Vannessa Hearman – East Timor's 2006 Human Development Report prepared by the United Nations Development Program and the Timorese government shows the country is suffering from deep structural poverty. The report argues for "integrated rural development" to be initiated by public investment as the "path out of poverty".
The key findings of the report include that:
The Indonesian government's commitment to ratify two key human rights instruments, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) in May 2006, is a welcome step.
Chris Brummitt, Jakarta – A young Indonesian militant with close links to al-Qaida is now in charge of the Southeast Asian terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, which remains dangerous despite more than 270 arrests since 2000, a top counterterrorism official said Wednesday.
Wahyu Dhyatmika, Jakarta – Although the recess at the House of Representatives (DPR) starts next week, the Special Committee for the Aceh Government Draft Bill will still continue its discussions in order to meet the deadline.
They took their place behind a piece of card bearing their name in orderly fashion, a sharp click signaling an end to their moment in front of the camera.
Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Thousands of students are staying away from their dormitories in Abepura, fearing further reprisals after the killing of four security personnel last Thursday.
Iqbal Fadil, Jakarta – The accusations by Syamsir Siregar, the head of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), that local West Papuan non-government organisations (NGOs) in Papua sponsored the Abepura incident are intended to discredit NGOs in Papua as a whole.
Jakarta – Indonesia's Papua remained tense with hundreds of students hiding in the jungle to evade a police manhunt, reports said, as the death toll from riots over a US-run mine rose to six.
Zaky Almubarok/Imron Rosyid, Boyolali – The government's plan to revise the Manpower Decree has been refused by many labor circles. About 3,000 members of Boyolali National Trade Union, yesterday (20/3) crowded the streets to refuse the decree revision.
'The Government no longer pays attention to us. Some local officials have even asked us why we have not repatriated and returned to Timtim. We don't think about going back to Timtim. We're here not only for the sights. We are legal citizens. I'm surprised that officials ask us this,' said Salem Nimran (49)
Jakarta – None of the usual whirring of machinery, clanging of metal or shouts of workers sounded Monday at Tanjung Priok Port.
About 12,000 truck drivers from 151 transportation companies went on strike, refusing to deliver goods for export or pick up ones unloaded from destinations around the world.
Suherdjoko and ID Nugroho, Bojonegoro – Protests over the Cepu oil block continued in Central Java on Monday, with 250 residents demanding to be involved in the project while other protesters rejected ExxonMobil Corp.'s involvement in the oil block's operation.
Jakarta – Activity at major ports in Jakarta, North Sumatra, Central and East Java ground to a halt Monday, with container truck owners and drivers going on strike over the imposition of value-added tax (VAT) on transportation services and of rampant extortion at the ports.
Ahmad Dani, Jakarta – Although they have not found any presence of a communist threat, the TNI (Indonesian military) is still keeping on guard against the latent danger of communism in Jakarta.
Israr Iskandar, Padang – Like an irresistible piece of chocolate cake, Freeport has become an issue politicians are eager to talk about.
Former People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker Amien Rais has recently urged the government to revise its contract with PT Freeport Indonesia. He has even agreed with the activists, who demand Freeport's closure.
Rob Taylor in Jakarta – Indonesia's intelligence chief has accused an Australian-backed aid group of being behind clashes in the province of West Papua in which four security officers were killed.
Jakarta – Hundreds of people have attacked and torched a mining camp run by a subsidiary of the US mining company Newmont on Indonesia's Sumbawa island.
The attack came days after deadly clashes in Indonesia's Papua province during protests to demand the closure of another gold and copper mine run by the US firm Freeport-McMoRan.
Jakarta – Four hunger strikers from several Jakarta universities collapsed Sunday, six days into their strike.
They had their lips sewn up in a show of support for people claiming to be the victims of the construction of extra-high voltage electricity wires in their neighborhoods.
Emmy Fitri, Jakarta – The impending reward once the contentious bills on pornography and pornographic acts is endorsed, could be a division among the people – specifically the devout believers and the not-so-devout.
Jakarta – The widow of murdered human rights activist Munir plans to file a civil suit against national flag carrier Garuda Airlines for negligence leading to her husband's death.
Bandung – State Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik has told legislators not to rush the deliberation of the pornography.
Jakarta – Foreign ministry officials are advised to take over immigration duties at foreign consular offices to minimize cases of corruption, many of which have recently been revealed.
Legislator Djoko Susilo said that if getting rid of the immigration officers were impossible, then at least their number should be reduced and supervision tightened.
The Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC) demands an independent investigation into the cases of Indonesian police brutality in West Papua reported after last week's protests from local students demanding a pull-out of the Indonesian army (TNI) and police from West Papua and the closure of the US-owned Freeport mining operations.
Panca Nugraha, Mataram – A house belonging to an Ahmadiyah follower has been destroyed by his own neighbors in Central Lombok, but nobody was injured during the attack, a police officer said Saturday.
Jakarta – Victims of human rights abuses have called for a review of the 2004 Law on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (KKR), which they say gives impunity to state officials implicated in a series of state crimes.
Jakarta – The National Intelligence Agency (BIN) has accused non-government organisations (NGOs) of sponsoring the bloody incident in Abepura, West Papua. But NGOs are pointing the finger at conflicts over the provision of security businesses by the TNI (Indonesian military) and national police (Polri).
Deadly clashes in Papua, in which four security officers were killed by demonstrators, were planned as a stepping stone to full independence for the restive province, Indonesian authorities said.
Endy M. Bayuni, Jakarta – Something seems to be amiss in the current nationwide crackdown on prostitution.
Tangerang municipality is leading the charge by rounding up women walking alone in main streets past newly imposed curfew hours, but Jakarta and other major cities have also been raiding locations allegedly used as brothels.
Days after peaceful gubernatorial elections in the provinces of Papua and the newly established West Irian Jaya, three policemen and a member of the Air Force were killed in clashes with protesters demanding the closure of the Freeport gold and copper mine, the largest in the world.
Richard C. Paddock, Malang – Yusman Roy, a former boxer and a convert to Islam, is serving two years in prison because he believes that Muslims should pray in a language they can understand.
Jakarta – A government plan to prevent soldiers from being tried for crimes in civilian courts was a step backward and would further weaken the checks and balances against the powerful military, a panel of experts said.
Chris Brummitt, Jakarta – The world's largest gold mining company suspended exploration on Indonesia's Sumbawa Island after unidentified people torched a camp for its workers, the company said Monday.
Jakarta – Following the deadly anti-Freeport riot in Papua last week, at least two more serious incidents targeting foreign companies have taken place in different areas of the country.
Jakarta – The government is being pressured to reverse its publicly unpopular decision to drop criminal charges against eight former bank owners willing to settle their debts to the state.
Jakarta – Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirajuda said Indonesia and Timor Leste have agreed to settle their problems in the past through the Truth and Friendship Commission (TFC) and focus on pursuing restorative justice.
Jayapura/Jakarta – Heeding public pressure, the National Police moved Sunday to stop retaliatory measures by ordering its Mobile Brigade (Brimob) in Papua to return to their barracks in Jayapura.
Jayapura – Paramilitary police in Papua pulled people from cars Saturday and beat them, an official said, two days after a mob bludgeoned to death four security officers during protests to demand the closure of a US-owned gold mine in eastern Indonesia.
Jakarta – Hundreds of people have attacked and torched a mining camp run by a local subsidiary of US giant Newmont on Indonesia's Sumbawa island.
The attack on Sunday followed in the wake of deadly clashes in Indonesia's Papua province last week during protests to demand the closure of a gold and copper mine run by US firm Freeport-McMoRan.
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – Balkan Kaplale, the head of the deliberation of the controversial pornography bill, has been accused of misleading the public.
Legislators critical of the bill said Saturday Balkan misled the public when he announced last week that all members of the team deliberating the bill had agreed to drop its controversial elements.
A military crackdown is under way in Indonesian controlled West Papua in the wake of the violent end of a Jayapura demonstration against the Freeport McMoran mine two days ago. Reports indicate that riot police opened fire on the demonstrators using rubber bullets and possibly live ammunition as well as tear gas.
Soeryo Winoto, Jakarta – Thank God! Finally, the government has made its position clear on the controversial pornography bill.
State Minister for Women's Empowerment Meutia Hatta Swasono said Wednesday the focus of the bill should be on limiting the distribution of obscene materials, not prosecuting personal conduct, especially the conduct of women.
Hon Alexander Downer MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
18 March 2006
Dear Mr. Downer,
I am writing to you concerning the dangerously deteriorating situation in West Papua.
Jakarta – The Supreme Court lost all credibility years ago and has long been corrupt and its judges unprofessional, a new book on the history of the institution says.
The Indonesian Supreme Court: A Study of Institutional Collapse blames the Sukarno and Soeharto regimes for undermining the power of the Supreme Court and using it as a political tool.
Rendi A. Witular and Anissa S. Febrina, Jakarta – Vice President Jusuf Kalla confirmed Friday the government would drop a planned increase in electricity rates this year amid widespread opposition.
Yemris Fointuna and Oyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post, Kupang, Bandarlampung At least 16 children in West Sumba Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, have died this year from complications caused by malnutrition.
Sian Powell, Jakarta – Indonesian paramilitary police beat and kicked Papuan students yesterday in reprisals for the deaths of three policemen and an air force officer.
Human rights worker Albert Rumbekwan, from the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights, said the police had blocked roads and were searching every vehicle.
Jakarta – Indonesian authorities have detained another 11 people in Papua province after three policemen and a soldier died in clashes with protesters demanding closure of a giant US-run mine, police said on Saturday.
Mark Forbes, Jayapura – Indonesia's President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has called for restraint following the brutal murder of four security officers by Papuan demonstrators. He promised to respond to concerns about the giant Freeport goldmine but vowed it would remain open.
Jakarta – An alliance of NGOs has condemned Thursday's violence in Jayapura, Papua, but demanded the authorities not exact reprisals for the killing of three policemen and an Air Force officer.
Greens Senator Kerry Nettle has urged Prime Minister John Howard and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer to press Indonesia for an end to violence in West Papua.
Senator Nettle said its time for Mr Howard and Mr Downer to do something. "The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister often boast of the close relationship we have with Indonesia," she said in a statement.