Shockwave breaking over popular resort

By Chris Daniels

As New Zealand troops take up positions in East Timor, a top-level call has gone out to boycott Bali and stop buying Indonesian goods.

Although Foreign Affairs officials say it is safe to travel to the popular holiday spot, they are advising New Zealanders to "adopt a lower profile."

The Boycott Bali campaign has been backed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta.

Mr Ramos-Horta said the Indonesian Army had controlling interests in the Bali tourism industry, which then generated money for use in "covert operations such as the recent slaughter and destruction in East Timor."

Auckland organisers of the "Boycott Bali Campaign" have been picketing Indonesian airline Garuda at Auckland International Airport, calling for tourists to stay away from Bali until Indonesian police and troops withdraw from East Timor.

Campaigners were also urging the New Zealand Government to seize assets in this country owned by the Suharto family, which was formerly in control of Indonesia.

President Suharto, who stepped down as Indonesian leader last year, has been accused of defrauding the country of billions of dollars.

While there has been no trouble or violence directed against New Zealanders in Indonesia so far, tourists have been advised to keep a low profile.

"I don't want people thinking that they've got to slink around and stay in their hotel rooms." said James Funnell, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

"But it is fairly clear there have been a few protests and general anger directed at the countries involved in the United Nations peacekeeping effort there."

Protests had so far been peaceful and threats made against foreigners had not been carried out.

"There are going to be a couple of flashpoints that will likely occur. One was the arrival of peacekeepers and the reaction to that. Certainly if there is any fighting, this could potentially stir up further excitement and protest."

The managing director of the Flight Centre chain of travel agents, Chris Greive, said there was a noticeable drop in bookings for Bali holidays when the violence began in East Timor, but this had now flattened out.

There was a perception that holiday bookings to Bali would pick up again once United Nations troops began establishing order in Timor.

Mr Greive said the Flight Centre had sent a letter to Indonesian embassies and the Garuda airline complaining at what was happening in East Timor.

A spokeswoman for Garuda Airlines, Deanna Mihaljevich, said there had been no big change in passenger numbers flying from New Zealand to Bali.

Garuda operates an Airbus A330 service three times a week from Auckland to Brisbane, then on to Bali.

Deanna Mihaljevich said Garuda got regular updates on the situation in Bali, and there had been no problems or concerns since the recent violence in East Timor began.