Prime Minister John Howard has revealed that a report listing Bali as a
potential terrorist target was received by Australia before last weekend's
bombings.
His disclosure in Federal Parliament yesterday has raised new questions
about the performance of Australian intelligence services and whether
lives could have been saved by a stronger warning to Australians about
travel to Bali.
Mr Howard said he had ordered a full investigation into collection of
intelligence information about possible terrorist attacks in
Indonesia.
The report listing Bali and other locations as possible targets -
believed to be based on CIA telephone intercepts late last month
signalling attacks on tourist sites in Indonesia - was assessed by
Australian agents who decided not to increase threat assessments or issue
further warnings.
The US embassy in Jakarta issued strong warnings based on the
intelligence reports, advising Westerners to avoid locations frequented by
tourists, such as "certain bars, restaurants and tourist areas".
Mr Howard said that "given the magnitude of what has occurred" he had
ordered the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, Bill Blick, to
assess all relevant intelligence information. General warnings about the
danger of a terrorist strike in Indonesia had been received, but not
specifically about a bombing in Bali, he said.
"I've been informed by the relevant intelligence agencies that the only
possibly relevant reference to Bali in recent intelligence reporting was
its inclusion - along with a number of other tourist and cultural
locations across Indonesia - of possible terrorist activity against United
States tourists," he said.
"This intelligence was assessed by agents and the view formed by them
that no alteration in the threat assessment, then at a high, applying to
Indonesia was warranted."
Department of Foreign Affairs travel advice had warned of a history of
bombs being exploded in Jakarta and tourist areas and said further
explosions could be attempted, he said.
Mr Howard said the Director-General of the Office of National
Assessments, Kim Jones, examined records to establish whether there was
any information warning of a bomb attack in Bali on Saturday night.
"He has said that although there was a body of information from
numerous sources that pointed to a terrorist presence and threat
throughout Indonesia, no material that specifically warned of the attack
in Bali was identified," Mr Howard said.
Yesterday's New York Times reported that US ambassador Ralph Boyce
warned Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri the day before the Bali
blast that a terrorist attack, possibly against a civilian target, was
imminent. Their meeting followed US warnings that a group linked to al
Qaeda was planning attacks on Americans and other Westerners.
The US embassy in Jakarta had warned travellers to avoid venues in
tourist areas in response to several pieces of credible intelligence, Mr
Boyce said.
In Washington yesterday, the US State Department said intelligence
material was shared with Australia, but that no specific information of a
planned bombing in Bali last weekend was received. It confirmed receiving
information before October 10 about "non-specific" threats in Indonesia,
and believed tourists were potential targets.
The statement followed a report in The Washington Post quoting
unnamed US intelligence officials saying, "they had intercepted
communications in late September signalling a strike on a Western tourist
site". The report said that, "Bali was mentioned in the US intelligence
report".
