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"In the tropics, before all else, remain calm"  -- From 'Heart of Darkness' by Joseph Conrad

Life is generally very pleasant in Indonesia and in Bandung. However, being an unstable third-world county, security is a burning issue with foreigners and local alike.

Burglary and pick-pocketing are common. Rape, carjacking, mugging, and murder, while rare for foreigners, certainly have happened to people who live here, especially in Jakarta. Armed burglary with a large group of machete-wielding men has also been reported.

One has to be aware that anything is likely to be stolen that is not secured. Be careful of your friends. Don't "lend" money that you cannot afford to lose. Stay aware of your surroundings. Remain skeptical. As the boxing referee says: Protect yourself at all times.

Your house should have bars on 100% of  the widows to slow-down burglars. An alarm might be a good idea. Having a dog inside the house has been suggested but dogs can still be poisoned. Many people with fancy houses hire night watchmen to protect their houses; but stories of them getting burgled anyway are common.

When common criminals are caught, they are usually tortured with beating and sometimes killed before the police arrive. Proper prosecution needs to be paid for and is not reliable.

Neighborhoods arrange night patrols and residents may be asked to participate in or fund this effort.

A foreigner should make sure he always has access to funds. Bank ATMs are common and one can easily get money from foreign accounts that have Cirrus/Visa/MasterCard connections. A combination of ATM and credit cards, traveler's checks and some cash in (perfect condition) US dollars should assure that money is always available. BandungExpat does not recommend being broke.

Resources:

• US Department of State Public Announcement for Indonesia
• Advice to The British Community
  (Excerpt) Precautions that individuals can take include:
  • Keep cars locked at all times and where possible secure in a garage when not in use;
  • Check underneath your vehicles before entering or using them, if they have been left in a publicly accessible location;
  • Vary routes and timings between the office and home, or for other regular destinations, as much as possible;
  • Take your handphone with you when you leave the office or home;
  • Exercise caution when answering the telephone at home. Do not volunteer information until you are sure of the identity of the caller.
  • Look out for strange vehicles parked near residences, or unattended packages and report any concerns to the authorities.
  • Keep doors locked and windows secure when in your car.
  • Avoid travelling alone at night.
  • When taking a taxi, use one from a reputable firm, preferably booked by phone.
  • For longer journeys it is a sensible precaution to notify friends of travel plans, contact them on arrival and where possible travel in convoy. There have been reports of cars being stopped and passengers robbed on highways.
• Subscribe to the 'indorumor' mailing list -- Rumors, news, and discussion about Indonesia with an emphasis on security and rational thinking. Send any e-mail to indorumor-subscribe@egroups.com
• Subscribe to the 'Indo Chaos' mailing list -- send mail to indo_chaos-subscribe@egroups.com