Indonesian Military Intensifies Security Following Warning from Australia

Jakarta, March 1 (Antara)- The military will intensify security measures to anticipate terror threats following a travel advisory issued by the Australian government, according to Commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) General Gatot Nurmantyo. Nurmantyo remarked that arrests of terror suspects were being made every three days due to cooperation with the police in chasing the perpetrators and detection of terror activities by the State Intelligence Agency (BIN). "Every three days, we witness the arrest of terrorists," he noted, adding that this was possible due to the cooperation between the TNI and police. Earlier, BIN Chairman Sutiyoso had remarked that a travel advisory issued by the Australian government was nothing new. He said the BIN had a better understanding of the potential of any terror threat looming over Indonesia than the Australian government, which had issued the travel advisory. Sutiyoso remarked that the BIN was aware of the terrorist networks in Indonesia but could not take action against them as the agency did not have the authority to arrest them. Australia had recently warned that terrorists might be in the "advanced stages of preparing attacks" in Indonesia and had advised travelers to take precautions, just days after a similar warning was issued for neighboring Malaysia, AFP reported. "Recent indications suggest that terrorists may be in the advanced stages of preparing attacks in Indonesia," the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade stated in an updated travel advisory. "We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Indonesia, including in Jakarta, Bali, and Lombok due to the high threat of terrorist attack," it reported. "The Indonesian government has recently intensified security arrangements across Indonesia, which underscores the ongoing high threat of a terrorist attack," it added. ***2***