Hamish McDonald, Asia-Pacific editor – The emails still keep coming from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, several times a day, attached with transcripts of what the minister said at this or that "doorstep" and notifying where the minister might be ambushed for the next one.

Lindsay Murdoch, Darwin – An Australian investigator has named Indonesian military officers responsible for crimes against humanity committed in East Timor in 1999, including acts of torture where victims were forced to eat their own ears.

Alexander Downer – Even in 1999 it was widely known that elements of the Indonesian military were behind the violent militia activity in East Timor.

Hotli Simanjuntak, Banda Aceh – Six local Aceh parties now eligible to contest the 2009 elections, are determined to make a clean sweep of the 96-seat provincial legislative council, now dominated by national political parties.

Desy Nurhayati and Adianto P. Simamora, Jakarta – There will be no changes to the list of political parties eligible to run in the 2009 elections, despite a recent verdict by the Constitutional Court, the General Elections Commission (KPU) has said.

Aubrey Belford, Jakarta – Indonesia kicked off a mammoth nine-month legislative election campaign Saturday with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's ruling coalition under pressure over soaring food and fuel prices.

ID Nugroho, Surabaya – The national defense industry remains unable to meet the demand of the Indonesian Military (TNI) for quality weaponry at competitive prices and quick delivery times.

During a quarterly forum on military weaponry here Friday, the TNI said the national defense industry needed to improve its products to meet military standards.

Dian Kuswandini, Jakarta – After a decade of reform, the government has yet to recognize basic economic, social and culture rights, said the National Commission on Human Rights in a review Friday.

Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – About 3.5 million babies will be born in Indonesia every year if the current birthrate continues. But if the family planning program breaks down, the birthrate will at least double – putting Indonesia on the verge of a baby boom.

The population has now reached 225 million, according to the National Family Planning Coordinating Board (BKKBN).

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – Although most of the 34 parties running in next year's election are divided along the nationalist-Islamic line, voters made it clear in a recent survey their choices will driven by the parties' performance.

Dian Kuswandini, Jakarta – The Indonesian Press Council on Thursday said press freedom remains restricted in the country after four readers who had their letters of protest published in newspapers were taken to court.

Tom Hyland – The report of the Commission of Truth and Friendship is a bitter pill for the Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, a slap in the face to the Indonesian military, and a challenge to the UN to act on the crimes of 1999, for which no one in authority has been held to account. So many crimes, so few criminals.

Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights urged the government to immediately ratify the 1998 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The long-awaited report by the Indonesia-East Timor 'Commission on Truth and Friendship' (CTF) has been handed down, confirming what we already knew about the events in East Timor in 1999; that the crimes against humanity committed by the military and their proxy militias were an all of state affair.

Tom Hyland – Indonesian soldiers, police and civilian officials were involved in an "organised campaign of violence" that prompted Australian military intervention in East Timor in 1999, says a leaked report by a government inquiry.

Indonesia says it will completely accept a long-awaited report which blames it for murders, rapes and torture in East Timor in 1999.

Lindsay Murdoch – The massacre in the East Timor enclave of Oecussi was supposed to have been kept secret forever.

But Marcus Baquin pretended to be dead when a militiaman, under the command of an Indonesian soldier identified as Anton Sabraka and a militia commander known Gabriel Kolo, slashed the right side of his face and ear with a machete.

Lindsay Murdoch – The Hollywood actor Anthony LaPaglia has called on the Northern Territory Government to hold a coronial inquiry into the assassination of Roger East, a largely forgotten Australian journalist he is portraying in the movie Balibo.

Aditya Suharmoko, Jakarta – Bank lending grew by 9.4 percent until May from the end of last year to Rp 1,096.21 trillion (US$119.7 billion), with half of the lending going to productive sectors as working capital, the central bank reported Thursday.

Natasha Robinson – As Anthony La Paglia sits on a Darwin balcony overlooking over the Timor Sea, he insists that his latest project, Balibo, is much more than a ripping Australian political thriller.

Rachael Brown reporting

Emma Alberici: A leaked report into the handling of East Timor's 1999 independence referendum is being celebrated as a crucial step on the road to reconciliation.

The ABC has obtained a copy of the report to be released in a special ceremony by the presidents of both nations next week.

Jakarta – The recent breakup of an alleged Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) militant cell shows terrorism is still a threat in Indonesia despite improved security, the US ambassador reportedly said Wednesday.

The United States lifted a warning against travel to Indonesia in May, citing "objective improvements" in the security situation.

Aditya Suharmoko, Jakarta – The economy has grown by 6.2 percent in the first half of the year on the back of strong consumption and investment, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said Wednesday.

Sara Webb and Olivia Rondonuwu, Jakarta – A small, influential Islamist party in Indonesia is alarming moderates who fear this secular but predominantly Muslim country may head for wider use of sharia law and become less tolerant of other religions and cultures.

The East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) is deeply disturbed by heavy-handed police actions – including the use of tear gas and large numbers of arrests – against nonviolent student demonstrators in Dili this week.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has widened its lead over the Golkar Party by more than 11 percent, according a new survey released Wednesday.

Desy Nurhayati, Jakarta – Normally elections are about campaign funds and strategy but, believe it or not, some political parties consider which number they draw for the 2009 polls a clue to their success or failure.

In a nation where mysticism still prevails, party executives believe the numbers, drawn on Wednesday, could prove lucky – or not.

Sahat Simatupang, Medan – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) urged the police to uncover a murder case in North Sumatera. In March, the Kontras reported police commissioner Anjasmara was involved in the murder of Edi Sarianto.

Rohman Taufiq, Surabaya – About a hundred high school (SMA) students from Surabaya, Gresik, and Sidoarjo, demonstrated together at the Negara Grahadi building in Surabaya, today (10/7).

Indah Setiawati, Jakarta – The Jakarta Police have received photographs of more alleged vandals who damaged cars during a student protest in front of Atma Jaya university, Central Jakarta, last month.

Jayapura – A local religious leader said the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has so far not paid any attention to or touched suspected corruption cases involving serving and former office-holders in Papua's executive and legislative branches at provincial and district or municipal levels, creating the impression the KPK was "discriminative" in carrying out its mission.

Philip Dorling – The Australian Defence Force has begun a series of controversial exercises in East Timor involving Black Hawk helicopters firing live machine-gun rounds.

Desy Nurhayati and Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – The 18 new parties contesting the 2009 legislative election are unlikely to transform the political face of the country, analysts said Tuesday.

The new parties will be unable to bring about any real change because they represent the interests of old political players, Arbi Sanit of the University of Indonesia said.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – With the General Elections Commission having announced 34 parties eligible to run in the 2009 elections, old players and newcomers are gearing up for the nine-month campaign, which will kick off this Saturday.

Andra Wisnu, Jakarta – A missing letter connecting the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) to the murder of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib may reappear as evidence against former BIN officer Muchdi Purwoprandjono.

Dian Kuswandini, Jakarta – After 10 years of reform, Indonesia continues to lag in the implementation of human rights regulations, the National Commission on Human Rights said in a review Tuesday.

Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – Sixteen years have passed since 40-year-old Rina (not her real name) started working as a cleaner at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

Agus Maryono, Purwokerto – Two-thirds of the natural springs in Banyumas regency, Central Java, have dried up due to conversion of catchment areas into human settlements, says a forestry official.

These springs are the main source of water for residents in the regency.

Police and security forces in East Timor are braced for a further day of protests outside the National University in Dili.

Since Monday, dozens of the students have been arrested as part of a continuing demonstration against what they say is government waste in the mid year budget review and a proposed new law that would allow civilians to carry guns.

Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) has issued a second warning to Trans TV for its "vulgar" comedy hit Extravaganza.

"This is the last warning. If Trans TV fails to make improvements, we will order the station to stop the show," KPI commissioner Yazirwan Uyun said here Monday.

Jakarta – Passengers waited helplessly in dimly lit terminals as the runway fell eerily quiet.

Activity at Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar – South Sulawesi's major airport – came to a standstill as a region-wide electricity blackout suspended operations for several hours.

Flights delayed. Schedules abandoned. Travelers frustrated and angry.

Desy Nurhayati and Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – The 2009 legislative election will see 34 political parties vying for seats in the House of Representatives, after the General Elections Commission (KPU) passed 18 new parties after less than a month of factual verification.

Dian Kuswandini, Jakarta – Most corruption convicts have so far preferred to serve additional jail terms rather than pay restitutions to the state, the Attorney General's Office (AGO) said Monday.

Arwa Damon, Remote West Timor – Maria's labored breath echoes within the walls of her family's mud hut. Her tiny, bony hands open and close in slow claw-like motions.

She's 15 months old, but weighs just 10 pounds – one of countless children under the age of 5 facing severe malnutrition in Indonesia's West Timor. A typical infant weighs about 24 pounds at 15 months.

Indra Harsaputra, Surabaya – The five pairs of candidates contesting the upcoming East Java gubernatorial elections have followed in the government's footsteps by not addressing the impacts of the Sidoarjo mudflow disaster.

Ken Yunita, Jakarta – Protest actions are again starting to enliven Jakarta and surrounding areas. According to the Metro Jaya regional police Traffic Management Centre at least five demonstrations will take place on Tuesday July 8.

Prodita Sabarini – A decline in the breast-feeding rate in Indonesia is one of the primary causes of the rise in childhood malnutrition in the country, a UN official says.

Dili – East Timorese and UN anti-riot police arrested at least 16 students Tuesday during a second day of protests at the national university against a plan to import cars for lawmakers.

Around 500 students rallied outside the National University of Timor Leste to condemn the procurement plan, after 21 were arrested in a similar protest there on Monday.

Andra Wisnu, Jakarta – Despite a significant decrease in terror attacks over the past three years, the recent arrest of 10 alleged Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) members in South Sumatra has raised the possibility of future terrorist attacks, experts said Saturday.

Mark Dodd – East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao has signed a $US14.4 million ($14.9 million) food security contract giving sole import rights to the vice-president of his political party – a deal that is ringing alarm bells at the UN and among the impoverished country's main donors, including Australia.