Indonesia

Country profile

KEY FACTS

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Capital : Jakarta

Language : Bahasa Indonesia is the official language. There are hundreds of regional languages, among them Javanese. English is widely used for business purposes.

Ethnic Groups : The main ethnic groups include Malay, Javanese, Sundanese, Madurese and Papuan. There are also Chinese and Indian minorities.

Religion : Islam is the main religion, accounting for 86 percent of the population. Nearly 10 percent are Christian, while Buddhist and Hindu minorities make up most of the rest.

Time Zone : GMT +7 West (including Jakarta), GMT +8 Central and GMT +9 East

Climate : Many local differences in climate within Indonesia, due mainly to two main seasonal wind systems. The east monsoon, from June to September, brings dry weather, while the west monsoon, December to March, brings rain. Stable high temperatures throughout the year with high and often oppressive humidity.

Telephone dialing code : (+) 62

Currency : Rupiah

Terrorism/Security

There remains a high threat from terrorism in Indonesia. We believe that terrorists continue to plan attacks, which could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
Terrorists have shown that they have the means and motivation to carry out successful attacks in Indonesia. The suicide attacks on 1 October 2005, in Bali, which killed 20 people and injured a further 90, underscore the ongoing terrorist threat in Indonesia. The extremist group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), which has links to Al-Qa’ida is thought to have been responsible for this attack, as well as the Bali bombings in October 2002, which killed 202 people (including a number of British nationals), the Marriott Hotel bombing in Jakarta which killed 12 people in August 2003, and the Australian Embassy bombing in September 2004, which killed 11 people. Venues known to be frequented by foreign visitors and expatriates, including beach resorts, bars and restaurants, are potentially attractive targets for such groups.
If you are visiting, or are resident in Indonesia, you should exercise caution at all times. We strongly advise you to ensure that you are comfortable with, and regularly review, you and your family’s security arrangements.
The arrests and trials of terrorists in Indonesia could prompt strong reactions from their supporters, including acts of violence. Three men were sentenced to death in August 2003 for their part in the October 2002 Bali bombings. If confirmed and implemented, their execution may give rise to violent demonstrations.
You should be particularly vigilant during holiday periods such as Easter and Christmas, which can be a time of heightened tensions in Indonesia. In the past, attacks have occurred during holiday periods in Indonesia. In recent years, the Indonesian Police have announced tightened security in public places such as airports and major tourist areas over the Christmas and New Year period. You should exercise caution when visiting locations where large groups of people gather or which are known to be frequented by foreigners. If you are planning to travel overland or by boat to Malaysia or the Philippines, you should be aware that Philippines based terrorist groups also pose a risk. You should avoid all travel to Mindanao, in the Philippines because of ongoing terrorist activity. Foreign nationals have also been kidnapped in the past in East Malaysia and we believe that this threat remains.

Local Laws and Customs

You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas. For more general information see Travelling During Ramadan.

You should be aware of offending Muslim sensitivities. Westerners have occasionally been harassed by fundamentalists in bars and nightclubs, particularly around major Islamic holidays such as Ramadan.

Do not get involved with illegal drugs. Possession, trafficking and manufacture of such drugs are serious offences in Indonesia. Those caught face lengthy prison sentences or the death penalty, usually after a protracted and expensive legal process. Even the possession of small amounts of drugs such as marijuana or ecstasy can lead to prison sentences longer than four years. Convicted traffickers or users of hard drugs such as cocaine or heroin face the death penalty in Indonesia.

Gambling is illegal in Indonesia. There have been cases where tourists have fallen victim to organised gambling gangs, resulting in the loss of large amounts of money.

You must show evidence of your identity if it is requested by, for example, the Police. You should carry photocopies of the relevant pages of your passport and your arrival card to avoid losing the original, which should be kept in a safe place.

You should beware of street crime and pickpockets. Take personal security measures such as:

Taking particular care to safeguard your passport and credit/ATM cards. You are advised not to lose sight of your credit card during transactions.

Beware of thieves while travelling on public transport. We receive regular reports of extortionate fares or robberies by unlicensed airport taxi drivers. Their vehicles are usually in poor condition, are unmetered, and do not have a dashboard identity licence. When taking a taxi, use one from a reputable firm, preferably booked by phone or arranged by your hotel, or booked by a registered taxi firm inside the airport.

For longer journeys it is a sensible precaution to notify friends of travel plans, contact them on arrival and where possible travel in convoy.

Ensure your passport and wallet and other valuables are secure at all times.

Travel

Visa Requirements

Visas are required for all foreign nationals entering Indonesia. You should ensure that your passport is valid for a minimum period of six months upon arrival. Entry to Indonesia may be refused and airlines may not carry passengers holding passports with less than six months validity. You are required to retain you arrival card for presentation to Immigration upon your departure.

Registering

If you stay in private accommodation in Indonesia (not a hotel) you must register your presence with the local police or you could face a fine of Rp 5 million (£290). If you stay in a hotel you will be registered automatically.

Insurance

If you decide to travel we strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive medical and travel insurance before travelling. This should include cover for medical treatment and accidents. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.

Consular Registration

Register with your embassy to tell them when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so your consular embassy can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

You should carry your passport at all times. We therefore advise that you keep a photocopy of your passport in a safe place. This will help you to obtain a replacement, in case your passport is lost or stolen.

Road Safety

You can drive in Indonesia on an International licence which can be obtained in Indonesia.

If you plan to hire a car, you should note that traffic discipline is poor and city streets are congested. There is considerable advantage in hiring a car with a driver, which is not especially expensive. If you break down or have a minor accident you should stay with your vehicle with the car doors locked until the police arrive.

Reports suggest that motorcyclists are more likely to be involved in road accidents.

Air Safety

You should be aware that there have been a number of major aircraft crashes in Indonesia over the last ten years, for reasons including bad weather, poor maintenance and mechanical failure. The most recent major incident occurred on 7 March 2007, when an aircraft burst into flames on landing in Yogyakarta, Java, killing over 20 people

All airlines from Indonesia have been refused permission to operate services to the EU because Indonesia is unable to ensure that its airlines meet international safety standards. It is recommended that you avoid flying with any airline from Indonesia if an acceptable alternative means of travel exists. If you already have a flight booked with an airline from Indonesia and it is part of a journey which commenced in the EU you should consult your travel agent.

When leaving the country by plane, departure tax varies by Airport from 60,000 to 150,000 Rupiah. You will need to pay an Airport Tax of 100,000 Rupiah if departing through Jakarta International Airport, or Rupiah 150,000 if departing from Bali International Airport.

Sea/River Safety

Inter-island travel by small boats can be dangerous as storms appear quickly and navigational equipment is often limited. There have been attacks against ships in and around the waters of Indonesia. Mariners are advised to be vigilant; reduce opportunities for theft; establish secure areas onboard; and report all incidents to the coastal and flag state authorities.
There have been a number of instances of passenger boats sinking in Indonesia. Most recently, on 18 October 2007 a passenger ferry capsized off the island of Sulawesi, reportedly killing over 20 people.

Local Travel

Flash floods and more widespread flooding occur regularly during the rainy season from November to March. Cities - especially Jakarta - are frequently subject to severe localised flooding which can result in major disruption, and occasionally fatalities. Previous floods in Jakarta have affected a main toll road to the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. You should allow extra time for meeting flight connections in line with the prevailing weather conditions.

Central Sulawesi Province

You should avoid all but essential travel to Central Sulawesi Province because of the unsettled political situation. You should be alert to the potential for politically motivated violence. Sectarian violence broke out in 1999 and although an agreement was signed in December 2001, which brought an end to large-scale violence the area remains tense and there continues to be intermittent violence and sporadic sectarian clashes in this area.

Tension increased in January 2007, after the Indonesian National Police conducted security operations in order to capture terrorists suspected of being responsible for a number of terrorist attacks in the region. On 13 April 2007, two bombs exploded without causing injury. Police have discovered explosive and arms caches in the area around Poso in the last year.

Maluku and North Maluku Provinces

You should avoid all but essential travel to Maluku Province, especially Ambon, which was the scene of serious civil unrest between 1999 and 2002. The region has continued to experience violence which can unexpectedly increase in intensity. Violence resulting from civil unrest in Ambon has resulted in a number of deaths and serious injuries. On 25 April 2007, a bomb attack in a market in Ambon saw eight people injured, one of whom suffered serious injuries. The situation in Maluku and North Maluku remains unsettled.

Aceh

You should exercise caution when travelling to Aceh, especially if travelling to remote areas. Aceh is emerging from a long period of internal conflict. You should remain alert to the risk of politically motivated violence.

On 24 April 2007, there were two grenade attacks in Aceh. There were no reported injuries. In April 2007, there were also security threats made against Non Governmental Organisations. If you are visiting Aceh, you should make sure that you are well informed about the local situation at the time of your visit. You should avoid large crowds, demonstrations or political rallies, as elsewhere in Indonesia.

We continue to receive reports of Shari'a (religious) police harassing foreigners in Aceh. You should therefore exercise caution and ensure that your behaviour does not offend local sensitivities.

Regulations regarding entry into and permission to remain in Aceh can change at any time. You should check with the Indonesian Embassy in your country prior to travel to obtain the most recent information on entry requirements and registration procedures while in Aceh.

Aceh continues to suffer the after-effects of the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Reconstruction work is well advanced but the communications infrastructure, roads, medical care and accommodation facilities for visitors in the western and northern coasts of Sumatra and outlying islands are not yet fully restored.

Papua and West Papua

You should exercise caution when travelling to Papua, and seek local advice on your travel plans. Political tensions in Papua, including the Provinces of Papua and West Papua (formerly known as Irian Jaya Barat), have given rise to sporadic violence. Demonstrations often turn violent and should be avoided. A demonstration outside the Papua capital of Jayapura on 16 March 2006 resulted in the deaths of 5 members of the security forces and the injury of a number of demonstrators. If you are visiting Papua, you should exercise caution. You should avoid large crowds and demonstrations, as elsewhere in Indonesia.

Papuan separatists have kidnapped foreigners in the past. There remains a small but significant risk.

Permits are required to travel to Papua Regulations for entry into and permission to remain in Papua can change at any time.

Natural Disasters

Indonesia sits along a volatile seismic strip called the 'Ring of Fire' in the Pacific. Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes occur regularly in Indonesia which can, where the severity and conditions of the quake combine, present a potential threat of tsunamis within the region. The 'ring-of-fire' is a horse-shoe-shaped zone of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that surrounds the basin of the Pacific Ocean. It is 40,000kms long and is associated with a nearly continuous series of oceanic trenches, island arcs, and volcanic mountain ranges and/or plate movements.

It is understood that 90% of the world's earthquakes and 81% of the world's largest earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire which is a direct consequence of plate tectonics and the movement of collisions of crustal plates.

Earthquakes

On 12 September 2007 a magnitude 7.9 earthquake affected Southern Sumatra in Indonesia, reportedly killing over 20 people

On 6 March 2007, an earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale hit the island of Sumatra in western Indonesia, killing over 50 people.

On 17 July 2006, an underwater earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter Scale was recorded off the south west coast of Java. This caused a tsunami, measuring between two and five metres in height, which hit the southern coastal districts of Ciamis (Pangandaran), Cilacap, Kebumen and Tasikmalaya in Java. Over 500 people were killed and over 50,000 people were displaced from their homes.

The 26 December 2004 earthquake and tsunami caused massive devastation to coastal areas in Aceh and parts of North Sumatra.

Floods

Flash floods and more widespread flooding occur regularly during the rainy season from November to March. Cities - especially Jakarta - are frequently subject to severe localised flooding which can result in major disruption, and occasionally fatalities. Landslides occur in rural areas during the wet season. In December 2007, landslides in Central Java killed over 80 people.

Volcanoes

There are numerous volcanoes in Indonesia, any of which can erupt without warning. Since April 2008, Mount Soputan in North Sulawesi, Mount Egon on Flores island, Nusa Tengarra, Mount Ibu in North Maluku and Anak Krakatao in the Sunda Strait have shown significant increased volcanic activity. You are advised to exercise caution, check news reports and follow local advice before travelling to volcanic areas. The capacity of the Indonesian emergency and rescue services to deal with large natural disasters is limited.

On 14 July 2007 poisonous fumes from Salak Volcano, just south of Jakarta killed six school children who were camping on the Volcano.

Health

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. This should cover medical evacuation by air ambulance. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.
Tap water should be avoided. Bottled water is widely available.

Disease
Malaria, chikungunya and dengue are common to much of Indonesia, the latter particularly during the rainy season (December to April) when incidences increase considerably. Since the beginning of 2007 reports have indicated a significant increase in the number of dengue cases. The authorities are taking measures to combat the disease.
Polio and anthrax is common to parts of Indonesia. The Indonesian authorities have reported outbreaks of polio across Java, including Jakarta, and Sumatra, including Aceh province, and have instituted local vaccination. On 30 October 2007, three villages in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, were closed to outsiders after a number of people fell ill from eating anthrax-infected buffalo meat.
In October 2007, poor sanitation, malnutrition and a water shortage caused an outbreak of leprosy in East Nusa Tenggara province.
Poor sanitation and eating contaminated food can increase the risk of cholera, typhoid and other diseases. You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. Hygiene standards in restaurants vary. Beware of food from streetside vendors, which might be contaminated. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Indonesia you should seek immediate medical attention.
Indonesia suffers from periodic problems with air quality reaching hazardous levels because of seasonal smoke haze from forest fires. You are advised to check news reports and follow local advice.
You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS.

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
There have been outbreaks of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in poultry and a small number of pig farms in Indonesia. Infected birds have been found in 31 of Indonesia's 33 provinces. Indonesia has more confirmed cases of human fatalities than any other country with over 90 reported fatalities. These fatalities are believed to have arisen through close contact with infected poultry. The WHO have confirmed that the deaths of seven members of one family in the TanaKaro district of North Sumatra in May 2006, were likely to be the result of limited, non-sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus. However, to date, there has been no evidence of widespread or sustained human-to-human transmission in Indonesia.
The risk to humans from Avian Influenza is believed to be very low. However, as a precaution, you should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

Medical Supplies and facilities
The standard of local medical care in Indonesia can be poor and some medical tests cannot be done reliably. Good medical care can be very expensive and in remote areas attention for serious injuries or illness is likely to be unobtainable. You may require expensive medical evacuation. Therefore you should ensure your policy covers you for medical evacuation by air ambulance.

Landmines

For more information on landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW), consult the Landmine Monitor, a research and monitoring initiative of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and the de facto monitoring regime for the Mine Ban Treaty. It independently and impartially monitors and reports on the use of mines by the different actors (Government, Non-State armed groups). It also provides information about identification, marking and fencing of affected areas as well as updated landmines and ERW casualties.

Go to the Landmine Monitor