Dili – East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta has sworn in the country's State Council, saying the advisory body faced the challenge of restoring stability to the young nation.
Speaking in Portuguese, one of the country's two official languages, Ramos-Horta said there were "many priorities which will soon have to be on the agenda of the state advisors."
Mustaqim Adamrah, Jakarta – Thousands of Jakartans queued Sunday to receive an Idul Fitri "gift" from new Governor Fauzi Bowo. However, the day almost ended in chaos, with many people claiming they did not receive money from the governor.
The Sydney Australia West Papua Association urges the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Tonga this week to discus the gravely deteriorating situation in West Papua.
Urip Hudiono, Jakarta – Rising investment and an in-check inflation rate are seen pushing Indonesia's economy toward the 6.3 percent growth targeted by the government for the year.
Jakarta – Despite corruption charges and allegations of human rights abuses during his three-decade rule, former president Soeharto received a string of courtesy calls Saturday, the first day of Idul Fitri, from prominent current and former state officials.
Sultani – The Indonesian public's attention of late has been focused on the actions and maneuvering of political figures who want to nominate themselves as presidential candidates for the 2009 presidential elections. Goodwill meetings between individuals and open declarations are the medium being used by these figures to increase their popularity.
Jakarta – In the midst of the current decline in the popularity of national leaders, a potential for the emergence of new leaders is opening up. According to a survey conducted by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI), out of 1,300 respondents as many as 35 percent do not yet know who they would vote for if a presidential election was held today.
Jakarta – Four political parties are set to form a so-called National League ahead of the presidential election in 2009, according to Taufik Kiemas, chief patron of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
The four parties are the nationalist-based PDI-P, the Golkar Party, the Islam-based United Development Party (PPP) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).
Tom Hyland – It was, in a way, a case of taking the mountain to Muhammad – the mountain being a dormant volcano that looms over the planned site of Indonesia's first nuclear power station.
Nelson da Cruz, Dili – Jacinta Barros, an East Timorese mother of eight, sits on a bed in her new temporary home, a one-room affair that sleeps 13 of her relatives, refugees from unrest last year who still cannot go home.
By day, the spartan room bakes in the searing tropical sun and by night it gets chilly as a wind blows under the eaves where ceilings should be.
Marianne Kearney, Dili – At a camp behind the Lucidere Monastery in Dili, more than 50 families are crowded into what was once the monastery's garden.
By January, Indonesia and Timor Leste should have a shared acknowledgement of the violence-filled year of 1999. During the recent public hearings of the Indonesia-Timor Leste Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF) in Dili, The Jakarta Post's Ati Nurbaiti talked to Lt. Gen. (ret) Agus Widjojo, the only commission member with a background in the Indonesian Military.
A number of high-profile issues have made headlines in the past month, including the planned construction of the Muria nuclear plant and the political maneuverings ahead of the 2009 presidential election. Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Muslim organization, Hasyim Muzadi, discussed some of these issues with The Jakarta Post's Imanuddin Razak in a recent interview.
Urip Hudiono, Jakarta – Despite a number of improvements over the years, the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) says that significant irregularities are still commonplace in the management of public funds, and that the government is slow to take follow-up action on its findings.
Jakarta – An Indonesian court has thrown out a lawsuit brought by a mining executive against the New York Times over reports the firm dumped toxic waste into an Indonesian bay, lawyers said Thursday.
Bill Guerin, Jakarta – After a series of environmental, funding and supply contract problems, surging regional demand has given new impetus to Indonesia's US$6.5 billion Tangguh liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, which with 14 trillion cubic feet of proven reserves represents one of the largest gas fields in all Asia.
Mark Forbes, Jakarta – In a remarkable exodus, tens of millions of Indonesians are filling roads, trains, planes and ferries as they return to their birthplaces to celebrate the Islamic festival of Idul Fitri.
Bhimanto Suwastoyo, Jakarta – In a land hit by one natural disaster after another, Indonesia's armed forces must shift their focus from the battlefield to emergency and relief efforts, its defence minister said Wednesday.
Prodita Sabarini, Tabanan – I Ketut Riteg stared blankly. The 65-year-old was lost in deep thought over how his whole family may never be able to step foot again in their home village of Kedungu in Belalang, Kediri, Tabanan regency.
Jakarta – State prosecutors charged Tuesday former Garuda Airlines director Indra Setiawan with the murder of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib, who died while traveling to the Netherlands in 2004.
Desy Nurhayati, Jakarta – A systematic war against corruption, collusion, nepotism and poor bureaucratic practices in all government agencies using a new draft law would improve the country's public administration sector, a government official said Tuesday.
Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Law enforcers have not performed well in their attempts to fight corruption which has swept from public officials and state institutions to rural administration, the Indonesian Corruption Watchdog (ICW) said in a report.
Urip Hudiono and Adianto P. Simamora, Jakarta – The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved the 2008 budget, which envisages a wider deficit due to higher government expenditure as part of the effort to spur growth next year.
Leaders of Pacific Island countries, including Australia and New Zealand, should devote special attention to the plight of West Papuan human rights defenders at the annual meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum starting on 16 October in Tonga says TAPOL, the UK-based NGO that promotes human rights, peace and democracy in Indonesia.
The Indonesia Human Rights Committee is urging the New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark to advocate for the people of West Papua at the Pacific Islands Forum when it meets next week. This appeal is backed by other NGOs, including Pax Christi. Peace Movement Aotearoa and Christian World Service.
Greenpeace has warned that Indonesia's plans to clear Papuan forests for palm oil plantations will hinder efforts to mitigate climate change.
Indonesia's President has asked Papua's Governor Barnabas Seubu to open up five million hectares of land for conversion into palm oil plantations in a bid to increase biofuel production.
Desy Nurhayati, Jakarta – Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) said Monday that law enforcement had been slow to tackle corruption in government agencies in the first half of this year.
Irawaty Wardany, Jakarta – The Constitutional Court's rejection of Muhammad Insa's petition to have re-evaluated the pre-requisites for polygamy, as stipulated in the 1974 Law on Marriage, have been lauded by politicians and activists.
Marianne Kearney – East Timorese youths have been paid to kill people during periods of political unrest, a Catholic priest has alleged.
Father Martinho Gusmao has told The Courier-Mail that provocateurs have a graded scale of fees for for rock throwing, burning houses and murder. His information comes from hearing the confessions of dozens of youths.
Ika Krismantari, Jakarta – That "Chinese products are everywhere" is a statement few would deny, as you can find Chinese-made goods in just about every corner of the world at the present time.
The fact that Chinese products have proven themselves so successful in winning the hearts of consumers all over the world is largely due to their relatively low prices.
Jakarta – Jakarta had its new governor and deputy governor installed Sunday amid a wave of rallies organized by various groups to remind Fauzi Bowo and Prijanto to keep the promises they made during the election campaign.
Jakarta – The latest survey on voter preference for possible presidential candidates has shown that incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would be likely to win an election held today.
Syofiardi Bachyul Jb., The Jakarta Post, Padang – Activists in West Sumatra have protested against a raid on the Al-Qiyadah Al-Islamiyah Islamic sect by police acting on the orders of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).
Jakarta – The three Bali bombers on death row in Indonesia are ready to face their imminent execution, a report said here Monday.
"This is the happiest period for us, because we are soon to die as martyrs," Ali Ghufron, the eldest of three bombers, told the Koran Tempo daily from his jail off the southern coast of Java island.
Organize by Sec. FONGTIL with Members: HAK Association, FOKUPERS, FTM, ESPADA, HCTL, Katilosa, KSUTL, GFFL, MBC-TL, HAPOTI, JSMP, Caritas Australia, Lao Hamutuk, Luta Hamutuk, Includes ICTJ, ETCRN, ANTI and Front Mahsiswa Timor Leste
Timor Leste – Indonesia
Dili, 8 October 2007
Dear Atul Khare
SRSG For Timor Leste
Nurni Sulaiman, Balikpapan – Rain around the city of Banjar Baru on Friday failed to slow the spread of forest fires in South Kalimantan, as a forest reserve in East Kalimantan raised its alert status to the second highest level.
Alfian, Jakarta – New members of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) will continue to prioritize investigations of major human rights violation cases, said a Komnas HAM spokesperson.
Jakarta – The support for political parties based upon Islam and with an Islamic mass base is stagnating and tending to decline. The situation is the reverse of political support for parties without a religious basis.
Alfian, Jakarta – A study on the trends of Islam and secularism in politics found that Muslim support for secular politics is getting stronger although the backing for Islam values is still significant.
Organized by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI), the first question the survey wanted to answer was to what extent Indonesian Muslims support Islamic political values.
Fadli, Batam – Unemployment has risen significantly on Batam, Bintan and Karimun islands, following the departure of several major foreign companies from the area and the government's prohibition on the lucrative sand export business.
Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Indonesians should prepare themselves for more of the same in 2009 as only familiar faces seem set to compete in the forthcoming presidential elections.
Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Malang – Dozens of non-governmental organization activists in Malang, East Java, protested Friday's decision to name Samsul Bahri as one of the seven new members of the General Elections Commission and demanded the House of Representatives review the decision.
Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told the Indonesian Military (TNI) on Friday to help the country's drive toward democracy by staying out of politics.
Dili – East Timor's parliament on Saturday passed a transitional period budget proposal of 112 million dollars on a split decision.
Alfian, Jakarta – Despite being the world's most populous Muslim country, Indonesia still suffers widespread corruption and terrorism – so what has Islam contributed to civilization, said Din Syamsuddin, chairman of the second largest Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah.
Jakarta – The Jakarta Police said Thursday that police in Depok have detained three members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) for vandalizing food stalls last weekend.
Irawaty Wardany, Jakarta – The House of Representatives on Thursday selected seven candidates for the General Elections Commission (KPU) whose names will be submitted to the President for final approval.
Jakarta – Although efforts to develop the Indonesian military or TNI and civil supremacy are continuing, the process of reform is seen as being too slow. The obstacle being encountered is that civil institutions such as the Department of Defense and the political parties are not yet prepared to implement reform within the TNI.
Telly Nathalia, Jakarta – Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Friday warned the once-powerful armed forces against returning to politics.
Under former President Suharto, the general who rose to power in an anti-communist coup and who ruled for 32 years, the military had a prominent role.
Usman Hamid – We appreciate efforts to develop the TNI's professionalism and civil supremacy that has been undertaken through various means at legislative and institutional levels.
Nevertheless, the various efforts in this direction sometimes still appear to be slow. There is an impression that reform of the TNI is no longer seen as urgent.