Iqbal M, Jakarta – The State Intelligence Agency's (BIN) witness, Budi Santoso, who currently works as Deputy I of BIN's Foreign Affairs, said that in mid 2004, Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto came to his office room and introduced himself as a Garuda Indonesia pilot.

Rizal Harahap, Pekanbaru – Riau Governor Rusli Zainal on Tuesday warned residents and officials against the large-scale conversion of farmland into plantations, which he said would threaten food security in the province.

Jakarta – Members of several non-governmental organizations including Perempuan Mahardika and the Indonesian Street Musician Union hit the streets in a rally commemorating the massive 1974 street riots known as Malari on Tuesday.

Some 80 protesters put on orations and theatrical performances across the street from the State Palace after they were denied access by police.

It seem almost quaint now, but Indonesia's longtime president Suharto, who now lies dying, was once praised by the Washington for his strong anti-Communism, backed by a muscular, US-supplied military. That praise translated into billions in aid from allies and international institutions before it all ended badly in the Asian economic crisis of 1997.

Blontank Poer, Surakarta – To have been branded a communist was without doubt painful during Soeharto's reign. Socializing with neighbors became not an easy matter; finding employment virtually impossible.

"It's really painful being ostracized by society," Sipon, the widow of poet Wiji Tukul told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Jakarta – Legislators should not interfere with the authority of Constitutional Court judges on matters related to an ad-hoc human rights court, an expert witness told the Court on Monday.

Criminal code expert Arif Amrullah of the University of Jember in East Java said the authority of the House of Representatives did not extend to the criminal justice system.

Robin McDowell, Jakarta – Ten years ago, Amien Rais led thousands of demonstrators chanting "Hang Suharto!" to the halls of parliament, where they demanded the resignation of a man widely regarded as one of the most brutal and corrupt leaders of the 20th century.

Fabio Scarpello, Denpasar – Some want him pardoned and remembered as the "Father of Development." Others say his name should forever be linked to the crimes he committed. Almost 10 years since he was deposed by a student-led movement, former dictator Suharto still divides Indonesia.

Ahmad Pathoni, Solo – About 30 Indonesian protesters performed a traditional mask dance in the royal city of Solo on Tuesday to demand that former president Suharto, who is critically ill in a Jakarta hospital, be brought to justice.

There was great hope nearly a decade ago that victims of state violence and all Indonesian people would have justice, when president Soeharto stepped down after 32 years in power.

Should he go or should he stay home and send a lower-ranking proxy? Kevin Rudd will be one of many foreign leaders torn between the pros and cons of attending the imminent funeral for the former Indonesian president Soeharto.

Testimony by a senior intelligence agent corroborates the link between BIN and Pollycarpus. Police claim to have written evidence.

Jakarta – The execution of Indonesian maid Yanti Sukardi by Saudi Arabian authorities Friday was proof that the Indonesian government had failed to protect its migrant workers, the Migrant Care said Sunday.

Owais Parray, Jakarta – Last November, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released its 2007/8 Global Human Development Report. Every year the report focuses on a particular theme, examining it from a human development perspective in order to stimulate dialog and offer policy choices for the future.

Adianto P. Simamora, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) won regional elections in most areas last year, beating its long-time rival, the Golkar Party.

Jeirry Sumampow of the People's Voter Education Network (JPRR) said PDI-P won 35.7 percent of 38 elections held in provincial and regional levels last year.

Sultani – Each time Suharto falls ill and is taken to hospital, the public is inevitably faced with the choice of forgiving him for his mistakes or continuing legal proceedings against him. Now that the former president of the Republic of Indonesia is lying ill at the Pertamina Central Hospital, the public is again faced with the same two choices.

Adianto P. Simamora, Jakarta – Experts have criticized President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's call for the public to quit debates around the legal status of former president Soeharto, who has been hospitalized and is reportedly in a critical condition.

Jakarta – As much as 60-70 percent of the 2007 state budget (APBN) or between 457-534 trillion rupiah was depleted for the bureaucratic costs of the government, legislator and law enforcement agencies. The total state budget for 2007 was 763 trillion rupiah.

East Timor's former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri has called on current Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao to resign, amid claims he orchestrated deadly unrest that erupted in 2006.

General Suharto of Indonesia is fading fast, the news bulletins say. So when I came into the country, I started asking how people felt about their dying killer. (Body count, circa one million plus, overwhelmingly civilian).

Anthony Deutsch, Jakarta – More than three years after Indonesia's leading human rights campaigner died of arsenic poisoning during a commercial airline flight, his case has become a critical test of the country's willingness to come to grips with the legacy of the 32-year Suharto dictatorship.

Jakarta – Secular-nationalist and Islamic party coalitions were the most successful in the country's regional elections throughout 2007, while only a few female candidates managed to win office, the People's Voter Education Network (JPPR) reported Friday.

Discourses on the necessity of young leaders emerging in the national political arena have raised debates among many facets of society, including the young generation itself. The Jakarta Post's Annisa M.P. Rochadiat recently talked with young Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Budiman Sudjatmiko about this issue and others in Indonesian politics.

Fadli, Batam – The Riau Islands chapter of the Indonesian Employers Association has told the government it needs to crack down on corruption in special economic zones.

Sara Webb, Merak – Indonesia's rust-bucket ferries are a symbol of the decrepit infrastructure which has plagued Southeast Asia's biggest economy and prevented it from matching China's meteoric growth rate.

Ahmad Junaidi, Jakarta – The Golkar Party has shown its teeth. During a closing speech at the party's national meeting in November last year, Golkar leader Jusuf Kalla said democracy could be compromised for the sake of people's welfare.

Jakarta – As former president Soeharto lies ill in hospital, politicians and political experts are trying to decipher a message he reportedly sent to Megawati Soekarnoputri instructing her to "take care of the nation".

Jakarta – The Indonesian government and Suharto family have agreed to settle out of court a civil corruption suit against the former president, who is critically ill, the attorney general said Saturday.

Richard Lloyd Parry – Indonesia was at the end of an era last night, as its former dictator Suharto, the general and mystic who for 32 years dominated the world's largest Muslim nation, teetered on the verge of death.

Budi Kurniawan – Indonesia's former dictator Soeharto remains in a critical condition in a Jakarta hospital. Doctors are struggling to prevent multiple organ failure and say they fear for the life of the 86-year-old former general.

Irawaty Wardany, Jakarta – It was four in the afternoon, and the clouds had hung in the sky since morning. Such a gloomy backdrop seemed fitting for a protest held by human rights activists and victims in front of the State Palace in Central Jakarta.

Jakarta – Ienes Angela remembered back to a long time ago when she sat in a church and felt uncomfortable. It was an unpleasant experience. She felt as though she didn't belong because people were staring at her.

Desy Nurhayati, Jakarta – The Defense Ministry said it will make the most of the Indonesian Military (TNI)'s limited budget and will focus more on procuring new defense and military equipment produced by local manufacturers.

Purborini, Jakarta – As many as 30 protesters from the Solidarity Network for the Families of Victims of Human Rights Violations (JSKKPH) went to the Pertamina Central Hospital on January 11 to call for former President Suharto to be tried.

Nograhany Widhi K, Jakarta – Demonstrations have consistently dogged the life of former President Suharto, both when he was in power and when he has been sick. "Try Suharto!".

Jakarta – Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik came to the defense of the film censorship board at a judicial review of the country's 16-year old film law at the Constitutional Court on Wednesday.

Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu said Wednesday the province would uphold a newly issued government regulation that bans the use of separatist attributes as regional symbols, a move in line with the province's status as part of the unitary state of Indonesia.

Andi Haswidi, Jakarta – Having trade deficits with certain partners is natural, but not when the number of partners keeps growing and the total deficits jumping exponentially.

Jakarta – Judges have ordered prosecutors to forcibly summon six witnesses in the trial of Garuda Indonesia chief pilot's secretary Rohainil Aini, who stands charged with conspiracy in the murder of rights activist Munir Said Thalib. Munir was murdered while on a flight to Amsterdam on Sep. 7, 2004.

Jakarta – Law enforcers should consider the victim's perspective when handling child sexual abuse cases, an official said recently.

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Three decades have passed, but state insurance company PT Jamsostek's holding monopoly in social security programs has yet to show its performance in providing job security for workers – despite its improved financial performance under new management.

Jakarta – Groups fighting for the rights of transvestites have demanded the government be more supportive of the minority group, especially as they try to secure employment in the formal sector.

Khairul Saleh, Palembang – The Palembang Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has said that tropical forests in Sumatra are under extreme threat from illegal logging.

Coordinator of WCS Muhammad Taupiq said that at least 500,000 of Sumatra's 2.5 million hectares of tropical forest had been lost during the 1990-2000 period, or about 50,000 hectares per year.

Jakarta – Indonesia and China will intensify their defense cooperation as part of efforts to implement a strategic partnership they had agreed upon on April 25, 2005, Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said.

Adianto P Simamora, Jakarta – Green activists strongly criticized the ongoing forest conversion work at Bukit Tigapuluh, saying it would speed up the loss of Sumatra's endangered species and further harm the environment.

Jakarta – Boosting professionalism and strengthening the rules keeping the military out of politics were among the priorities highlighted at a handover ceremony where Gen. Djoko Santoso moved to the helm of Indonesian Military (TNI).

Maryadi, Jakarta – Jakarta never seems to be free from protest actions, and not a day goes by without a demonstration, including today, Wednesday January 9.

There will be demonstrations today at the National Monument (Monas), the Salemba area in Central Jakarta and Jl. Gatot Subroto. Drivers are advised to avoid these areas in order not to get caught in traffic.

Jakarta – A rights watch group wants political parties to play a more active human rights advocacy role in both the legislative and executive arms of the government.

Jakarta – State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Syamsir Siregar has given his approval for the National Police's questioning of former agency officials in connection with the September 2004 murder of rights activist Munir Said Thalib.