Just five months after the Indonesian Government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) concluded a momentous accord on the Cessation of Hostilities (COHA) on 9 December 2002, which was enthusiatically welcomed by the Acehnese people, the Indonesian armed forces (TNI) have started preparations for a major military offensive in Aceh aimed at crushing GAM.

Prangtip Daorueng, Jakarta – As Aceh's peace effort lurches toward a possible collapse, fear has taken over the persistent, if increasingly uncertain, hope that many from that restive Indonesian province had over recent months.

Indonesian police have arrested four rebel members of a joint committee established to monitor a ceasefire in the province of Aceh.

The four members represented the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) on the Joint Security Committee. The committee was set up to monitor the December 9 peace deal between the GAM and the Indonesian government.

Endy M. Bayuni, Jakarta – Trouble has been brewing in Papua, located at the other extreme of the Indonesian archipelago from Aceh where war with separatist rebels is imminent, but a US-based organization believes that the government in Jakarta could reduce tension in Papua, and use it as a model for conflict prevention in other regions.

Joanne Collins, Jakarta – Seven navy vessels carrying some 3,000 marines sailed for troubled Aceh on Thursday, even as officials said there was time to talk with rebels and that the government would consult parliament on plans for the province.

Australian Parliamentarians have been told that Indonesia's troubled province of Papua is the most likely future cause of problems between Jakarta and Canberra. A group of experts has also told the MPs and Senators that the hardline tactics of the Indonesian military have made it impossible for Papuan moderates to cooperate with Indonesia.

Marian Wilkinson, Washington – A group of United States senators has called on President Megawati Soekarnoputri of Indonesia to make the investigation into the killing of two Americans and the wounding of eight others near the Freeport mine in West Papua "a national priority".

[Indonesia's special forces have tarnished that country's human-rights record. Yet, they weren't always maligned, writes John McBeth KOPASSUS: Inside Indonesia's Special Forces, by Ken Conboy. Equinox Publishing. $14.99]

Susan Austin, Jakarta – About 10,000 people marched on May 1 in a colourful display of opposition to the anti-worker policies of the Indonesian government. Organised by the May Day Action Committee, the demonstration drew together contingents from many unions.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Papua Police named an alleged commander of the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM) as a key suspect in last month's armed robbery at the Wamena military district arsenal which left three men dead and dozens of rifles missing.

Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – Three tycoons, two former generals, a revered Javanese sultan and an icon for religious tolerance – these are some of the men whose names are in circulation for the coveted post of the presidential nominee for Golkar, Indonesia's second-largest political party.

Max Lane – Following a meeting of the Indonesian cabinet security committee on April 28, security minister Susilo Bambang Yudotomo announced that Jakarta may consider resuming "security operations" and abandon peace negotiations in Aceh.

Oscar Jukes, Darwin – East Timor's parliament is discussing a new law that would allow the interior ministry to deport any foreigner who engages in political activity or even attends a political meeting or demonstration.

Sonya De Masi – Indonesia has a growing drug problem. Some research suggests there are up to a million intravenous drug users and the numbers are increasing daily. Now under a bilateral agreement between the Australian and Indonesian governments, a training program is underway towards the development of a national action plan.

Michael Perry, Sydney – Tens of thousands of Papuans who fled Indonesia into neighbouring Papua New Guinea fearing abuse by the military have become a forgotten people, living in a stateless limbo for two decades, according to a new report.

Endy M. Bayuni – Anyone wondering why many Papuans are bent on seeking independence should read a newly published public opinion survey, which finds the province mired in poverty and inequality resulting from neglect and, to some extent, exploitation.

Grave human rights abuses including the killing of children and other civilians are already being reported in Indonesia's Aceh province, Amnesty International says.

A major military offensive aimed at crushing the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) entered its second week today in the province, which has been placed under martial law.

That Papua is one of the poorest provinces in Indonesia is beyond dispute, but what is less known to date is the deep disparity that exists there.

Separatist rebels in Aceh have accused the Indonesian government of violating an already fragile peace agreement by strengthening its troops in the province.

Why has the government information campaign basically failed in Papua? The answers may have to do as much with the low penetration of the media among the Papuan people as with the message itself.

Jakarta – Some 50 Acehnese leaders are attempting to salvage the fragile peace in the province as the government deadline for Acehnese rebels to accept special autonomy and disarm draws near.

Leo Wahyudi S. – Thousands of workers staged rallies to mark International Labor Day on May 1 in an attempt to voice their rights, which they said were often overlooked by employers.

Indonesian prosecutors will bring subversion charges against 129 separatist supporters arrested in Maluku province, a police officer said.

Maluku head of detectives Chief Commissioner Usman Nasution said Monday the suspects will be charged with plotting against the state, a charge carrying up to 20 years in jail.

Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – Despite having opposed the United States' invasion of Iraq, Indonesia will probably not be among those countries that suffer trade punishment by the US, analysts here believe.

Banda Aceh – Police said on Monday they found three bombs allegedly planted by separatist rebels on a road often used by police patrols, AFP reported.

While President Megawati Sukarnoputri keeps silent in the choice of her running mate in the 2004 direct presidential election, her husband Taufik Kiemas has taken a provocative stand by signaling the readiness of the Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to join forces with Golkar, the political vehicle of former dictator Suharto.

A mob has attacked and ransacked a police post in Indonesia. The incident happened in Palimanan, in West Java, a day after a policeman allegedly shot dead a bus driver following a traffic accident. The company's bus drivers went on strike today to protest the shooting.

Patrick McLoughlin, Stockholm – Sweden on Sunday rejected suggestions that the Stockholm-based leader of the separatist rebels for the Indonesian province of Aceh be expelled from the country to face trial in Indonesia.

Pelambang – People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) chairman Amien Rais has said that it would be "useless" to continue depending on the Swiss-based Henry Dunant Center (HDC) in finding a peaceful solution to the prolonged armed conflict in Aceh.

Tony Stephens – Teresinha Maia's grandfather, Loloulo, helped Australian commandos fight the Japanese in Timor during World War II. Believing he had saved their lives, the Australians gave him a slouch hat. Loloulo wore it for years. It rests now in what Mrs Maia calls a holy place in East Timor.

Matthew Moore. – She cried often, fainted once and she lied a lot. But mostly Adistia just laughed and laughed with a mother's irrepressible delight at being reunited with kids she thought she would never see again.

Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta – The central government is investigating Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh for alleged misappropriation of general allocation funds for the conflict-torn province, a minister said on Friday.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – Despite mounting criticism against Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) forging a coalition with Golkar, PDI Perjuangan leader Taufik Kiemas said on Friday that the ruling party was ready to join forces with the political vehicle of former dictator Soeharto.

Jakarta – Amien Rais, the Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly, here on Friday urged President Megawati Soekarnoputri to curb the influence of her businessman husband, calling him "a disservice to this nation."

Mataram – Around 305,000 people in West Nusa Tenggara are illiterate, according to estimates by a local official on Friday.

Head of the West Nusa Tenggara office for education, youth and sports affairs Zaini Arony said that the 305,000 illiterates were in the 10 to 40 age group. The province has a population of around 3.8 million.

Bambang Nurbianto, Jakarta – The illegal sales of the city administration's nine-hectare site in the subdistrict of Tebet Barat, South Jakarta, to private companies was another example of how the city lost its assets.

Jill Jolliffe, Dili – An Indonesian official has described the former East Timor governor Mario Carrascalao as unstable, following his allegations that the Indonesian Army systematically forced Timorese women to be sex slaves for officers and then killed their husbands.

Fitri Wulandari, Jakarta – The Indonesian government is almost certain not to extend its contract with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which will terminate at the end of this year.

Aside from forming a team to review the most suitable exit strategy, the government has also set a team tasked with reviewing policies to be applied after the program ends.

Banda Aceh – An independent team should look into alledged violations of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) between the Indonesian government and the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM), according to Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).

Linda Silaen, Jakarta – The International Monetary Fund said Friday that Indonesia's economy in 2004 could grow by more than the government's forecast of between 4% and 5%.

Jakarta – Golkar Party has expressed concern over the Indonesian government's program to privatize and divest a number of state companies, as it has led to the selling of state assets, which could undermine the country's economic independence, its chairman has said.

Matthew Moore, Jakarta – The first person charged in connection with the Bali bombing was yesterday found guilty of illegal possession and sale of explosive materials and sentenced to seven months' jail.

Ministers from around the Asia Pacific region have wound up a two day conference on people smuggling and other trans-national crime in Bali. The meeting was co-hosted by Indonesia and Australia, and both countries describe it as a positive first step on which to build further co-operation.

Jakarta – Some 200 students from the Student Movement for Anti-Corruption, Collusion and Nepotism (Gema KKN) demonstrated in front of the Supreme Court (MA) here on Thursday.

The students demanded that the head of the court, Bagir Manan, send Akbar Tandjung, the chairman of the Golkar Party and the speaker of the House of Representatives, to prison or resign.

Jakarta – Thousands of workers took to the streets in Jakarta and other cities across the country on Thursday to commemorate International Labor Day, which falls on May 1, demanding improvements in legal protection and their welfare.

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Despite opposition from minor labor unions, the government has enacted Law No. 13/2003 on industrial relations and labor protection to develop harmonious industrial ties between employers and workers.

Netty Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Soldiers hunting down the suspects in last month's raid against the Wamena military district arsenal, clashed with suspected rebels in Koyawage forest in the Papua regency of Jayawijaya on Thursday.

Steven Gutkin, Jakarta – The United States remains ready to normalise relations with the Indonesian army, but obstacles including suspicions that soldiers were involved in the murder of two Americans are preventing full restoration of ties, the US ambassador said yesterday.

Tim Johnston – If the shipping lanes of South-East Asia have their dangers, doing business on land can be just as fraught. Western oil and mining companies have discovered to their cost that the locals are not always welcoming. BP is the latest multinational to test the area's resolve.

Jakarta – With the two-week deadline set for Aceh rebels to accept terms for peace talks coming closer, the Indonesian government is facing mounting pressure to save the truce it signed last year.