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August 24, 2006
Two Tickets to Paradise...
by Jack Lee
It sounded like a great trip to 21 year old Tom K. and his 19 year old brother Mike, both from Chico. The surfing in October was great, hotels were dirt cheap and there were lots of tourist activities. What else could matter? Apparently plenty, because what they didn't know.... could kill them.
Unknown to the boys at the time and not stated by the internet travel agency that took their money, was a multitude of travel warnings that are being issued from a number of governments, including the UK, Australia and the USA about their intended destination. The warnings have one thing in common, they give it their highest state of alert, advising their respective citizens that Indonesia's terrorist organization known as "Jemaah Islamiyah" is preparing for a large scale attack and their plans may include kidnapping westerners . The warnings are clear: Avoid unnecessary travel to Indonesia and that includes Indonesia's paradise island of Bali in particular.
The Islamic, Jemaah Islamiyah Terrorist Organization, linked to Al Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the deadly bombings of October 12, 2002, in the resort town of Kuta, on the Indonesian island of Bali. Bombs killed 202 people and injured a further 209, making it the deadliest act of terrorism in that hemisphere. The majority of the dead were foreign tourists, mostly Australians, 88 Australians and 7 Americans died.
It began with a bomb hidden in a backpack that ripped through Paddy's Bar and started tourists fleeing into the street. Confused and curious locals and tourists then began to gathered in the street, forming a large crowd of onlookers. The trap was sprung and a huge second bomb detonated. It was concealed in a parked van and was estimated to be the equivalent of a 1000 pounds of TNT.
Then in 2005 another series of powerful bombs went off in the south Bali towns of Jimabaran and Kuta. The blasts were aimed again at popular Western tourist hangouts. 20 were killed and between 101 to 129 injured, including the suicide bombers. 6 Americans were among those injured, another 4 Australians died.
The latest intelligence reports, now passed along by way of U.S. Dept. of State in their "travel advisories" indicate another terrorist attack is imminent. The months of highest alert were August through December. The boys had planned to go in early October, now they are looking to cancel their trip. If they could, the Dept. of State would say that's probably a real good idea too, as they advise all non-essential travel to Indonesia, including the Island of Bali, be halted immediately and Americans already there should plan on leaving as soon as possible.
"You have to take these warnings seriously, so obviously I don't want them to go. But, what gets me is why didn't anyone tell these boys about this before they bought their tickets?" Said their father Richard. " We thought we would be going to paradise, we just didn't consider it could be the one up there." Tom said jokingly as he pointed skyward. The boys both acknowledge they learned a lesson about booking overseas travel. This time it will only cost them a few bucks to cancel the trip. But, it could have cost them a lot more, if they were in the wrong place at the wrong time and Bali at this time is definately the wrong place and wrong time.
For current travel warnings see the attached list or visit the Dept. Of State website
As of this date, the Indonesian government is preparing to hang three of those convicted in the 2002 bombing, adding to the concern that a bombing will follow, possibly as a reprisal.
I'm just curious, but if these were your kids would you have a problem with their travel plans? Would you try to talk them out of it or would you just say they are adults now, its up to them?
Note: This story is based on an actual family event that occurred yesterday. The names and circumstances have been altered slightly to protect their identities.
Current Travel Warnings
Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid a certain country. The countries listed below are currently on that list. In addition to this list, the State Department issues Consular Information Sheets for every country of the world with information on such matters as the health conditions, crime, unusual currency or entry requirements, any areas of instability, and the location of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in the subject country.
Congo, Democratic Republic of the 08/24/2006
Nigeria 08/24/2006
Sri Lanka 08/15/2006
Kenya 08/10/2006
Lebanon 07/27/2006
Israel, the West Bank and Gaza 07/19/2006
East Timor 07/18/2006
Haiti 07/07/2006
Chad 07/06/2006
Burundi 06/23/2006
Saudi Arabia 06/23/2006
Afghanistan 06/22/2006
Philippines 06/16/2006
Eritrea 06/05/2006
Somalia 06/05/2006
Nepal 05/11/2006
Central African Republic 04/20/2006
Yemen 04/13/2006
Uzbekistan 04/07/2006
Pakistan 04/07/2006
Bosnia-Herzegovina 03/30/2006
Liberia 03/30/2006
Côte d'Ivoire 03/03/2006
Algeria 02/15/2006
Sudan 02/06/2006
Colombia 01/18/2006
Iran 12/29/2005
Iraq 12/29/2005
Indonesia/Bali 11/18/2005
Zimbabwe 11/14/2005
Posted by Post Scripts at August 24, 2006 01:00 PM
Comments
I would definitely discourage my kids in this situation. I imagine it's up to the travel agency to know this stuff. I'll bet not many of them do though. We live in a much different world now and the "new rules" are going to continue to reveal themselves. I wish the "free" world would get serious about the situation...we could use the power and resolve (THE WILL) of everybody.
Posted by: Tina at August 24, 2006 08:30 PM
It's as if some parents get tired of having their kids around and figure maybe if we send them to another Country we can be rid of them. I this case they were adults and should have done their homework about the Country they were going to visit. My problem is with parents allowing their under age kids to go on trips without them. Have a clue, just because you can afford to send them does not mean they have any business going.
Posted by: Toby Stahler at August 25, 2006 08:19 AM
If God was still in the business of raining down fire on places like Sodom & Gamorah, no doubt Indonesia would be on his top 10 list of places worthy of destruction, which is shame since some of it's islands are beaufiful.
Indonesia is one of the most corrupt nations in the world, it's almost a national epidemic. There's an old saying in Indonesia, "How do you know when a shopkeeper is lying?" Answer, "When they open their mouth."
Seems like in this place, everybody has their hand out and extortion is as popular as water sports on the islands.
Considering the level of crime is almost redundant to say the government is near worthless.
Indonesia typically tries to avoid dealing with their social problems, like organized crime and even better organized terrorists. Denial and looking the other way are the popular coping tools.
This has allowed Muslim terrorists to pretty much have their way with people. They have certainly made huge gains in power and prestige in the past few years.
But, whats really pathetic and should have warranted UN intervention are countless thousands of decent Christian locals, that exist in many small rural towns that are simply being murdered one village at a time, just to get rid of them..the suspect, oh, need you really ask?
Government troops couldn't control the violence IF they wanted too. They always arrived a day late, or a week late, despite being as close as 15 minutes away at times. Sometimes the troops ARE THE PROBLEM. They have been charged with killing their fair share of Christians too.
Some of the nicer hotels in Bali are controlled by crime lords, so your dollars are helping fund the local mafia. I could write pages, but you get the point. Go to Hawaii if you want to visit a Pacific Island.
Posted by: Jack Lee at August 25, 2006 10:34 AM