[Nasional-e] Papua, on updated list of Australia's no-go zones

[Ambon]

The Jakarta Post
Oct. 24, 2002

Papua, on updated list of Australia's no-go zones

SYDNEY, Australia (JP): Australian authorities here on Wednesday added
Indonesia's province of Papua to its growing list of places Australians
should avoid because of possible terrorist attacks.
The foreign ministry said new information had emerged indicating Australians
faced threats in Papua, a big mining area where there is local discontent
with Jakarta and its military who control most of the region. "Australians
should avoid travel to Papua," the ministry said in its latest travel advice
as quoted by AFP.
"Australians there should exercise caution and monitor local developments
that might affect their safety, especially in view of the heightened
security situation following the recent incidents in the Freeport mine
area," it said referring to an attack on American civilians on Aug. 31, by
gunmen using military-issue assault rifles, in which three people were
killed.
The government has issued numerous security updates for Australians across
southeast Asia since a car bombing by suspected Islamic militants killed
more than 190 people -- 94 of them believed to be Australian -- on Bali on
October 12.
The foreign ministry reiterated in Wednesday's update that Australians who
are not on essential business should leave Indonesia, including Bali.


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