indonesia that the trial of Abu Bakar Ba’asyir is tentatively scheduled to conclude on or shortly after June 16 at the South Jakarta District Court on Jl. Ampera Raya, No. 133, South Jakarta (just south of Kemang).  A heavy police presence will be in place, but the potential for large, possibly violent, demonstrations and major traffic disruptions will continue to exist. We advise all U.S. citizens to monitor the local news media for ongoing activities related to the Ba’asyir verdict.  All U.S. citizens are urged to avoid the area around the court by taking alternate routes.  See map below.

We remind U.S. citizens to exercise prudence and to continue to take active, personal responsibility for their security.  We strongly suggest that U.S. citizens monitor news reports, follow the instructions of Indonesian authorities, and avoid demonstrations.  We also remind U.S. citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence without warning.

U.S. citizens living and traveling in Indonesia are urged to register and update their contact information with the U.S. Embassy Jakarta, U.S. Consulate General Surabaya, U.S. Consulate Medan or U.S. Consular Agency Bali.  Registration facilitates the U.S. Mission’s contact with U.S. citizens in emergencies, and may be done online 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, where you can also find recent Embassy messages to public.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State’s Consular Affairs website at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings and health-information resources can be found.  Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

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

Map follows.

View Larger Map