Aussie terror warning slammed

2003-01-05 19:39

Anesca Smith

Cape Town - Australia is wrong to keep the South African government in the dark about why it issued a terror warning last week to its citizens travelling to this country, says Peter Gastrow, Cape Town head of the Institute for Security Studies.

Gastrow expressed his dissatisfaction with the Australian government on Sunday.

He said: "It is the duty of every country to protect its citizens, but it has an effect on another country, in this case.

"Australia must inform the South African government of the reasons for the warning and give them the time to investigate the matter and do something about it."

Gastrow said such an apparently unfounded warning could have a negative effect on South Africa and its tourism industry.

South Africa has rejected Australia's warning and said the country should have used diplomatic channels to convey its concerns to its citizens.

Just as susceptable as others

The minister in the office of the president, Essop Pahad, said the government was embarrassed to hear about the warning.

"This comes just before an international sporting highlight, the World Cup Cricket tournament.

"South Africans will be unhappy that such a general warning, similar to an unfounded British warning a while ago, was issued," said Pahad.

Gastrow said South Africa was no more susceptible to terror attacks than any other country.

"However, keep in mind that governments are issuing warnings left, right and centre. In South Africa, we are sensitive and tend to think we are the exception," he said.

- Die Burger