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         Indonesia Unsure of Reason for US Travel Advisory in Surabaya

   by Andy Lala

   Indonesia said Thursday it was unclear why the United States recently
   issued a travel advisory for American citizens in the city of Surabaya.

   President Joko Widodo, widely known as Jokowi, said there was nothing
   to worry about.

   "I have not received any information on threats of a security breach,"
   he said. "That means we are safe.  Don't be too zealous."

   Foreign Minister Retno Lestari Marsudi said she was aware of the travel
   advisory but didn't know the reason for it.

   "We have communicated with the U.S. Embassy [in Jakarta] to explain to
   us what was the basis in issuing the security alert, and they said they
   have some information," she said. "However, they didn't convey that
   information to us."

   At a State Department briefing in Washington on Thursday, spokeswoman
   Jen Psaki did not provide details of the information that prompted the
   alert. But she did say it was unrelated to the recent AirAsia flight
   that crashed after taking off from Surabaya.

   "We have no knowledge of any connection between this threat and the
   AirAsia flight," Psaki said. "So this was separate information that we
   wanted to put out to the public there."

   The [1]travel alert said the U.S. had been made aware of a potential
   threat against U.S.-associated hotels and banks in Surabaya. Further
   details of the threat were not disclosed.

   Indonesia has suffered terror attacks in the past, including a massive
   bombing in Bali more than a decade ago. Recently, officials in Jakarta
   have said they are trying to combat Islamic State recruitment of its
   citizens.

   This report was produced in collaboration with the VOA Indonesian
   service. Pam Dockins contributed from the State Department in
   Washington.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [2]http://www.voanews.com/content/indoesnia-unsure-us-travel-advisory-s
   urabaya/2590982.html

References

   1. http://jakarta.usembassy.gov/us-service/wm_150103.html
   2. http://www.voanews.com/content/indoesnia-unsure-us-travel-advisory-surabaya/2590982.html