Travel Advisories

All nonessential travel to Indonesia should be deferred and all travel to Aceh, Maluku, Papua, West Timor, Central Kalimantan (Borneo) and Central Sulawesi should be canceled. Those who must travel to Indonesia, or who are resident there, should exercise extreme caution. Indonesia is experiencing a major political transition, and unrest and violence can erupt with little forewarning anywhere in the country. Bombings of religious, political and business targets have occurred throughout the country. In addition, events in the Middle East have sparked anti-American protests in the past.

Further, all travel by U.S. and other foreign government officials to Aceh, Papua and the Moluccas (provinces of North Maluku and Maluku) has been restricted by the Indonesian government because of security concerns.

Current Situation

Indonesia consists of more than 13,500 islands spread over 3,200 miles. Its population of more than 190 million is the world's fourth largest. Approximately 85% of the population is Muslim, making Indonesia the largest Muslim nation in the world. The country has over 300 ethnic groups, speaking 538 languages and dialects.

Indonesia's size and ethnic and cultural diversity make it a country of many contrasting parts. Abdurraham Wahid was elected president on 20 October 1999, replacing B J Habibie. Former opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri was elected vice-president. Political games and the growing differences between class, religious and regional groups will ensure a high level of instability. While the situation in East Timor appears to calmer since the deployment of UN forces, calls for independence in the Aceh region have been echoed by demand for greater autonomy in other regions.

SOS members are advised to exercise caution when traveling to Jakarta. Members traveling to other areas of the country are warned that the current tensions between Muslim and Christian groups are high, and minor incidents can erupt into full-scale riots.

Insurgency

Separatist Movements:

Indonesia faces separatist movements in Irian, the former Portuguese colony of East Timor, located 300 miles north of Australia, invaded by Indonesia in 1975 and annexed the next year. There are also problems in Aceh, located in the far northern tip of Sumatra.

In the Province of Irian Jaya, certain regions require special permits to visit. Permits can be obtained from police authorities in Indonesia. Irian Jaya is described as Indonesia's largest and most remote province. The province's West Papuan population is ethnically and racially distinct from Indonesia. The Organisasi Papua Merdeka (Free Papua Organization) (OPM) guerrillas have been carrying on an unsuccessful fight against Indonesian rule for over a quarter century. In past incidents, Indonesian troops have crossed into PNG territory to attack OPM camps. There have also been threats of hostage taking and sabotage in the Eastern Indonesia province of Irian Jaya. While Indonesia is predominantly Muslim, the East Timorese are mainly Roman Catholic, adding a religious component to the independence question. Indonesia still faces armed resistance to its rule in East Timor.

The Aceh Merdeka (Free Aceh) movement has been seeking an independent and Islamic state in Aceh since the 1970s. A separatist, mainly Islamic rebellion in Aceh peaked in 1990 but subsequently subsided. However, skirmishes between the military and the rebels still occur. Human rights organizations, along with the new government have made attempts to prosecute military personnel for "atrocities" committed between 1996 and 1999. The investigation remains ongoing and it is unsure if soldiers will ever be prosecuted.

Crime

While the government shows considerable interest in ensuring visitor safety, particularly in the prime commercial and tourist centers, the recent economic downturn has resulted in a significant increase in the threat of crime. Sole responsibility for traditional law enforcement throughout the country belongs to the Indonesian National Police (INP), which was formerly a component of the armed forces of Indonesia. They display a credible degree of interest in deterring and investigating crime, but are handicapped by limited resources, such as a lack of training, laboratory and test equipment, patrol vehicles and slow response times. It is generally necessary for the crime victim to report the incident to the nearest police station as opposed to having the officer come to the crime scene. Victim support services, medical support, and emergency response capability leave much to be desired.

Street crimes, especially robberies, in Jakarta have been on the rise. Several incidents of travelers being robbed and beaten after taking local taxis have been reported. SOS advises visitors to only use taxis ordered from hotels or other reputable areas. A reliable provider of transportation services is Blue Bird.

Police report that most of the robberies occur at traffic lights or intersections. The de facto penalty for robbery or attempting to commit a robbery has also increased. Jakarta authorities have taken a harsher stance on arresting suspects, and are quicker to shoot if resistance is offered. In addition, the police are increasing the manpower on the streets, especially in high crime areas. While some members of the government have protested against these increasingly violent measures, the chief of police and other officials support the measure, justifying the procedures by noting that criminals have become more brazen in their robbery attempts.

The majority of Indonesians remain relatively poor by western standards, with unemployment and underemployment remaining significant domestic issues. Most foreign visitors, expatriates, and members of the diplomatic community are seen as wealthy, and therefore, potentially lucrative targets for criminal activity. All SOS members are advised to exercise caution when traveling in Jakarta.

Basic advice for visitors:

Be alert at all times, aware of your surroundings, and exercise reasonable caution as you go about your normal business. Employ the same "big city awareness" as you would back home.

Do not attract attention to yourself by dressing provocatively or flashing expensive jewelry or an excessive amount of currency.

Women should consider maintaining a good hold on their pocketbooks by placing them under their arms. Belt packs are better alternatives and men should consider placing their wallets in their front trouser pockets.

Travel in groups and in well-lit and well traveled areas.

Stop periodically in your travels and observe your surroundings.

While most major hotels in the area have excellent security enhancements, the home or apartment renter should consider the installation of a residential alarm system. These are inexpensive and well worth the investment.

Apartment renters should ensure their landlords provide 24-hour guard service. Those persons living in detached homes or villas should contract their own guard service for the evening and night hours. The cost for this added protection is relatively inexpensive.

References and employment records for maids and other household staff should be checked out thoroughly. A large portion of residential crime can often be traced back to household staff.

Train staff not to admit unauthorized persons to the residence.

Do not provide household staff with the specific details of your travel plans, in particular, how long you will be away from the residence on any given day.

The visitor should be cautioned that Jakarta is experiencing an increase in pickpocket and purse snatching activity, in particular, at the new fashionable malls frequently visited by the foreign traveler. Crowded elevators are also a place of particular concern. This criminal activity is a daily occurrence and all visitors should take heed.

Another trend is toward daytime residential thefts when the tenant is at work and the servants are home alone. Servants are often careless in the day leaving gates and doors open and napping in the servants quarters with the house unattended. Several expatriates have recently returned to homes emptied of valuables.

Travel

Air

Indonesia has a good internal air system linking most of the larger towns to Jakarta.

Jakarta International Airport (CGK) (Soekarno-Hatta) is 20km (12 miles) northwest of the city (travel time – 45 minutes). Airport facilities include banks/bureaux de change, a post office (open 0800-1400 in public area of zone B; 0800-1900 in zone D), duty-free shops, gift shops, restaurants (open 1 hour before and after flights), snack bars (available until 2100), car rental and 24- hour medical/vaccination facilities. A bus goes to the city every 30 minutes. Buses leave Jakarta from Gambir railway station and from Rawamangun and Blok M bus stations. Taxis are also available to the city center at a cost of approximately Rp1500 plus Rp550 per km. A regular bus shuttle goes to Jakarta’s second airport, Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport (HLP), 13km (8 miles) southeast of the city (travel time – 45 minutes).

Denpasar Airport (DPS) (Ngurah Rai), 13km (8 miles) south of the city, is the main airport on Bali (travel time – 30 minutes). There are duty-free facilities at the airport. A bus goes to the city center. Taxis are available to the city and to Kuta, Logian, Sanur and Nusadua. Departure tax varies according to departure point: Rp25,000 from Jakarta (infants are exempt) and Rp25,000 from Denpasar.

SeaRiver

Ferry services are available to Sumatra, Sulawesi and Kalimantan. Ferries between Ketapangan, Java, Gilimanuta and Bali depart regularly. Passenger lines include: CTC, Cunard, Dominion Far East, Lindblad, Norwegian American, Pacific International, P&O, Royal Viking, Sitmar and Windjammer Cruises. Cargo/passenger lines include American President Lines, Austasia, Ben Shipping, Golden Line, Lykes, Polish Ocean and Royal Interocean.

Rail

There is a daily sea and rail service between Belawan and Penang (West Malaysia) operated by National Railroad of Indonesia.

Road

Road traffic drives on the left and there are over 219,000km (136,875 miles) of roads in the country, of which about 13,000km (8125 miles) are main or national roads and 200km (125 miles) are motorways. There are good road communications within Java and to a lesser extent on Bali and Sumatra. Other islands have a poor road system, although conditions are improving as tourism becomes more important. There are regular services between most towns. Bus trips can be made from Jakarta to Bali (two days). Indonesia is the land of jam karet (literally `rubber time') and complicated journeys involving more than a single change should not be attempted in a day. Bus fares cost about the same as third-class rail. Vehicles can be extremely crowded. The crew includes three conductors who also act as touts. There are `Bis Malam' night-buses on a number of routes, running in competition with the railways. Pre-booking is essential.

Taxi services are available in all cities. All taxis are metered. Outside Jakarta, the bajaj, a bicycle rickshaw, can be hired by the journey or by the hour. SOS recommends against the use of public transportation, and recommends the use of taxis from reputable hotels.

Hotels

International hotels are found only in major towns and tourist areas. Several of these have business centers with a variety of services. High hotel taxes are charged (10% service, plus 10% government tax). Resort hotels on Bali vary from international class, luxury hotels to beach cottages along the shore. Most hotels have pools and can supply most leisure equipment.

Communications

Telephone IDD is available to main cities. The country code is 62, followed by 22 for Bandung, 21 for Jakarta, 61 for Medan, and 31 for Surabaya. The outgoing international code is 00. Public telex facilities are operated from the Directorate General for Post and Communications in Jakarta (24 hours), and also from some major hotels and at the chief telegraphic offices in Semarang, Yogjakarta, Surabaya and Denpasar. Telegrams can be sent from any telegraphic office; in Jakarta facilities are available 24 hours a day, but services outside Jakarta are less efficient. Airmail to Western Europe takes up to ten days. Internal mail is fast and generally reliable by the express service (Pos KILAT), but mail to the outer islands can be subject to considerable delays. Electricity is generally 110 volts AC, 50Hz, but 220 volts AC, 50Hz, in some areas, including Jakarta. 220-volt supplies are gradually superseding 110-volt supplies.

News

There are several English-language newspapers in Jakarta and on the other islands, notably The Indonesian Times, Indonesian Observer, The Bali Post and The Jakarta Post. BBC frequencies are MHz 15.36; 11.95; 9.740; 6.195 and Voice of America frequencies are MHz 15.42; 11.72; 9.770; 6.110. These are subject to change.

Holidays March 17 Nyepi Day Indonesia March 28 Good Friday Indonesia April 18 Hari Raya Haji Indonesia May 9 Ascension Day Indonesia May 28 Waisak Day Indonesia August 17 Independence Day Indonesia December 25 Christmas Indonesia January 1 New Year Indonesia