Jakarta – Many children are facing physical and psychological abuse in Indonesian childcare institutions, a study has found. The study, jointly conducted by the Social Services Ministry, Save the Children and Unicef, concluded that many childcare institutions in Indonesia do not do enough for the welfare of their children.

Olivia Rondonuwu, Jakarta – Indonesia's environment minister said on Thursday that events in Jakarta, hit by flooding due to unusually high tides this week, served as a timely warning of the impact of global warming on coastal cities.

Apriadi Gunawan and Oyos Saroso H.N., Medan, Bandarlampung – The illegal trade and hunting of wild animals, including endangered Sumatran tigers and elephants, has reached alarming levels in several parts of Sumatra.

Jakarta – More than 56 percent of youths in the Greater Jakarta area support sharia-based bylaws, but almost 80 percent believe in the Pancasila state ideology that protects Indonesia's diversity, a new survey shows.

Jakarta – Indonesia's textile exports to the United States and Japan fell in the first quarter of this year because of the slowing global economy, a consultant firm says.

Jakarta – The National Police Commission (Kompolnas) has attributed its failure to boost the performance of the police force to a lack of power.

"We don't have any authority like the Corruption Eradication Commission, the Judicial Commission and other independent commissions. We can't investigate or detain people," commission member Adnan Pandupraja said Tuesday.

Melly Febrida, Jakarta – Protest actions will continue to enlivening Jakarta today. Locations that are expected to be affected by traffic congestion as a result of the demonstrations are the State Palace and the Bank Indonesia International (BII) Plaza. Motorists are asked to anticipate traffic jams and seek alternative routes.

Ika Krismantari, Jakarta – The recent fuel prices increase has not hampered consumption, with full-year fuel consumption set to rise 10 percent on the back of a growing economy and a rising number of vehicles, an official says.

Jakarta – The government is facing mounting pressure in cities across the country to dissolve the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) for its repeated in violent acts.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – The government came under fire Tuesday for the failure to arrest leaders and members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) over an attack on activists at the National Monument (Monas).

Bhimanto Suwastoyo, Jakarta – Indonesian police launched a major crackdown Wednesday on a radical Islamist group blamed for a weekend attack on a rally for religious tolerance, arresting 59 including the outfit's firebrand leader.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – Members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) roam freely despite a history of frequently taking the law into their own hands and attacking and burning buildings of other groups.

Matheos Viktor Messakh, Jakarta – Human rights activists have sent a letter to the United Nations calling for an international tribunal to try those responsible for human rights violations during the Indonesian occupation of Timor Leste.

Adianto P. Simamora, Jakarta – Forestry activists have warned of a sharp increase in the national deforestation rate if the government fails to deal with overlapping permits issued for forest concessions and industrial timber forests.

Bhimanto Suwastoyo, Jakarta – The Indonesian government was under strong pressure to act against Islamist extremists Tuesday after fanatics threatened war against a minority sect and attacked a rally for religious tolerance.

Jakarta – Papua, a region called Dutch New Guinea in the colonial era, has been 'controlled' by 10 big plantation companies in the last two years.

The attack on participants of a peaceful rally organized to defend freedom of religion at Monas Square in Jakarta on Sunday afternoon shows just how tenuous our freedoms are today. The latest threat comes not so much from those who want to take our freedoms away, as from the failure of the state to protect us in exercising our rights.

Lincoln Tan – Septer Manufandu, from Indonesia, is a man on a mission – he wants to stop Kiwis from buying kwila.

At a public meeting in Ponsonby tonight, the campaigner against deforestation in Indonesia's West Papua region is hoping to win over Aucklanders to join his fight to preserve the culture of his people by boycotting the illegally logged timber.

Hotli Simanjuntak, Banda Aceh – Local political parties in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam are at risk of being excluded from the 2009 elections due to delays in registration by the Aceh chapter of the Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP), a local party leader said.

Yemris Fointuna and Agus Maryono, Kupang, Purwokerto – The regents of East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, and Banyumas, Central Java, have faced criticism over recent religious and mystical controversies.

Catholic leaders in Flores accused East Flores Regent Simon Hayon of what they considered "deviant religious teachings", which they claim have caused local unrest.

Jakarta – Despite a trend of investment growth in the oil and gas sector helped by rising prices of the commodities, Indonesia is still in danger of a sudden capital outflow, a survey says.

Jakarta – The government has strong legal justifications for disbanding the radical Islam Defenders Front (FPI) and arresting followers who assaulted people rallying for religious tolerance, experts, activists and Muslim scholars said Monday.

Aditya Suharmoko, Jakarta – Indonesia's inflation accelerated in May at its fastest pace in 20 months, after a hike in fuel prices drove the prices of other goods up, leaving the central bank with less room to stimulate economic growth.

Jakarta – The leader of an Indonesian Islamist extremist group declared war on members of a minority Islamic sect Monday after his followers violently broke up a rally for religious tolerance.

Port Vila, Vanuatu – West Papua National Coalition for Liberation expressed disappointment that its application to become observer of the Melanesian Spearhead Group was not granted. The Coalition was encouraged by the initiative taken by Vanuatu's Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade on behalf of the Vanuatu Government by putting the case on the agenda.

Jakarta – The deliberation of the presidential election bill goes into full swing Monday, with the most contentious issue being the minimum threshold necessary to nominate a presidential candidate.

Ibnu/Traffic Management Centre, Jakarta – Four protest actions and a transport workers' strike will enliven the activities of the capital city today, Monday June 2.

Jakarta – Members of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) attacked activists at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta on Sunday afternoon, leaving 34 injured.

In a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, an international coalition of more than 90 human rights and other organizations urged the UN and the international community "to fulfill their long-standing commitment to see that justice is done for crimes against humanity committed in Timor-Leste" during Indonesia's two and one-half decade occupation.

His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon
Secretary-General
The United Nations
1 United Nations Plaza
New York, New York 10017-3515

Your Excellency,

Sofian, Jakarta – Protest actions opposing the recent fuel price hike look set to continue. Based on data from the Metro Jaya regional police Traffic Management Centre (TMC) there will be at least three demonstrations related to the fuel prices on Sunday June 1.

Harry Suhartono and Fitri Wuladari, Nusa Dua – Indonesia cannot rule out further hikes in fuel prices ahead of the 2009 presidential elections, Energy Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said on Sunday, due to the impact of fuel subsidies on the budget.

Jakarta – Thousands of Indonesians in several major cities held peaceful street protests on Sunday against the government's decision to hike the price of fuel by around 30 percent.

Jakarta – Around 200 workers demonstrated in front of the Jakarta World Bank offices on Sunday May 1. The protesters, who came from the National Liberation Front (FPN) started the protest at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout in Central Jakarta then organised a convoy to the World Bank offices at the Jakarta Stock Exchange building.

Sugihono, Jakarta – At least 500 people from the National Liberation Front, an alliance that includes among others the Workers Challenge Alliance (ABM), the State Electricity Company Trade Union (SP-PLN) and the Angkasa Pura Trade Union (SPAP) demonstrated at the State Palace in Central Jakarta on Sunday June 1.

Kurniawan Tri Yunanto, Jakarta – Nine days after fuel prices were increased by 28.7 percent, the public is again protesting the government's decision.

Jakarta – Presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng and former armed forces chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto locked horns in a public debate here Friday over an advertisement opposing the recent fuel price increase.

Jakarta – The Jakarta Police's internal affairs division released 72 police officers under investigation for the violent clashes at the National University (Unas) last week, but continued questioning six others, police said Friday.

Abdul Khalik and Desy Nurhayati, Jakarta – Members of the House of Representatives say they have no plans to push for immediate measures to help 12,000 families in Sidoarjo, East Java, who were displaced two years ago by a mudflow.

The lawmakers said Thursday a House team had been monitoring the issue and they were waiting for the team's report.

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – Non-governmental organizations have accused the police and military of systematic involvement in illegal trading of endangered species in northern Sumatra.

Jakarta – Indonesian anti-corruption officers discovered thousands of dollars in bribe money at a customs and excise office in Jakarta in a midnight raid, reports said Saturday.

Aditya Suharmoko, Jakarta – The economy will remain stable throughout the year with strong investment and exports set to compensate for a slight dip in private consumption despite increases in fuel prices, the International Monetary Fund says.

Chris Brummitt, Jakarta – After months on the run, two alleged leaders in a Southeast Asian militant group were holed up in a cheap Malaysian hotel, ready to fly to the Middle East to link up with other Islamic extremists, possibly in Iraq.

Jakarta – If you're short of cash and don't mindrunning in tropical humidity and smog for a few bucks, read on.

An Indonesian businessman plans to throw 100 million rupiah (US$10,600) out of an airplane over the capital this Sunday as a publicity stunt to promote his new book.

Setyo Budi, Dili – East Timor President Jose Ramos Horta's decision to pardon those involved in the 1999 killings, and the violent incidents of 2006, has thrown a shadow over the fledgling country's justice system and efforts at reconciliation with former occupiers Indonesia.

The Government is reportedly undertaking a far-reaching review of the nation's foreign relationships. As we have previously noted, this is not before time.

Adianto P. Simamora, Jakarta – A policy to guide the government in taking over military businesses will be completed by September, according to the national team responsible for the report.

Didi Syafirdi, Jakarta – Beep...! Beep....! The sound of vehicles beeping at each other reverberated along Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat in Central Jakarta. It was total gridlock from the Horse Statue to the State Palace as hundreds of workers and students prepared to descend upon the State Palace.

Sugihono, Jakarta – Apparently with the firm intention of supporting an action opposing the recent fuel price increases at the State Palace in Central Jakarta, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Permadi was instead turned away by protesters.

Dili – East Timor will use a fraction of its oil fund worth over $2 billion to protect the poor from rising food and fuel prices, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao said on Thursday.