Transcript

ELEANOR HALL: Well now to Indonesia. And the attack on the Australian International School in Jakarta has brought the consequences of the campaign against terror uncomfortably close to our shores.

Although no-one was injured when a grenade was thrown over the school fence, exploding near the swimming pool, the incident is a frightening example of the dangers faced by expatriates living in the world's most populous Muslim nation, where extremist Islamist groups have already threatened action against American interests, and those of its allies.

I'm joined on the line now, by our correspondent in Jakarta, Mark Bowling. Mark, do we have any information at this stage as to who might have been responsible?

MARK BOWLING: While we don't have anything confirmed, we do know that a man riding a motor bike with a pillion passenger, are believed to be the team that threw the hand grenade over the fence, landing in the school grounds and exploding, rocking the building, breaking some of the windows, and causing some minor damage. So we don't know exactly who they might be, or if they are part of a larger group.

ELEANOR HALL: Are there any rumours that they could be part of these Islamist groups that have been making threats previously?

MARK BOWLING: Well certainly what we can say, is that on Monday, there was a strange envelope with white powder received by the Australian Embassy. That certainly sent initial shock waves, not just through the Australian Embassy, but the larger Australian community.

And I should also say, that International Schools, and there are others attended by Australian students, have been opening and closing at various times since September 11th, because of various threats, whether they be hoaxes or otherwise. So the whole community is certainly on alert, and expecting this sort of thing to happen.

ELEANOR HALL: With these sorts of threats? And indeed, with the attack last night, are any of the Australian expatriates thinking of just getting out of Jakarta?

MARK BOWLING: Well there have been some leave already, and part of it is to do with the companies they work for, for instance, because of the insurance, the insurance risk of staying in an area like this. Certainly a lot of Americans have left Jakarta. Australians tend to stay longer, if you like. Many have been through quite a bit in Indonesia in recent years, have the experience of the chaos in the capital in 1998 behind them. They tend to sit tight through most things, but this is a whole new round of threats and fear.

ELEANOR HALL: Mark, on another issue, it's being reported here today, that Indonesian police have arrested two alleged people smugglers, including one of those who was apparently behind the boat in which 350 asylum seekers drowned. Are you, can you give us any more detail about that, and are you aware that there is an attempt to step up, you know, the campaign against people smugglers in Indonesia?

MARK BOWLING: Yes, there certainly is a campaign to step up the campaign. We're talking about an Egyptian, Abu Quasi, who has been identified, even by intelligence services in Australia, as one of the possible ring leaders of people smuggling syndicates.

And he is also the man that has been identified as the one who organised the ill-fated boat trip to Australia last month in which these 350 asylum seekers drowned. He's been taken into custody. He was taken in by police on Monday, in the West Java city of Bandung. He was moved to Jakarta yesterday and is being held by immigration officials.

We understand he's been questioned overnight, and it's possible that some of the survivors of that boat tragedy will be brought in to give testimony, to give their accounts of what happened to them, and possibly to help authorities identify his role in the incident further.

ELEANOR HALL: Well it could be an interesting turnaround by police, because some of the survivors were claiming that police were actually helping this people smuggler.

MARK BOWLING: And this is probably part of the reason why officials have been forced into action, if you like. Police know that they have been exposed. They have been in the spotlight in the international media because of these allegations that have been made. There's been pressure from Australian authorities of course, to try and do something about it.

What is unclear is, really, what could be, what charges could be brought against someone like Abu Quasi, because Indonesian law is very vague about illegal boat arrivals. Australia on the other hand, has been trying very hard, during the last two years, to try and extradite the leaders of these people smuggling syndicates, and Australian officials have in fact identified Abu Quasi as one of those ring leaders.

ELEANOR HALL: So still a long road to justice yet. Mark Bowling in Jakarta, thank you very much for that.