News, Articles & Reviews

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The U.S. Department of State has lifted its Travel Warning for Indonesia after determining the security climate in the country no longer warrants such a warning, according to information on the website of the US embassy in Jakarta.

U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron R. Hume on Monday announced that, effective May 23, the Department has canceled the Travel Warning, which has been in effect since November 2000, after a series of bombings struck Jakarta and later Bali.

The U.S. has lifted the warning due to objective improvements made by Indonesia in its current security situation, the Ambassador said.

Indonesia has not experienced a major terrorist attack since October 2005, and the Government of Indonesia has disrupted, arrested and prosecuted numerous terrorist elements.

The Ambassador called the decision significant and said he hoped it would lead to more people-to-people ties between the two countries. He said he expected that more American businesspersons, tourists and scholars would now visit Indonesia to help expand trade, tourism and educational exchange between the two countries.

The Ambassador emphasized that the U.S. remains committed to protecting U.S. citizens and improving security cooperation with Indonesia He said the Embassy will not modify security precautions in light of this development and urged public facilities in Indonesia to maintain their current high level of security since security threats continue to exist.

The Embassy advises that for updated information on safety and security in Indonesia American citizens and travelers should read the Department Country Specific Information for Indonesia and the current Worldwide Caution. Both documents are available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website,http://travel.state.gov.

Source