Jakarta – Thirty young filmmakers returned Citra awards, the country's highest film prize, to Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik on Tuesday, in a protest over the handling of last year's Indonesian Film Festival.

Ridwan Max Sijabat and Nani Afrida, Pematang Siantar – An alliance of non-governmental organizations has asked President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to replace senior officials at the Aceh-Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (BRR).

M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta – The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) has taken the government to the Constitutional Court over its decision to issue regulations reducing the KPI to a consultative body.

Sandy Indra Pratama, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office has completed the draft of the civil claim against former president Suharto in the seven foundations case.

Yoseph Suardi Sabda, Civil Director and a Deputy Attorney General for Civil and State Administration, said that the claim draft document has been submitted to Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh.

Jakarta – Lawmakers on a key committee are optimistic that a proposed bill on national security will pass, putting the National Police under the supervision of a ministry. Experts, however, are calling for a more thorough discussion.

Wasti Atmodjo, Sanur – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) concluded its congress here Tuesday by releasing a final evaluation of the government's performance.

Anissa S. Febrina, Jakarta – A 12-meter-square single-classroom kindergarten in a kampong in Pangkalan Jati, South Jakarta, offers nothing fancy. But, for the last five years, it has been a safe haven for toddlers from poor families in the area.

Jakarta – In an unprecedented move Tuesday, Indonesian Military (TNI) head Air Chief Marshal Djoko Suyanto spoke publicly about the poor relationship between TNI headquarters and the Defense Ministry.

Jakarta – Women's rights activists pledged Monday to continue to campaign for greater political representation for women and to fight against sharia-inspired laws.

M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)'s suggestion that the presidential election be held before the legislative poll has drawn criticism from political analysts.

Jakarta – The Islamic Reform Star Party officially dismissed House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Zaenal Ma'arif for polygamy Monday evening.

Bursah Zarnubi, the party leader, said that the party had also sent a letter to House Speaker Agung Laksono, suggesting that Zaenal be dismissed from his post as a deputy speaker.

The nation's commitment to civil society is being tested again as the debate intensifies over the bill on national security, which includes a major revamp of the National Police.

Public caution and openness in the bill's deliberation are needed to make sure the resulting law does not restore control over domestic security to the Indonesian Military (TNI).

Hundreds of supporters of former home affairs minister Rogerio Lobato rallied today in East Timor outside the court where he was due to go on trial on weapons distribution charges.

Mr Lobato has been charged with involvement in arming civilians during unrest last year.

Jakarta – Three women accused of being witches were killed and burned along with their house in East Timor. The three women, aged 70, 50 and about 25, were killed on Saturday evening in Liquica, about 40km west of the capital Dili.

Jakarta – While Indonesia has lost many lives to plane crashes, the airlines have never been held responsible, an activist group says.

The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) is advising families of the passengers on a missing Adam Air plane to sue the airline for negligence, even though the cause of the presumed accident is still unknown.

Sri Wahyuni, Yogyakarta – Uswatun Khasanah hugged her 9-month-old daughter Revi close to her chest. As the 25-year-old mother wrapped a blanket around the baby girl, she kept a wary eye on the rain pouring down in front of their makeshift shelter.

Jakarta – A survey from Australian research firm Roy Morgan has found that most Indonesian consumers are predicting better economic prospects for 2007.

A total of 6,312 people were interviewed for the July-September 2006 quarter.

Denpasar – The number of political parties running candidates in the 2009 general election should be slashed so as not to confuse voters, a politician said Sunday.

Hera Diani, Jakarta – When avian influenza became a major global issue in 2006, some foreign health experts thought it was over hyped.

A. Junaidi, Jakarta – Two books on the unforgivable issue of violence against women, Kembang-Kembang Genjer and Dendam Perempuan dan Cerita Lain, were launched in the same building, the H.B. Jassin Literary Documentation Center at Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center in different weeks in December.

Patrick Thronson – Americans lose part of the past in an obvious sense when a former president dies: A living link to our history is extinguished. We also lose part of the past, however, in the blissful forgetfulness that ensues with respect to darker aspects of a president's legacy.

Ary Hermawan, Jakarta – There must be nothing more bitter than feeling you have been victimized, especially when you were supposedly working for the greater good. That must have been the feeling among the General Elections Commission (KPU) members jailed for corruption by the Corruption Court.

Slamet Susanto, Yogyakarta – Small-scale aluminum casting producers in Yogyakarta are on the brink of collapse, losing out to a boom in Chinese products and handicapped by limited access to capital.

The industry produces kitchen utensils such as pots, pans and woks, as well as sports-styled wheels for cars.

Ary Hermawan, Jakarta – The government failed to address a range of rights abuses related to religious fundamentalism last year and its inaction means sectarian violence will likely remain a threat to national development, a rights watchdog says.

Jambi – Traditional communities and farmers in Indonesia, particularly in Jambi province, Sumatra, are still falling victim to disadvantageous government policies and as a consequence both groups suffer from high levels of poverty.

Jakarta – The Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi Jakarta) says the next governor should have a keen understanding of the current issues that are key to the enforcement of environmental law.

M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta – The introduction of regional autonomy in 2001 has increased corruption more than it has improved public services, according to the results of a survey announced Thursday.

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – The government should set up a special court to hear environmental crimes because suspects in illegal logging cases are evading justice in the regular courts, the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) says.

Adisti Sukma Sawitri, Jakarta – After raising on-street parking fares and directing motorcyclists to drive in the "slow" left lanes, the Jakarta administration is now planning to ban bikers from using main roads altogether during peak hours.

The sexual exploitation of children is growing at an alarming rate and now affects millions of children across the globe. The Indonesian government, UNICEF, local and international NGOs and Microsoft Corp. met in Bali last week to discuss this pressing issue. The Jakarta Post's Rita A. Widiadana and contributor Wasti Atmodjo look at the issue in the following articles.

As a developing country saddled with huge foreign debts, Indonesia's tourism industry is a much needed source of income. But along with holidaymakers and honeymooners have come child sex tourists, a problem the government often turns a blind eye to.

M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta – Solving a murder case is rarely easy, especially when it allegedly involves one of the country's most powerful, yet secretive institutions: the National Intelligence Agency (BIN).

Andi Haswidi, Jakarta – The country's exports broke yet another record in November at US$8.92 billion, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported Tuesday, adding weight to predictions that full-year exports will hit $100 billion for the first time.

David Fullbrook – Cutthroat cost competition, overcrowded airports and perennial safety concerns, including a tragic accident involving an aged plane that killed at least 90 people on Monday, would on the surface seem to conspire against the prospects of Indonesia's historically up-and-down aviation industry.

Endy M. Bayuni, Jakarta – The people of Aceh have spoken. They voted for independent candidates Irwandi Yusuf and running mate Muhammad Nazar for governor and deputy governor, in the first ever direct democratic elections in this once-troubled territory.

Oyos Saroso H.N., Bandarlampung – Non-government activists reacted resolutely to Bandarlampung Mayor Eddy Sutrisno's allowance "gift" to city councillors by protesting Tuesday.

Jakarta – Decentralization has been blamed for the downfall of the national family planning program during the reform era.

Activists and officials say that the program, a success during the Soeharto regime, has been damaged by a lack of awareness on the part of local administrations and shifting priorities in national development programs.

Multa Fidrus, Banten – Aisyah looks out from her oceanfront bamboo hut at the submerged concrete foundations of her family home in Karang Serang village, Tangerang regency.

The food stall owner said that nine years ago the house, which was located on a 2,000-square-meter block of land, was situated about a kilometer from the coastline. She inherited it from her parents.

Jakarta – The government is being urged to pay more attention to the country's large working-age population, the result of the Soeharto-era family planning program that reduced the national infant mortality rate.

The Indonesia Human Rights Committee is calling on the New Zealand Government to offer to facilitate dialogue between West Papuan representatives and the Government of Indonesia. New Zealand should also call on Indonesia to open up West Papua to the entry of human rights monitors and international media.

Bill Guerin, Jakarta – Indonesia is on the upswing, with strong export and economic growth combining to drive the Jakarta Stock Exchange Index up by more than 55%, accounting for the world's third-best stock-market performance in 2006.

Muhammad Qodari, Jakarta – It has been more than eight years since the country began the transition to democracy, but the Indonesian political elite's understanding of democracy is still procedural rather than substantial.

M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta – While the House of Representatives is yet to decide on the fate of deputy speaker Zaenal Ma'arif, political factions in the legislature are clamoring for his dismissal.

The United Development Party (PPP) proposed that the House leadership hold a meeting with the factions to discuss a the prospect of a leadership shuffle.

Alvin Darlanika Soedarjo, Jakarta – More Indonesians say they are economically worse off compared to 12 months ago and most cite the increased costs of basic goods and travel expenses as the main reasons, an end-of-year survey says.

Oyos Saroso H.N., Bandarlampung – With the prices of basic needs continuing to soar, life is tough for Sugeng Supriadi. The 39-year-old contract teacher at a junior high school in Bandarlampung makes ends meet driving a pedicab.

Jakarta – Thousands of the city's poorest people left dissatisfied Monday after queuing since early morning for free meat at Istiqal Grand Mosque. They were promised two kilograms of meat each, but received less than half a kg.

The majority of Muslims here celebrated Idul Adha on Sunday.

Jakarta – The growing number of minimarkets and convenience stores in Jakarta is forcing many small-scale traders out of business.

"I lost most of my customers when a minimarket opened up right in front of this market (Bintang Mas market in Kemanggisan, West Jakarta) a few months ago," Lilis, a shopkeeper, said Wednesday.

Nabiha Shahab, Rembang – Indonesian navy ships have renewed efforts to reach survivors of a ferry disaster who spent a third night on the open sea as continuing rough weather hindered the search for hundreds still missing.

"Navy ships are still searching now. We're still trying the best we can," Central Java navy commander Colonel Yan Simamora told AFP on Monday.