BBO Discussion Forums: Israel, Bali, & the WBF. - BBO Discussion Forums

From the Australian Government - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

This Advice was last issued on Friday, 24 May 2013.
It contains new information in the Summary and under Safety and Security:
Terrorism (in May 2013 police disrupted terrorist groups in West and Central Java). It also contains minor changes and editorial amendments throughout.

We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Indonesia, including Bali, at this time due to the high threat of terrorist attack. You should also be aware of the severe penalties for narcotics offences, including the death penalty; some specific health risks; and risks associated with natural disasters.

• Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.

• We continue to receive information that indicates that terrorists may be planning attacks in Indonesia, which could take place at any time.

• Terrorist groups remain active throughout Indonesia despite police disruptions. Police continue to conduct operations against these groups and have stated publicly that terrorist suspects remaining at large may seek to attack Western targets.

• You should exercise particular caution around locations that have a low level of protective security and avoid places known to be possible terrorist targets. See the Safety and security section of this advice for details.

• Terrorists have previously attacked or planned to attack places where Westerners gather, including nightclubs, bars, restaurants, international hotels, airports and places of worship in Bali, Jakarta and elsewhere in Indonesia. These types of venues could be targeted again.

• Australians should avoid all protests, demonstrations and rallies as they can turn violent.

• Indonesia is subject to a range of natural disasters including volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis and floods. You should pay close attention to emergency procedures and monitor local warnings.

• Visitors to Indonesia, particularly to tourist locations such as Bali and Lombok, should be aware of the specific risks from crime, and from drink-spiking and consumption of alcohol adulterated with harmful substances such as methanol. Tourists may also be exposed to scams and credit card/ATM fraud (see under Crime for more information).

• Petty crime, such as opportunistic theft, is common in Indonesia. Thieves on motorcycles may snatch handbags and backpacks from pedestrians. Tourists may be exposed to scams and confidence tricks in Indonesia. Legal disputes are common regarding the purchase of real estate including land, houses, holiday clubs and time share schemes.

• You should exercise normal beach safety behaviour and consider carefully the risks involved in using motorcycles, including licence and insurance issues (see under Local travel for more information).

• Visitors should be aware that there is a risk of rabies throughout Indonesia, in particular Bali and Nias. See under Health for advice to Australians travelling to or resident in Indonesia.

• We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Central Sulawesi, Maluku, Papua and West Papua provinces where additional safety and security risks exist. Since October 2012, a number of violent incidents have been reported in Poso, Central Sulawesi.

• Since July 2009, there has been a series of violent attacks in the area around the Freeport Mine in Papua province. A number of these incidents have resulted in deaths, including of one Australian. Attacks were reported in the area in March and April 2013. Further such attacks could occur. Information indicates that attacks may be planned near the area of operation of the Freeport mine.

• Ongoing violence in Puncak Jaya District in Papua Province has led to a number of deaths in recent years, including most recently in February 2013 in Tingginambut and Sinak. There is a possibility of further attacks in Papua and West Papua provinces, including attacks on infrastructure and national institutions.

• You should telephone ahead for an appointment before going to the Australian Embassy (See Where to get help section).

• Because of the high threat of terrorist attack in Indonesia we strongly recommend that you register your travel and contact details with us so we can contact you in an emergency.

• Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas: ◦ organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy

◦subscribe to this travel advice to receive free email updates each time it's reissued.



Just in case you missed it on the news, other terrorist activity in Bali:
2002 over 200 dead
2005 over 20 dead
2011 threat warning
2012 planned attack narrowly averted

Warren Spector is right.

There is only one side that put roadblocks in the way of Israel's participation in the event. There is only one side that is putting roadblocks in the way of Migry's participation in the event. And those roadblocks have nothing to do with anything but nationality (I could say religion, but that is less clear).

There is a long history of countries refusing to play against Israel in the World Championships and the WBF doing nothing about it. At what point will the WBF finally say enough is enough?

It is too late to avoid bad precedents. There are years of bad precedents. It is now time to change those precedents.

Have you ever been to Bali? For your information Bali is a far safer destination than the US. You have less chance of being shot and based on recent events in the US, I would not class the US as a safe destination.
Your quotes from DAFTA are highly selective. These travel warnings are generic for a number of countries, including the one in which I live. I feel safer in Laosthan I ever did in the States, or Australia for that matter.

Anyone know if and where the CCs are available for the 2013 Bermuda Bowl?

If you agree to host a major tournament, then you also agree to the rules laid down by the responsible organisation (RO). So no banning of Taiwan from the Chinese olympics, no banning of Israel from the UAE World Cup and no banning of Pakistan from the Indian Commonwealth Games. If a host country decides to change the rules without the authority of the RO then the RO has a responsibility to make sure that this does not succeed, even being ready to switch to another host at short notice in extreme cases. If a host manages to make unauthorised changes of a political nature despite efforts to avoid this and it is too late to cancel, then the RO should send a clear message by imposing some sanction on the host nation. In this case, simply banning Indonesia from the next BB/VC/SB cycle would send the right message that the actions were unacceptable. Offering Israel a place in another competition without sanctioning Indonesia sends precisely the wrong message.

@Rik, there was a WTA tennis event last year in, I think, Doha where an Israeli woman had to play on a court away from spectators due to issues with the organisors. Israeli security staff were on the court at all times. That caused something of an international stir but certainly emphasises the point that Israeli competitors do play in such countries.

Can't disagree more. Sports are not played in vacuum, they're played in the larger context of society. Playing Bridge or Soccer is not more important than the lives of innocent people.

I don't understand why you would require India to not ban Pakistani players in Commonwealth Games, in the light of Mumbai Massacre of 2008. That'd be like saying 6 months after 9/11, the U.S should have hosted a Soccer team from Afghanistan.

It should be the other way around. International Sports organizations should themselves ban terrorist-sponsor nations from International sports rather than putting a victimized country on the spot. All through the years of Apartheid, the ICC (International Cricket Council) had banned South Africa from all International Cricket.

…end of story!

Well, the truth is that Indonesia did NOT say that Israel was not welcome. A lot of the posters on the Bridge Winners site, (and one or two here), either lied or at least severely distorted the truth. Israel withdrew - end of story!

That's a half truth at best. Israel did withdraw, but only because Indonesia would not discuss security despite repeated requests (the visa issue is a red herring). Basically Indonesia acted in a way guaranteed to make Israel withdraw, that's the equivalent to saying you're not welcome.

My understanding is that Israel withdrew because the WBF said "we need to know RIGHT NOW whether you're coming or not" at a time when the security concerns had not yet been resolved. Yes, Indonesia was dragging its feet, but attempts at resolution were still ongoing. Could a resolution have been reached? Who knows?

There is only one side that put roadblocks in the way of Israel's participation in the event.

Yup, and that was clearly the Israeli side. So I don't see why they or their American puppets are whining.

Get in touch with reality, refusal of the Indonesians to answer a legitimate question even with a "mind your own business", just to delay to ensure the Israelis couldn't go was ridiculous.

Get in touch with reality, refusal of the Indonesians to answer a legitimate question even with a "mind your own business", just to delay to ensure the Israelis couldn't go was ridiculous.