Fadli, Batam – About 200 members of the All-Indonesia Federation of Workers Union in Batam demonstrated outside the Batam municipal office Thursday, demanding the city's minimum wage be equivalent to the standard costs of living.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – Police have arrested a National Land Agency (BPN) director on charges he forged a land certificate, a case analysts say is the first of many more to come involving the state agency.

Yuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung – Activists from the Women Head the Family (Pekka) group in West Java have urged the legislature and provincial administration to allocate more funds and provide greater access to facilities for female heads of households.

More than 5 million women in the province are the main breadwinners in their households.

Kelik Ismunanto – After such a long period of time in a vacuum, uncertain of how to respond to change caused by neoliberal economic policies, little by little, democracy movement activists have been able to wrest back the political podium.

Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – Inconsistent standards and unethical recruitment methods in the health industry are to blame for Indonesia's costly yet ineffective medical services, a study says.

The size of paper used for voting in the election simulation in Jakarta on Saturday was troubling simulation participants, said a member of Center for General Election Reform.

A member of the NGO, Erika Widyaningsih, said that participants had found it hard to fold the paper pack. The size of the voting booth was also too small for the paper, she said.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – An in-law of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was arrested Thursday, almost a month after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named him a suspect in a graft scandal involving lawmakers.

Hery Winarno, Jakarta – The image of the Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) appears to be starting to fade. At least this what can be read from the results of a survey conducted by the National Survey Institute (LSN), which found that the PKS occupies fourth place among the political parties considered to be most Islamic.

Aubrey Belford, Wamena – Gaunt and covered in sores, 20-year-old Christina Mabele is a rarity in the ballooning AIDS crisis that has hit the remote Papua region in eastern Indonesia: she knows why she is sick.

Sitting in a hospice in this highlands town, which much of the time is only accessible to the outside world by plane, Mabele might get treatment in time.

Alvin Darlanika, Jakarta – Just when they thought life could not get much worse, victims of Indonesia's mud volcano are now being buried under the global financial crisis as they await compensation for their lost homes.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – With radicalism and conservatism appearing to take root across Indonesia without significant public opposition, scholars are questioning just how moderate the silent majority of Indonesian Muslims really is.

Oyos Saroso H.N., Bandarlampung – A number of coffee farmers in Lampung province have cut down their coffee plants in frustration, saying they would not be able to sell their harvests.

Indonesian coffee farmers also cut down their plants in 2001 when the price of the commodity on the local market plummeted to Rp 3,000 (US$1.10) per kilogram.

Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – The special autonomy law has been in force for seven years in resource-rich Papua, but has made little difference to the socio-economic and political conditions of its indigenous people, a seminar concluded here Wednesday.

Jakarta – Papua Police has reiterated warnings over any attempt to raise the morning star flag, a symbol of the Free Papua Organization (OPM) separatist movement, to commemorate the movement's anniversary which falls on Dec. 1.

Lindsay Murdoch and Scott Rochfort – East Timor will today unveil its first national airline, Timor Air, with plans to operate flights to Australia and Indonesia.

By John M. Miller (National Coordinator, ETAN)

Lilian Karunungan and Arijit Ghosh – Indonesia's rupiah strengthened the most since May 2006 on speculation the central bank sold foreign exchange to boost the local currency, which last week sank to a decade-low.

Agus Maryono, Purwokerto – The number of HIV/AIDS cases in Banyumas, Central Java, has been growing steadily every month, sparking public concern, while local authorities have done little except set up Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) clinics to make blood tests accessible.

Jakarta – Indonesia's top Islamic body says it will consider banning Muslims from practicing yoga.

Cleric Ma'ruf Amin said Thursday the Ulema Council was trying to determine if the ancient Indian exercise could corrupt the faith of believers. If the answer is yes, a nonbinding edict prohibiting the practice could be passed next month.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The Papua AIDS Commission (KPA) on Tuesday submitted a letter rejecting a controversial draft bylaw that would require people living with HIV/AIDS to be implanted with a microchip.

The letter, sent to the governor, stated the proposal was against the nature of HIV/AIDS prevention and human rights.

Arlina Arshad, Jakarta – Indonesian Muslim clerics who claim to be protecting vulnerable women by backing a new anti-pornography law have come out in defence of a fellow preacher who has married a 12-year-old village girl.

Two more Papuans from a group who landed in Cape York two years ago are said to be seeking to return to Indonesia.

In January 2006, 43 Papuans landed a boat in Cape York and claimed asylum. All were eventually granted temporary protection visas. The incident sparked an intense diplomatic stoush, peaking with Indonesia's recall of its ambassador to Canberra.

Jakarta – Under mounting pressure from workers, the House of Representatives demanded Tuesday the government revoke a joint ministerial decree limiting minimum wage rises, citing it could lead to conflict.

Jakarta – Indonesia plans to offer tax incentives in 2009 to help labour-intensive industries as it seeks to boost Southeast Asia's biggest economy amid slowing global demand, a government official said.

Aditya Suharmoko, Jakarta – While the government is keeping an eye on potential waves of layoffs and preparing "realistic" responses to help businesses cope with slower growth next year, it warns that companies will have to share the burden.

Amzul Rifin, Tokyo – The government has decided to lower the export tax on crude palm oil (CPO) in November 2008 from 2.5 percent to 0 percent. This decision was included in the 10 policies the government has put in place to mitigate the financial crisis affecting the country.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) has pledged to embrace international humanitarian law to prevent human rights violations from occurring during its operations.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – Most Islamic studies teachers in public and private schools in Java oppose pluralism, tending toward radicalism and conservatism, according to a survey released in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Yuli Tri Suwarni and Rizal Harahap, Bandung, Medan – To commemorate the 63rd anniversary of the Indonesian Teachers Union (PGRI) on Tuesday, thousands of teachers across the country staged rallies demanding improvement in their working conditions.

Andi Hajramurni, Makassar – Despite South Sulawesi being one of the country's rice production centers with bumper harvests each year, a significant portion of the population, both in rural and urban areas, still live below the poverty line.

Astrid Wijaya, Jakarta – The ongoing global financial crisis will not reap havoc on the demand for Indonesian migrant workers, particularly in Kuwait, the United States and Canada, an official said.

Mustaqim Adamrah, Jakarta – Compounding a bleak financial situation that has experts forecasting Indonesia's economy has nowhere to hide from the global financial crisis, the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry has said it expects 40,000 workers to be laid off.

Havana – East Timor's President, Jose Ramos-Horta, today highlighted Cuba's medical collaboration with his country, which has nearly one million inhabitants.

Sarah Boseley, health editor – People with HIV in Papua, Indonesia, who are deemed to be "sexually aggressive" may be microchipped to enable the authorities to identify, track and punish those who deliberately infect others under a plan which has the backing of the provincial parliament.

Aditya Suharmoko and Rendi A. Witular, Jakarta – Ailing Bank Century resumed operations Monday, as Bank Indonesia launched a massive investigative audit to detect any violations of banking regulations that may lead to criminal prosecutions.

Rendi A. Witular, Jakarta – The liquidity squeeze in the domestic banking industry hit a "moderate" level for the first time in three years this month with the global financial turmoil yet to reach its worst point, a senior central bank official says.

It is certainly a very difficult time for companies in Indonesia now and will continue to be so next year, as our economy begins to feel the devastating impact of the financial crisis and recession in the world's economic powerhouses – the United States, Europe and Japan.

Yuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung – Thousands of workers in West Java took to the streets again Monday in protest over the fixed city and regency minimum wage schemes.

Workers from the West Bandung industrial area blockaded the Padalarang highway causing congestion and back-ups for up to 10 kilometers which lasted four hours.

Ary Hermawan, Jakarta – Harry A. Poeze is a Dutch historian who has dedicated half his life to unraveling the mysteries surrounding Tan Malaka, an obscure Indonesian hero once vilified and forgotten by the nation whose independence he had fought for.

Desy Nurhayati, Jakarta – The National Women's Commission has called on political parties contesting the 2009 legislative elections to address women's rights issues, citing the high number of discriminative policies and recent incidences of violence against women.

Simon Roughneen, Port Moresby – Speaking in Washington ahead of the recent Group of 20 global economic summit, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, popularly known as SBY, said his country offered a "shining example where democracy, Islam and modernity thrive together".

Dian Kuswandini and Irawaty Wardany, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) seized Rp 20 billion (US$1.7 million) in cash from the Justice and Human Rights Ministry office in relation to an alleged corruption case at the ministry.

Nurni Sulaiman – Some 1,500 public minivan drivers staged a rally in front of the Balikpapan legislative council Monday in opposition to the municipality administration's plan to operate 20 buses as part of a mass public transportation service.

Adianto Simamora and Dian Kuswandini, Jakarta – The release of Tim Weiner's Pulitzer-winning book The Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA in Indonesia has sparked controversy over allegations former vice-president Adam Malik was involved in the US spy agency and the overthrow of Sukarno.

Adianto P. Simamora, Jakarta – Quick counts by pollsters and low voter registration could be the factors most likely to provoke clashes among supporters of rival candidates in next year's presidential election, a seminar warned Saturday.

The warning was based on analysis of 345 regional direct elections held in the past four years, at least 174 of which ended in conflict.

Taufiqqurrahman, Jakarta – Demonstrations are again set to enliven Jakarta and the nearby satellite city of Tangerang today. Not being half-hearted, nine separate protest actions will open the first working day of the week with traffic congestion along roads being used by residents to travel to work being a real possibility.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – With the financial crisis set to drain political parties' coffers, it seems contenders in the 2009 elections could happily welcome any donations, no matter who they come from.

Political campaign funds could end up coming from businesspeople who absconded abroad with a fortune in state money to evade justice, experts warned on Sunday.

Jakarta – Indonesia's economy will still end up this year with a forecast growth in gross domestic product of nearly 6 percent mainly on the back of robust expansion in the first three quarters.

Jakarta – Unemployment in Aceh Nangroe Darussalam has increased this year as rebuilding efforts following the deadly tsunami that hit the province in late 2004 have slowed.

Lindsay Murdoch, Dili – A high-stakes battle taking place between East Timor and Woodside Petroleum over the Greater Sunrise oil and gas field is set to escalate after a US company's survey of 45,000 square kilometres of the Timor Sea.