Tourists light candles at the site of the Sari Club in
Jalan Legian, Bali, before ceremonies to mark the 10th
anniversary of the bomb attack in the Kuta tourist
district. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
The New Zealand Government is monitoring the security
situation in Bali, after Indonesian police warned of a plot to
attack dignitaries at a service to mark the 10th anniversary of
the 2002 Bali bombings.
Indonesian authorities raised the Indonesian island's threat
alert to the highest level yesterday after receiving
"credible" information about a terrorist attack.
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
said the New Zealand Government was monitoring the situation
and was liaising with Indonesian authorities.
Indonesia is responsible for the security of foreign
nationals attending the commemoration, she said.
Bali's Deputy Police Chief Brigadier General Ketut Untung
Yoga Ana told AAP that intelligence reports had pointed to a
plot to attack the service, and that Australian Prime
Minister Julia Gillard was a potential target.
"Based on credible information, the terrorists have planned
to target the Bali bombing commemoration event with a terror
attack."
More than 1500 police and military personal, including
snipers, had been deployed around Jimbaran and Kuta.
Three New Zealanders - Mark Parker and Jared Gane, both 27,
and Jamie Wellington, 31 - were among the 202 people killed
when a bomb ripped through a popular nightspot in downtown
Kuta, just over a year after the September 11 terrorist
attacks in the US.
Eight New Zealand victims of the bombings were returning to
Bali to attend the commemorations.
A spokeswoman for Foreign Minister Murray McCully said no
next of kin of the dead New Zealanders were likely to attend
the commemorations, although Australian-based relatives of Mr
Gane were attending with the Australian delegation.
Mr McCully would also attend the service.
The New Zealand travel advisory has not changed from stating
there is "some risk" to security in Indonesia.
The safetravel advisory recommended New Zealanders exercise a
high degree of caution in Indonesia, including Jakarta and
Bali, due to the continuing threat of terrorism.
All New Zealanders in Indonesia are urged to register their
details at safetravel.govt.nz.
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