Ashley Hall: One of the most notorious leaders of the militia violence in which 1,400 East Timorese people were killed in 1999, has been released from a Jakarta jail after serving only two years of a 10 year sentence.

Nurul Hidayati, Jakarta – Traffic in the Senayan area of Central Jakarta is guaranteed to be congested today, Tuesday April 8. The reason being that between 2-3 thousand employees from the state-owned port management company Pelindo from the Indonesian Port and Dredging Trade Union (SPPI) will be demonstrating at the House of Representatives (DPR) building at 9am.

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Former chief of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), Gen. (ret) A.M. Hendropriyono, said he would answer a National Human Rights Commission summons for questioning, but only after it publicly clarified the status of the case.

Lindsay Murdoch, Darwin – The East Timorese rebel leader Alfredo Reinado was under the influence of alcohol and the drug methamphetamine when he led the attacks in Dili in February, East Timor's President, Jose Ramos-Horta, has disclosed.

M. Rizal Maslan, Jakarta – Many defendants in gross human right violation cases being handled by the Attorney Generals' Office are released from indictments. This situation refects a failure on the part of the Attorney General in prosecuting the perpetrators.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – US support for the final report of the Indonesia-Timor Leste Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF) and the release of a former Timor Leste militia leader are face-saving efforts, says an expert.

Adianto P. Simamora, Jakarta – Palm oil firms have continued burning peatland forest to expand their businesses, defying a government ban aimed at curbing the country's carbon emissions, a leading environment group says.

Karen Michelmore, Jakarta – East Timor's President Jose Ramos Horta has taken aim at Indonesian military officers involved in the violence surrounding East Timor's historic 1999 vote for independence.

Jakarta – With the release of all defendants charged over gross human rights violations in East Timor and Tanjung Priok, rights activists are calling on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono review how gross human rights cases are being handled. They also reminded the president of the promise he made to the families of victims on March 26.

Jakarta – The ongoing conflict within the National Awakening Party (PKB) reflects the country's failure to establish a strong political party system that nurtures democracy, observers say.

Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) is finalizing a revised draft of the human rights law, which grants the commission more powers, including the authority to prosecute suspected perpetrators of abuses, an official Friday says.

Our society is a caring one. Our people are generous enough to help others, and what is even more encouraging, according to a recent survey, their generosity is increasingly no longer driven by religious obligation.

Fabio Scarpello, Jakarta – A coalition of 30 international human rights organisations has warned that a new US$6 billion gas project could worsen the security situation in Papua, the troubled Indonesian region that has recently experienced a rise in tensions.

Sofian, Jakarta – Workers from the Greater Jakarta Workers Federation of Struggle (FPBJ) and the Workers Challenge Alliance (ABM) will be holding a demonstration at the representative offices of the United Nations on Jl. Jalan MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta at around 10am today.

East Timor's armed forces are being accused of using violence against civilians as they hunt for rebel soldiers involved in February's attacks on the country's President and Prime Minister.

Almost two months after the attacks, reports from Dili confirm that many of those responsible for the attempted assassinations remain on the run.

Jakarta – The Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF) must disclose who was behind the 1999 violence in East Timor despite a Supreme Court ruling to free all civilians involved, human rights activists said here Saturday.

Aditya Suharmoko and Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – Following a swift decision by the government Friday to buy back the first lot of Rp 2 trillion (US$217 million) worth of bonds, government bonds eased after soaring to their highest point in 2.5 years, calming turmoil in the country's debt market.

Oyos Saroso H.N., Bandarlampung – Three people with HIV/AIDS were recently admitted to Abdul Moeloek General Hospital in Bandarlampung, Lampung province, bringing to 94 the total number of patients treated at the hospital for the disease in the past three months.

Jakarta – After prohibiting state officials from accepting wedding gifts, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) also plans to forbid officials from receiving parcels valued at more than Rp 500,000 (US$54).

Nana Rukmana, Cirebon – Thousands of people in Cirebon regency, who were victims of a cheap rice scam, have threatened to abstain from voting in the West Java gubernatorial election slated for April 13.

Ridwan Max Sijabat and Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – With little political backing, governor hopeful Robert Edison Siahaan, who is Javanese, and his Batak running mate, Suherdi, are playing the ethnic card in this multi-ethnic province.

Adianto P. Simamora, Jakarta – The government has started calculating the country's total climate emissions as part of efforts to mitigate the impacts of human-induced climate change.

Kupang – International aid agencies have evacuated staff from Indonesia's West Timor after violent demonstrations by ex-East Timorese refugees continued for a fifth day, social workers said on Saturday.

Jakarta – Nearly all female busway passengers support the plan by busway operator TransJakarta to allocate buses exclusively for women, a survey revealed Thursday.

Jayapura – The Organisation for Solidarity with the Victims of Human Rights in Papua, along with the Community of Survivors of the Abepura case and the League of Families of the Disappeared, IKOHI, have called on the government, Komnas Ham and the Attorney-General's Office to take speedy action to bring to a conclusion the case of the Wamena Tragedy and the Bloody Wasior Incident.

Jakarta – The Ministry of Finance's Directorate General of Taxation announced Friday a 42.7 percent jump in tax revenue during the first quarter of 2008 on the back of strong corporate sector income growth and a vibrant economy.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told top bankers gathered at the palace Friday to further expand real sector credits, particularly for infrastructure and agriculture.

"In line with the banks' role in fueling the economy," the President said, "I seek a joint contribution with banks in disbursing capital."

Jakarta – The justice ministry announced Friday that 24 new parties had passed the administrative screening to become legal entities, but would face further verification to be eligible for next year's national elections.

A total of 58 political parties, including new ones, have to register with the General Elections Commission (KPU) starting Monday for verification.

Lilian Budianto, Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights has accused the Attorney General's Office of obstructing human rights campaigns through its reluctance to investigate four past atrocities because of technicalities.

Lilian Budianto, Jakarta – The life sentence given to a traditional dance coordinator for waving a separatist flag in front of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono last year sparked criticism Friday, with a rights activist calling it excessive.

Sutarto/Rini Kustiani, Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) is disappointed by the Attorney General's Office (AGO) as they returned the investigative documents for human rights violations to the commission. The documents were sent by courier and not delivered directly to commission members.

Cornila Desyana, Jakarta – According to information from the Metro Jaya regional police Intelligence and Security (Intelpam) Directorate, as many as five protest actions are expected to inundate Jakarta on Friday April 4.

Tangerang – Hundreds of people claiming to be employees of money changer firms at Soekarno-Hatta airport staged a rally, causing long congestions at the western gate on Thursday morning.

The employees demanded the airport's management cancel a plan to relocate money changer outlets from Terminal B and E to the arrivals section.

• United States should support justice, not endorse impunity, says ETAN
• Administration Should Respond to CAVR Report, not endorse CTF

See interview with Christopher R. Hill, Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs below

Chris Brummitt, Jakarta – A court has sentenced the leader of a separatist group in eastern Indonesia to life in prison for waving the flag of a mostly Christian secessionist movement in front of the president last year.

Christine T. Tjandraningsih, Jakarta – Former pro-Jakarta East Timor militia leader Eurico Guterres, who had been jailed in Indonesia since 2006 for having committed gross human rights violations in East Timor in 1999, has been acquitted, a Supreme Court judge said Friday.

Jakarta – The United States has said it would accept the findings of a truth commission probing killings by Indonesian troops during East Timor's break from Jakarta – despite a boycott of the process by the United Nations and criticism by rights groups.

Jakarta – Illegal logging is causing more than the destruction of forests – it is destroying human lives through trafficking of girls to logging camps.

Roostien Ilyas of the National Commission for Child Protection (KPA) said recent cases of women and children trafficking had been uncovered in illegal logging spots in West Kalimantan.

Jakarta – The National Awakening Party (PKB) central board investigation team, formed by dismissed chairman Muhaimin Iskandar, accused seven party members of creating "internal conflict" on Thursday.

Lilian Budianto, Jakarta – Violence is not rooted in Islam or any other religion, but is often linked to religions by those seeking to further their own political and economic interests, an interfaith seminar heard here Thursday.

Jakarta – The House of Representatives on Thursday passed the freedom of public information bill, obliging all state agencies and public institutions to disclose their financial reports to the public.

Political parties, judicial bodies and domestic and international non-governmental organizations are also among those affected by the law.

Adianto P. Simamora, Jakarta – Independent candidates will be eligible to contest regional elections for governor, mayor and regent positions by June at the earliest, the General Elections Commission (KPU) said Wednesday.

Indra Harsaputra and Suherdjoko, Surabaya/Semarang – Female leadership has reemerged as a controversial issue ahead of the East Java gubernatorial election, following the candidacy of Khofifah Indar Parawansa by the United Development Party (PPP).

Aditya Suharmoko, Jakarta – The Asian Development Bank has warned Indonesia a large part of its population is still vulnerable to shocks from staple foods inflation, as nearly half its citizens still live on less than US$2 a day.

Setyo Budi, Dili – If the renegade soldiers who attempted to assassinate East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta on Feb. 11 remain scot-free, it has more to do with the complex politics of this fledgling country than a failure of the armed forces, domestic or international, that protect it.

Riky Ferdianto, Jakarta – Four protest actions will colour in Jakarta and surrounding areas today. Two of the actions will be concentrated in front of the State Palace in Central Jakarta.

United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dr. Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Madam Secretary,

Fanny Febiana/Sukma L, Jakarta – The investigation into the human rights violation in the New-Order is enough for historic revision. "If we want to bring up all human rights incidents in the New-Order period, there will be revision and distortion to our history," said Defense Minister, Juwono Sudarsono at the state palace in Jakarta yesterday.

Purborini, Jakarta – International coordinator for Human Right Advocacy, Rafendi Djamin, stated the Attorney General's Office (AGO) does not have the political will to finish the case of the human rights violation.

Yemris Fointuna, Kupang – Protesters continued occupying a legislative building in Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara, on Wednesday, awaiting a central government response on the question of aid disbursement for former East Timorese refugees.