U.S. EMBASSY  WARDEN MESSAGE

U.S. Embassy Jakarta
U.S. Consulate General Surabaya
U.S. Consulate Medan
Warden Message – Demonstrations Possible When Bali Bombers Executed
October 31, 2008

The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, informs American citizens that the three terrorists convicted of killing 202 people in an October 2002 nightclub bombing in Bali may be executed in the near future by Indonesian authorities at the high security prison on Nusa Kambangan Island, Cilacap, Java.

Recently, the terrorists publicly expressed hope that their deaths would trigger revenge attacks in Indonesia.  Although the Embassy has no specific information about potential terrorist attacks, demonstrations by groups opposing the executions may take place with little or no public notice.  The Embassy would like to remind American citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and violent and may spread in unpredictable ways.  Western interests can become targets of random attacks by groups of demonstrators such as these, and targets can include individuals identified as Western or places where Westerners shop, work, live, study, recreate and worship.  American citizens are urged to exercise caution, maintain a low profile, to stay current with media coverage of local events, and to be aware of their surroundings during this period.

 The U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya intend to remain open for normal consular services during this period, but may have to close on short notice if security conditions prevent public access to the Embassy or Consulate grounds.   Any closure will be communicated to American citizens through Warden Messages (including SMS messaging) and posted on the Embassy’s website.

Americans living and traveling in Indonesia are urged to register and update their contact information with the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya, U.S. Consulate Medan or U.S. Consular Agency in Bali.  Registration facilitates the U.S. Mission’s contact with Americans in emergency situations, and may be done on line and in advance of travel.  Information on registering can be found at the U.S. Department of State’s Consular Affairs website at http://travelregistration.state.gov   and at the Embassy’s website at http://jakarta.usembassy.gov .  All Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, Worldwide Cautions, and recent warden messages are posted on the Embassy website.

For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov , where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings, and health-information resources can be found.  Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

The Embassy is located at Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan No. 4-5, Jakarta; the 24-hour telephone number is 62-21-3435-9000.  The telephone number of the U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya is 62-31-295-6400; the number for the U.S. Consulate in Medan is 62-61-415-2200; the number for the U.S. Consular Agency in Bali is 62-361-233-605.