U.S. lifts travel warning on Indonesia

Posted on June 8th, 2008 in tourism news travel warning

The United States lifted a travel warning it had placed on Indonesia following several terrorist attacks, and said security has improved in the world’s most populous Muslim nation.

The last known suicide bombing was more than 2 1/2 years ago on Indonesia’s Bali island. “The government … has disrupted, arrested and prosecuted numerous terrorist elements,” U.S. Ambassador Cameron Hume said Sunday in announcing the decision to lift the warning, which was put in place after several bombs went off in the capital, Jakarta, in 2000.

“This is a good and very positive sign,” said Dino Pati Djalal, a spokesman for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. “It will help remove psychological barriers that have prevented Americans and others from coming here.”

He said security forces will remain vigilant, however, and noted that terrorists are well-known for their ability to adapt and regroup in the wake of crackdowns.

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s top anti-terror official, Maj. Gen. Ansyaad Mbai, said the U.S. decision would not slow efforts to battle extremists. If anything, he said, “it will push us to be more effective in handling security matters.”

This article based on Indonesia.go.id