Jakarta – The spirit of solidarity lingers around Jl. Barito, South Jakarta, in the wake of the eviction that demolished 107 kiosks of hundreds of vendors.

Andi Hajramurni, Makassar – Rallies for the South Sulawesi gubernatorial pair candidates Syahrul Yasin Limpo and Agus Arifin Nu'mang intensified a day prior to the official inauguration scheduled for Saturday.

Thousands of people took to the streets to demand the central government swear in the pair to replace incumbent Governor Amin Syam, whose term ended Friday.

Jakarta – Political experts concluded during a book discussion Friday the awkward transition from authoritarianism to democracy in post-Soeharto Indonesia resulted in the birth of "local kings" instead of local managers.

Telly Nathalia, Jakarta – Indonesian anti-riot police briefly clashed with about 100 demonstrators on Saturday as they called for former Indonesian president Suharto to be brought to justice.

Fitri Wulandari and Harry Suhartono, Jakarta – As a student activist, Heri Akhmadi was beaten and jailed. Unable to witness the birth of his son because he was in prison, he named the boy Gempur Suharto, or "Attack Suharto", after the man he holds responsible for his suffering.

Jessinta Tan, Solo – Astana Giribangun, a solemn and beautiful graveyard on the slope of Mount Lawu on the outskirts of Solo city, has been temporarily closed for what is said to be "routine cleaning".

Jakarta – Many employers have voiced strong opposition to the minimum wage hikes of Jan. 1, 2008, saying the remuneration policy should be revised to maintain a conducive investment climate in the country.

Mark Dodd – East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao has threatened to arrest local journalists, claiming inaccurate news reporting in the troubled territory is contributing to national instability.

Mr Gusmao told reporters they faced arrest if they persisted with reporting as fact rumours and other unsourced claims.

Thalif Deen, United Nations – The Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICG), which monitors some 60 crisis-affected countries worldwide, has appealed for UN and international assistance to revitalize East Timor's fledgling police and armed services in order to avoid a potentially violent civil conflict in that relatively new nation state.

Dili – East Timor risks erupting in violence again if its government and the UN fail to quickly reform the country's security forces, which remain vulnerable to political abuse, a think-tank warned Friday.

Michael Heath – East Timor faces renewed violence unless it reorganizes the army and police, the International Crisis Group said, almost two years after clashes between security force factions drove 155,000 people from their homes.

Jakarta – The Political Parties Law stipulates that 30 percent of the House of Representatives and the People's Representative Council should be female. But the reality is that only 11.27 percent of the House's 550 members are women.

In the regions, women face challenges in becoming legislative candidates and sometimes have difficulties voting independently.

Jakarta – The government should dissolve its official body which is allowed to ban religious sects, because it has disrupted the country's legal system, human rights groups say.

They said the Coordinating Board for Mystical Beliefs (Bakor Pakem) served as a judicial forum which "overrides the role of the existing judicial institution" to enforce the law.

East Timor's prosecutor general will not investigate claims the country's prime minister was behind deadly unrest that erupted in 2006, saying the allegations are "too political".

Former prime minister Mari Alkatiri has called on current Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao to resign, amid claims he orchestrated the violence that plunged the country into crisis.

Andi Haswidi, Jakarta – Disappointed by the final draft of a severance pay regulation, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) said it wanted to maintain the current arrangement in the Labor Law.

Jakarta – Families of missing human rights activists demanded President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono fulfill his election promise to resolve human rights violation cases.

Jakarta – An alliance of human rights activists demanded Thursday the arrest of a former top intelligence officer for questioning around the 2004 murder of fellow rights campaigner Munir Said Thalib.

It may not look very scary to you or me, but to the Government of Indonesia it is a dangerous threat to the "unity of the nation". No, it's not an assault rifle or a pound of high explosives, or even a bow and some arrows ....it is a BAG.

Jakarta – Media observers and activists said Thursday the countless reports on Soeharto's ill health could evoke sympathy from the public, which would then lead to forgiveness over his alleged past crimes.

A London-based Papuan activist has criticised the Governor of Indonesia's Papua for upholding a ban on the Morning Star Flag.

Suharto, who ruled Indonesia from 1966 until he was ousted in 1998, decisively shaped the post 1965 political and economic trajectory of Indonesia. His supporters credited him with maintaining Indonesia's stability and setting it on the path to stable economic development.

Neles Tebay, Abepura, Papua – Since the fall of Soeharto's regime, Indonesia has apparently begun to move toward democracy. Indonesian citizens have found space to exercise their rights and duties without fear, pressure and intimidation from the state.

Suharto, who ruled Indonesia from 1966 until he was ousted in 1998, decisively shaped the post 1965 political and economic trajectory of Indonesia. His supporters credited him with maintaining Indonesia's stability and setting it on the path to stable economic development.

Mark Forbes, Jakarta – Fresh evidence has emerged that ties Indonesia's Intelligence Agency (BIN) to the poisoning of a leading human rights activist, Thalib Munir, indicating top officials lied to court hearings about the 2004 murder.

Tito Belo, Dili – East Timor's president urged Timorese to pray for Suharto, the former Indonesian president who ordered the brutal invasion of East Timor in 1975 and who now lies critically ill in hospital.

Jakarta – Vice President Jusuf Kalla and academics debated the relationship between democracy and the economy, with Kalla saying prosperity, not democracy, should be the country's ultimate goal.

Adianto P. Simamora, Jakarta – Environmental campaigners expressed regret Wednesday about the absence of concrete government action to follow up on the UN-sponsored Bali conference on climate change.

Anthony Deutsch, Jakarta – Indonesia endured decades of bloodshed during Suharto's dictatorship. Yet, in an era when ruthless leaders are increasingly being held accountable, he has eased comfortably into old age without so much as a day in court.

Rizal Harahap, Pekanbaru – Riau Governor Rusli Zainal on Tuesday warned residents and officials against the large-scale conversion of farmland into plantations, which he said would threaten food security in the province.

Iqbal M, Jakarta – The State Intelligence Agency's (BIN) witness, Budi Santoso, who currently works as Deputy I of BIN's Foreign Affairs, said that in mid 2004, Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto came to his office room and introduced himself as a Garuda Indonesia pilot.

Alfian, Jakarta – A National Intelligence Agency (BIN) officer said former Garuda Indonesia pilot Pollycarpus had requested a letter from the body recommending him for a security post at the national flag carrier prior to Munir's murder, a court heard Tuesday.

Blontank Poer, Surakarta – To have been branded a communist was without doubt painful during Soeharto's reign. Socializing with neighbors became not an easy matter; finding employment virtually impossible.

"It's really painful being ostracized by society," Sipon, the widow of poet Wiji Tukul told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

It seem almost quaint now, but Indonesia's longtime president Suharto, who now lies dying, was once praised by the Washington for his strong anti-Communism, backed by a muscular, US-supplied military. That praise translated into billions in aid from allies and international institutions before it all ended badly in the Asian economic crisis of 1997.

There's been another twist in East Timor's increasingly bitter internal politics, with former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri demanding that current prime minister Xanana Gusmao resign. Dr Alkatiri's demand follows claims from rebel leader Alfredo Reinado that Mr Gusmao orchestrated deadly unrest in 2006, in which at least 20 people died and hundreds of homes were destroyed.

Jakarta – Members of several non-governmental organizations including Perempuan Mahardika and the Indonesian Street Musician Union hit the streets in a rally commemorating the massive 1974 street riots known as Malari on Tuesday.

Some 80 protesters put on orations and theatrical performances across the street from the State Palace after they were denied access by police.

Fabio Scarpello, Denpasar – Some want him pardoned and remembered as the "Father of Development." Others say his name should forever be linked to the crimes he committed. Almost 10 years since he was deposed by a student-led movement, former dictator Suharto still divides Indonesia.

Robin McDowell, Jakarta – Ten years ago, Amien Rais led thousands of demonstrators chanting "Hang Suharto!" to the halls of parliament, where they demanded the resignation of a man widely regarded as one of the most brutal and corrupt leaders of the 20th century.

Ahmad Pathoni, Solo – About 30 Indonesian protesters performed a traditional mask dance in the royal city of Solo on Tuesday to demand that former president Suharto, who is critically ill in a Jakarta hospital, be brought to justice.

There was great hope nearly a decade ago that victims of state violence and all Indonesian people would have justice, when president Soeharto stepped down after 32 years in power.

Should he go or should he stay home and send a lower-ranking proxy? Kevin Rudd will be one of many foreign leaders torn between the pros and cons of attending the imminent funeral for the former Indonesian president Soeharto.

Jakarta – Legislators should not interfere with the authority of Constitutional Court judges on matters related to an ad-hoc human rights court, an expert witness told the Court on Monday.

Criminal code expert Arif Amrullah of the University of Jember in East Java said the authority of the House of Representatives did not extend to the criminal justice system.

East Timor's former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri has called on current Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao to resign, amid claims he orchestrated deadly unrest that erupted in 2006.

Jakarta – As much as 60-70 percent of the 2007 state budget (APBN) or between 457-534 trillion rupiah was depleted for the bureaucratic costs of the government, legislator and law enforcement agencies. The total state budget for 2007 was 763 trillion rupiah.

Adianto P. Simamora, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) won regional elections in most areas last year, beating its long-time rival, the Golkar Party.

Jeirry Sumampow of the People's Voter Education Network (JPRR) said PDI-P won 35.7 percent of 38 elections held in provincial and regional levels last year.

Jakarta – The execution of Indonesian maid Yanti Sukardi by Saudi Arabian authorities Friday was proof that the Indonesian government had failed to protect its migrant workers, the Migrant Care said Sunday.

Testimony by a senior intelligence agent corroborates the link between BIN and Pollycarpus. Police claim to have written evidence.

Owais Parray, Jakarta – Last November, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released its 2007/8 Global Human Development Report. Every year the report focuses on a particular theme, examining it from a human development perspective in order to stimulate dialog and offer policy choices for the future.

Adianto P. Simamora, Jakarta – Experts have criticized President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's call for the public to quit debates around the legal status of former president Soeharto, who has been hospitalized and is reportedly in a critical condition.

Sultani – Each time Suharto falls ill and is taken to hospital, the public is inevitably faced with the choice of forgiving him for his mistakes or continuing legal proceedings against him. Now that the former president of the Republic of Indonesia is lying ill at the Pertamina Central Hospital, the public is again faced with the same two choices.

Anthony Deutsch, Jakarta – More than three years after Indonesia's leading human rights campaigner died of arsenic poisoning during a commercial airline flight, his case has become a critical test of the country's willingness to come to grips with the legacy of the 32-year Suharto dictatorship.