Worldwide condemnation of Jakarta terrorist attacks

Nepal News.Net
Friday 17th July, 2009

There has been worldwide condemnation of the hotel bombings in Indonesia.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd called the attacks a "barbaric" act of cowardice. Australia raised its threat alert level for Indonesia, urging its citizens to consider avoiding travel there. Three Australians are feared to be among the eight people killed in the attacks.

At the White House, U.S. President Barack Obama said the Jakarta attacks make it clear that extremists remain committed to murdering innocent men, women and children of all faiths in any countries.

The U.N. Security Council condemned the bombings. The European Union expressed "deep shock" at the attacks, while the Saudi-based Organization of the Islamic Conference called them "horrific and senseless" acts of terrorism.

In Asia, Japan condemned the Jakarta attacks as "atrocious" and pledged its continuing support for the war on terror. The Philippines - itself hit by a series of deadly bombings this month - expressed similar sentiment, while Thailand condemned those who masterminded the attacks.

The death toll which was officially notified as nine on Friday was later revised down to 8. However on Saturday police in Jakarta confirmed nine people died in the attacks, including the two suicide bombers that detonated the explosives.

Witnesses say they heard loud explosions and saw clouds of smoke and dust shortly before eight in the morning Friday.

Although those responsible have not yet been identified, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called the bombings terrorism. He says no matter what nation or religion, terrorism cannot be justified, whatever the motive or reason.

This is the first terrorist attack in Indonesia in four years and the second time the Marriott Hotel was bombed. That last attack in 2003 was blamed on the Islamic terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah, which also was responsible for attacks around the country that claimed more than 230 lives over the past nine years.

The president, who won re-election last week, also said security officials had received intelligence of plots to disrupt the election and prevent him from being inaugurated. He says there were plans to take over the election committee headquarters and statements that there will be a revolution if Yudhoyono wins.

He did not say what group made these threats.

A number of international business leaders who were meeting in the Marriott, including American James Castle, were injured in the blast. A New Zealand businessman was killed and an Australian trade official, Craig Senger, is missing and feared dead.

The British soccer club Manchester United, which was booked to stay at the Ritz Carlton starting Saturday, has canceled its visit to Jakarta.

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