Indonesians turn hatred on New Zealanders

By Scott MacLeod

SUMATRA - The New Zealand flag is burning in Indonesian streets and tourists are reporting fights, stabbings and abuse as part of a violent backlash against our troops moving into East Timor.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade continued to give muted warnings to travellers yesterday, as two Hamilton tourists told of outbursts of hatred against white people.

Erin Leigh, aged 30, said New Zealanders, Australians and British were seen as enemies of the state in Sumatra, the main western island of Indonesia.

The flags of all three nations were being burned in the street.

One New Zealander had been punched and thrown off a ferry when he tried to travel to the island of Nias. A white man suspected of being an Australian was stabbed in the chest on a bus travelling from Lake Toba to Medan.

"Sumatra got very nasty very fast," said Erin Leigh. "I wasn't about to take any risks, so I got the hell out as soon as I could."

Police yelled at her for being a New Zealander as she passed through customs yesterday. Other travellers were "running for their lives" from some areas.

Keri Welham, aged 24, of Hamilton, who has been travelling through Lombok and other less-frequented parts of Indonesia, said her tour party was harassed in bandit country.

"People were yelling at us as we drove through their villages - slamming their hands on our boot and waving machetes. They were hissing: Australie, Australie."

She said evidence of hatred was more obvious in eastern parts.

Foreign Affairs said yesterday that about 1000 New Zealanders were living in Indonesia, and an unknown number of tourists visiting. Media adviser James Funnell, who used to live in Indonesia, said the ministry was not advising against travelling there. But non-essential travel to some areas, such as northern Sumatra, should be avoided because of domestic trouble not related to East Timor.

He urged tourists to take care, keep a low profile and watch their personal security.

Erin Leigh's mother, Juliet Fowler, said stronger warnings needed to be issued at once.

"They [Indonesians] are wanting to taste white blood," she said.

"It's the wrong place for foreigners to be."