INDOLEFT is an English-language news service produced by the Institute of Liberation, Media and Social Studies (LPMIS) and APSN on the continuing struggle for democracy in Indonesia. Postings are translated from Indonesian language news reports, statements and publications not otherwise available in English. If you would like to subscribe free to this service click here to send a request to be added to the list (APSN’s news update subscribers automatically receive INDOLEFT).

-January

• New Year kicks off with more protests, avoid Monas and Mega Kuningan - Detik.com. January 3
• Human rights becoming a political commodity in lead up to elections - Kompas. January 4
• Beware of demonstrations in South and Central Jakarta today - Detik.com. January 7
• Four protest actions to enliven Jakarta today - Detik.com. January 8
• More protests today, stay clear of Monas, Gatot Subroto and Diponegoro - Detik.com. January 9
• Rights victims pray for Suharto’s recovery, but call for justice to be upheld - Tempo Interactive. January 11
• Victims of human rights violations call for Suharto to be tried - Detik.com. January 11
• Up to 70 percent of state budget consumed by bureaucracy - Kompas. January 14
• Measuring the public's sympathy for Suharto – Kompas survey - Kompas. January 14
• Be on the look out for demonstrations and political rallies today - Tempo Interactive. January 21
• Seven protest actions to colour the capital today - Tempo Interactive. January 24
• More mass actions, avoid parliament and National Monument - Detik.com. January 25
• Hundreds of protesters in Medan oppose pardon for Suharto - Detik.com. January 31
• People take to the streets as price of basic commodities skyrockets - Detik.com. January 31

-February

• February kicks off with more demonstrations in Jakarta - Detik.com. February 1
• Police stand by as anti-communist thugs attack discussion group - Detik.com. February 6
• Islamic parties expected to fare badly in 2009 elections - Detik.com. February 6
• Ten years of reformasi has done little to improve Indonesia - Kompas. February 11
• Three day action in Jakarta counters public sympathy for Suharto - Kompas. February 12
• People's court tries Suharto in absentia - Detik.com. February 13
• Students say commercialisation of education 'stifling democracy' - Berlawan. February 14
• Theatrical action enlivens protest over price hikes - Kedaulatan Rakyat. February 15
• Real sector economic growth continues to weaken - Kompas. February 16
• Protest actions to ‘embellish’ Jakarta again today - Detik.com. February 18
• Rights activists to take Munir case to UN rights council in April - Kompas. February 20
• Protest actions to enliven Jakarta and Depok today - Tempo Interactive. February 21
• 180 cases of violence by police, military recorded in 2007-2008 - Detik.com. February 22
• Police still absorbed investigating new witnesses in Munir case - Detik.com. February 22
• GAM Party changes its name and symbol - Tempo Interactive. February 26
• Demos at Supreme Court and Attorney Generals office today - Detik.com. February 26
• Despite threat of rain, 13 demonstrations expected in Jakarta today - Tempo Interactive. February 27
• 'New Order' and 'Suharto' parties just a memory, at least for now... - Detik.com. February 28
• Protests to target State Palace and parliament today - Tempo Interactive. February 28
• Youth parties eyeing teenage set, ex-activists and New Order thugs - Detik.com. February 28

-March

• Regional political party coalitions based on narrow pragmatism - Kompas. March 3
• Four demonstrations to enliven activities in the capital today - Detik.com. March 4
• Watch out for traffic jams, eight protests to rock Jakarta today - Detik.com. March 5
• Protesters call for women workers and farmers to organise - Tempo Interactive. March 6
• Nine protest actions to rock Jakarta in lead up to long-holiday - Tempo Interactive. March 6
• Bad weather won't be enough to deter protesters today - Detik.com. March 8
• Bitter gifts mark IWD commemorations this year - Kompas. March 9
• Singapore Embassy among targets for today's demonstrations - Detik.com. March 10
• Anti-Communist groups protest decision to investigate 1965 massacres - Detik.com. March 11
• Protest actions expected to add to traffic congestion today - Detik.com. March 11
• Watch out! Protests planned at nine locations in the capital today - Detik.com. March 12
• At least nine protest actions to enliven Jakarta today - Tempo Interactive. March 13
• Nine Papuans charged with rebellion over flag incident in Manokwari - Cenderawasih Post. March 16
• Week kicks off with more protests, police urge motorists to be patient - Detik.com. March 17
• Today’s demonstrations to target House of Representatives - Detik.com. March 18
• Tibet solidarity action to 'rock' Chinese Embassy today - Detik.com. March 19
• European Parliament calls on Indonesia to fully investigate Munir case - Detik.com. March 19
• World Water Day marked by peaceful actions in Jakarta - Detik.com. March 22
• Traffic conditions set to worsen as hundreds take to the streets - Detik.com. March 26
• Yudhoyono receives rights victims, but protest actions to continue - Kompas. March 27
• At least six protest actions to rock Jakarta today - Tempo Interactive. March 31

-April

• Today’s demos to protest Dutch film, reemergence of communist ideas - Tempo Interactive. April 1
• Workers and students to take to Jakarta’s streets today - Tempo Interactive. April 2
• Students call for renegotiation of foreign mining contracts - Tempo Interactive. April 2
• Four demonstrations to colour Jakarta and surrounding areas today - Tempo Interactive. April 3
• Hundreds of transport workers protest private cars, illegal fees - Detik.com. April 3
• Real wages weakening, programs needed to improve workers welfare - Kompas. April 3
• At least five protest actions to inundate Jakarta today - Tempo Interactive. April 4
• Workers to target UN offices during today’s demonstrations - Tempo Interactive. April 7
• Legal system incapable of providing justice to rights victims - Kontras - Kompas. April 7
• YLBHI: Attorney General not serious about gross human rights cases - Detik.com. April 8
• Road users advised to avoid large worker demonstration at parliament today - Detik.com. April 8
• Protests at State Place, finance department and KPK today - Detik.com. April 10
• Only two protests today, traffic not expected to be disrupted - Detik.com. April 11
• Students in North Sumatra burn photos of electoral candidates - Detik.com. April 14
• Garuda boss jailed over activist murder susceptible to intimidation - Kasum - Kompas. April 15
• Voters value candidate’s integrity over political party – Survey - Kompas. April 15
• Desire for change more important that party loyalty – Survey - Kompas. April 15
• Six protest actions to enliven Jakarta and Bekasi today - Detik.com. April 16
• Indonesian workers still not free to form trade unions - Kompas. April 16
• Thirteen protest actions to inundate Jakarta and Bekasi today - Tempo Interactive. April 17
• Labour demonstration in Bandung kicks of campaign to socialise May Day - Tempo Interactive. April 17
• Actions commemorating Kartini Day expected to disrupt traffic - Tempo Interactive. April 21
• Papuan students oppose special autonomy, call for referendum - Tempo Interactive. April 22
• Police block protesters near Jayapura, seven arrested in Abepura - Tempo Interactive. April 22
• Socialism is the only true path to liberate the working class - Working People's Association. April 23
• Retired military officers say Komnas HAM undermining national unity - Detik.com. April 24
• May Day - A day to unite the people’s struggle for genuine prosperity and freedom - Working People's Association Statement. April 24
• Seven different protest actins to colour Jakarta today - Tempo Interactive. April 25
• Workers art performance builds May Day solidarity - Tempo Interactive. April 25
• Anti-communist group seals off Komnas HAM office, burns PKI flags - Detik.com. April 29
• Activists urge Komnas HAM to continue investigating rights cases - Tempo Interactive. April 29
• 40,000 workers to planning to commemorate May Day in Jakarta - Tempo Interactive. April 29
• Workers resist exploitation - Kompas. April 30
• Workers’ tightening their belts to survive - Kompas. April 30
• A portrait of labour in decline - Kompas. April 30
• Workers are not a commodity - Kompas. April 30
• Thousands of workers take to the streets in lead up to May Day - Suara Pembaruan. April 30

-May

• Workers and farmers commemorate May Day in Bandung - Tempo Interactive. May 1
• Workers and journalists commemorate May Day in Bali - Tempo Interactive. May 1
• May Day commemorations call for end to contract labour, outsourcing - Kompas. May 2
• Workers’ incomes almost not enough to buy food - Kompas. May 2
• A daughter fights for her father’s future - Kompas. May 2
• East Java workers demand end to contract labour and outsourcing - Tempo Interactive. May 2
• Protests in Balikpapan oppose contract labour, outsourcing - East Kalimantan Tribune. May 2
• Simultaneous actions across the country oppose contract labour, outsourcing - Tempo Interactive. May 2
• Tens of thousands of workers besiege the State Palace - Kompas. May 2
• Papernas abandons election bid, seeking coalition partner - Java Post. May 2
• Protests against fuel price hikes continue across the country - Kompas. May 10
• Seven protests to colour Jakarta today, watch out for traffic - Detik.com. May 13
• Fifteen protest actions to rock Jakarta today - Detik.com May 15
• Foreigners using fuel protests for own ends, Yudhoyono’s cabinet infiltrated - Detik.com May 15
• Students not the problem, real danger is hunger and separatism: Syahnakri - Detik.com May 15
• Foreign interests using fuel price demos to ‘divide and rule’ - Detik.com May 15
• Workers, small-scale industry will be worst hit by price hikes - Kompas. May 15
• Protests call for repudiation of foreign debt, nationalisation - Waspada Online May 17
• Mass actions planned to coincide with Suharto’s overthrow on May 21 - Detik.com May 18
• Compilation of May 21 protest actions against fuel price hikes - Detik.com/Tempo Interactive. May 21
• Thousands take to the streets to commemorate 10 years of reformasi - Kompas. May 22
• End the violence against peaceful protests – escalate resistance against the fuel price hikes - People’s Struggle Front Statement. May 23, 2008
• 26 arrested at early morning protest against fuel price hikes - Detik.com May 24
• Police attack on National University campus a ‘slaughter’: Witness - Detik.com May 24
• Public equivocal about Indonesia’s ‘100 Years of awakening’ - Survey - Kompas. May 26
• Foreign intelligence agencies using student protests for own ends - Detik.com May 28
• Protests and public transport strikes to colour Jakarta today - Tempo Interactive. May 28
• 18 thousand garment workers dismissed in Tangerang - Tempo Interactive. May 29
• Workers and students descend on State Palace over fuel price hikes - Detik.com May 29
• PDI-P politician Permadi turned away from fuel price protest - myRMnews. May 29
• Workers, students and housewives protest fuel price hikes - Metro TV News. May 29

-June

• Still no let up to protest actions against fuel price hikes - Tempo Interactive. June 1
• Workers protest price hikes, World Bank interference in government policy - Metro TV News. June 1
• National Liberation Front calls on the people to oppose price hikes - myRMnews. June 1
• ‘World Bank main culprit behind Indonesia’s impoverishment’ - Protesters - VHRmedia.com. June 1
• Four protests, transport workers strike to enliven Jakarta today - Tempo Interactive. June 2
• Protests to look set to continue, motorists urged to seek alternative routes - Detik.com. June 4
• 50 percent of SMEs in Tangerang collapse following fuel price hikes - Tempo Interactive. June 5
• Urban poor activist to enliven Makassar municipal elections - Tribun Timor. June 12
• Police intentionally dragging out Munir murder investigation - expert - Kompas Cyber Media. June 13
• 4,000 activists to gather in Jakarta next week - Kompas. June 15
• Police prohibit protest schedules being published on internet - Tempo Interactive. June 16
• Indonesian rights groups urge CTF to publish report - Kompas. June 16
• Munir’s family wants principle actors behind murder arrested - Kompas. June 20
• Suciwati concerned about integrity of other law enforcement agencies - Kompas. June 20
• KASUM calls on police to question former BIN chief Hendropriyono - Kompas. June 20
• Spy agency placed rights activist Munir on ‘G’ list - Detik.com. June 21
• Hendropriyono would have signed order, Muchdi just the executor - Detik.com. June 21
• National Peasants Union holds extraordinary congress in Pekan Baru - Riau Terkini. June 25
• Number of super-rich in Indonesia jumps dramatically - Kompas. June 26

-July

• Opposition figures gather in Jakarta to discuss nation’s problems - Detik.com. July 5
• Students protest G8 meeting, demand cancelation of foreign debt - Detik.com. July 7
• Students say aim of G8 meeting is to exploit Third World countries - Detik.com. July 7
• Protest actions to start enlivening Jakarta again today - Detik.com. July 8
• Workers organise to demand wage increase, reduction in prices - Koran Kaltim. July 14
• Protest becoming part of the capital’s daily routine again - Detik.com. July 15
• Protests to enliven major thoroughfares of Jakarta today - Tempo Interactive. July 16
• Five protests to enliven Jakarta today, watch out for traffic jams! - Detik.com. July 21
• East Kalimantan workers continue campaign for decent wages - Koran Kaltim. July 24
• Housewives protest privatisation, demand free school books - Detik.com. July 24
• Five demonstrations to add to Jakarta’s panorama today - Detik.com. July 25
• Students attempt to block presidential visit, scores arrested - Detik.com. July 26
• Today’s protests to target State Palace, government offices - Tempo Interactive. July 31

-August

• Dita Sari and friends ‘changes clothes’, join Star Reform Party - Detik.com. August 2
• Housewives challenge Star Reform Party to sign social contract - Detik.com. August 2
• Dita Sari to stand as Star Reform Party candidate in 2009 elections - Java Post. August 3
• Students call for nationalisation of foreign oil and gas companies - Detik.com. August 4
• Star Reform Party signs political contract with poor people’s union - Kompas. August 4
• Protests to complement the hustle and bustle of Jakarta today - Detik.com. August 5
• Six protest actions to add to Jakarta’s traffic woes today - Tempo Interactive. August 7
• PRD activists who have changed their political clothes - Indo Post. August 7
• AGO bans book on violence against ethnic Melanesians in West Papua - Koran Tempo. August 9
• Ten protest actions to enliven Jakarta’s atmosphere today - Tempo Interactive. August 14
• Villagers say sentences handed down by military court too lenient - Tempo Interactive. August 18
• Papuans demand investigation into Wamena shooting, democratic space - Detik.com. August 22
• Activists becoming legislative candidates - Tactical, pragmatic or adventurist - Kompas. August 26
• Most violence against journalists now being committed by protesters - Tempo Interactive. August 27
• Four demos to hit Jakarta today, motorists advised to be on alert - Detik.com. August 28
• ExxonMobil has never funded the TNI – former army chief - Detik.com. August 28
• Retreat by labour activists leaves Labour Party short - Kompas. August 28

-September

• No letup to protests on first day of Ramadan fasting month - Detik.com. September 1
• Legislative candidate ads only present image, not ‘sweat’ - Detik.com. September 3
• Almost half of Indonesia’s banks now under foreign control - Kompas. September 8
• Shifts in the geo-political map in lead up to 2009 elections - Kompas. September 8
• Illiteracy rate for women more than twice as high as men - Kompas. September 9
• Track record and image more important than political party - Survey - Kompas. September 9
• Talangsari investigation stalls due to lack of human rights court - Kompas. September 11
• Dismissed PBR legislator regrets entry of left-socialists into party - Detik.com. September 12
• Dita Indah Sari: Star Reform Part still Islamic, right! - Inilah.com. September 16
• Eight protest actions to hit Jakarta today - Tempo Interactive. September 22
• Artists hold symbolic action to ward off the anti-porno law ‘disaster’ - Detik.com. September 22
• Protest by Yogyakarta residents ridicules anti-pornography law - Detik.com. September 22
• Protesters say anti-porno law an obstacle to the women’s movement - Detik.com. September 22
• The women’s movement is the key to change - Kompas. September 29

-October

• Seven protest actions to enliven Jakarta today - Detik.com. October 16
• House targets target former generals over 1997-1998 abductions - Kompas. October 18
• Summoning of generals over abductions politically motivated – Kontras - Detik.com. October 18
• Protest actions to add to Jakarta’s traffic woes - Detik.com. October 20
• Party of former Kopassus commander has strong network, massive funds - Sindo. October 29

-November

• Papuan students call for troop withdrawal, zone of peace - Detik.com. November 3
• Papuan Church leaders threaten to quit NKRI over porn law - Detik.com. November 3
• Families of disappeared activists say Yudhoyono must take action - Kompas. November 5
• Five protests to colour Jakarta today, watch out for traffic jams - Detik.com. November 6
• Workers say capitalist road has failed to bring prosperity - Detik.com. November 6
• Workers start election boycott campaign - Kompas. November 9
• Solving activist abductions a test case for Yudhoyono - NGOs - Detik.com. November 10
• Journalists protest criminalisation of the press - Detik.com. November 13
• At least six protest actions in Jakarta and Bekasi Friday - Detik.com. November 14
• Protesters oppose G20 meeting, say US is ‘angel of death’ - Detik.com. November 14-17
• 12,600 workers face dismissal as global crisis starts to bite - Kompas. November 21
• Nine demonstrations to open the first day of the working week - Detik.com. November 24
• PKS no longer seen as the most Islamic political party - Survey - Detik.com. November 28

-EDecember

• Activists call for environmental justice, reject REED - Detik.com. December 1-6
• Students protesting anti-pornography law arrested in Bali - Detik.com. December 9-10
• Yogyakarta activists, women workers commemorate Human Rights Day - Detik/Tempo Interactive. December 10
• Quietly, secretly, hundreds of workers being laid off - Kompas. December 11
• Grim years ahead for both workers and bosses - Kompas. December 11
• PBR ready to support Prabowo as presidential candidate - Detik.com. December 15
• Seven protests to enliven the capital today, beware of traffic jams - Detik.com. December 16
• Backing presidential candidates, PBR ready to support Prabowo - Lampung Post. December 16
• Only 10 parties will win seats in the 2009 elections - Survey - Detik.com. December 16
• Thousands of cases of rights violations remain unresolved - Kompas. December 20
• Defense minister, TNI chief’s statements on rights violations condemned - Kompas. December 20