Hilton hotels in Indonesia hunker down after threat
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-12-16 14:16

Hilton hotels in Indonesia ratcheted up security on Thursday but said they were seeing few cancellations amid warnings from Western governments that one of their chain could be attacked by militants.

Ian Mckie, general manager of the Bali Hilton International hotel on the famous resort island, said the U.S. embassy told him on Wednesday there could be a possible attack on that day or Thursday on a Hilton hotel in Indonesia.

"They were specific in terms of dates. They said 15th or 16th of December," Mckie said by telephone.

An armed Indonesian policeman stands guard as a car enters the grounds of Jakarta's Hilton Hotel, December 16, 2004. Hilton Hotels in Indonesia ratcheted up security on Thursday but said they were seeing few cancellations amid warnings from Western governments that one of their hotels could be targeted in a possible terrorist attack. [Reuters]

The U.S. embassy issued a notice to Americans on Thursday saying the threat of attack could increase over the Christmas and New Year period in the world's most populous Muslim nation, but did not mention specific targets.

Australia's government on Wednesday said it had received credible information an attack could take place soon, possibly against Western establishments such as a Hilton hotel.

New Zealand issued a warning the same day also referring to the Hilton chain.

A view of Jakarta's Hilton hotel is seen December 16, 2004. [Reuters]

Islamic militants linked to al Qaeda have launched several bomb attacks in recent years in Indonesia, hitting nightclubs in Bali, the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta and also the Australian embassy in the capital.

There are Hilton hotels in Jakarta, Bali and the East Java city of Surabaya.

Emeraldo Parengkuan, public relations director at the Hilton in Jakarta, said the hotel had decided not to inform all guests about the warnings.

POLICE ON EVERY CORNER

"No, I don't think it is necessary to do so, it will just cause panic ... They can see that everything is under control. You can see the mood here is normal, just the usual, but you can see policemen and security guards in every corner," he said.

Mckie said some embassies, such as Australia, had requested their citizens at the Bali Hilton be told individually about the threat, which had been done. A few other guests had approached him but the mood was still relaxed, he said.

Bali police had provided extra security, he added.

"So far we haven't had anyone check out and no bookings cancelled at this stage. If there is going to be an impact there is usually a little bit of a delay factor," Mckie said.

"I do believe that the frequency with which travel advisories get issued these days does tend to diminish the impact a little bit."

But Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd is offering full refunds with no penalties to travellers who cancel flights to Indonesia following the latest warning of possible bomb attacks there.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is due to attend an event at the Jakarta Hilton on Thursday, the hotel has said. It was unclear if he would still go.

While the Australian warning appeared to take Indonesian police by surprise, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Australian officials held extensive talks with their Indonesian counterparts throughout Wednesday about the threat.

Australia, a strong U.S. ally and one of the first to join the war in Iraq, has never suffered a major terror attack on home soil, but 88 Australians were among 202 people killed in the nightclub bombings on Bali in 2002.

A car bomb outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta on Sept. 9 this year killed 10 people.

Indonesian police have blamed the Jemaah Islamiah network, believed to be the regional arm of al Qaeda, for the bombings.

Canberra had already urged Australians to be on the alert, warning of a greater risk of attacks in Indonesia over Christmas and New Year.

Indonesia said on Tuesday it would boost security at hotels and churches over the holiday period.

Close

Today's Top News     Top World News
Folks, are you happy with your lot?         New court rules to better guard IPR         754 officials punished for fund misuse         China to build high speed railways next year         FCC aims to boost airborne wireless, Internet         Pakistan, China sign 7 deals on projects	Clarke takes over as UK's Home Secretary       Allawi announces list of election candidates       FCC aims to boost airborne wireless, Internet       Former US president Carter questions Iraqi elections       Bomb at Shiite shrine kills 7 in Karbala       Bus hijackers surrender, 18-hour siege over