Indonesia Tightens Security After US and Australia Warning
Jakarta. Indonesian authorities are on heightened alert following security warnings from the United States and a travel advice message from Australia — despite maintaining there is no imminent threat to safety.
Tedjo Edhy Pudjianto, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister of Politics, Legal and Security Affairs, said he had instructed all security forces to increase alertness in anticipation of a possible terrorist threat. However, he said Indonesia was not aware of a specific threat.
“There have been no reports from the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) or the National Police, but that doesn’t mean we ignore it, we need to be more alert,” Tedjo said on Wednesday.
The Australian travel warning was issued just days after the United States embassy in Jakarta issued a security warning for US-affiliated hotels, banks and businesses in Surabaya, East Java.
“I have ordered BIN, the National Police and the military to be more careful,” Tedjo said.
It was unclear on Wednesday whether Australia and the US were aware of a specific threat, or why it had taken Australia four days to issue its own message following the publication of a US warden message on Saturday.
Tedjo acknowledged that the US and Australian governments had issued security warnings for Indonesia, but that the country was facing an imminent terror threat.
“We also warn our citizens in other places to stay alert and that is fine, it is our obligation to warn them,” he said.
Australian media quoted Foreign Minister Julie Bishop as saying on Tuesday that her country was monitoring the security situation in Indonesia “very closely.”
Australia has not, however, upgraded its alert level for Indonesia.
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