Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – The government has extended its security operation in the conflict-scarred region of Poso, Central Sulawesi, by another three months because it says tensions remain high in the area.

Rob Taylor, Jakarta – East Timor is at a tipping point and must use billions of dollars from the carve-up of undersea oil and gas reserves wisely or continue its downward spiral into poverty, a new report has warned.

Cara Jenkin – In Adelaide, Kirsty Sword Gusmao can see that women, young and old, enjoy equal opportunities. At her home in East Timor, they still struggle for even basic gains.

In her position as First Lady of East Timor, Ms Sword Gusmao was guest speaker at the UNIFEM Adelaide Breakfast at the Adelaide Convention Centre yesterday.

John Pilger – In 1993, I and four others travelled clandestinely across East Timor to gather evidence of the genocide committed by the Indonesian dictatorship.

Dear friends,

ID Nugroho, Surabaya – Eighteen underage prostitutes were recently held at Surabaya Police Headquarters for several days after being picked up by officers during a raid on the city's Dolly red-light district.

Jakarta – Women's groups took to the nation's streets Wednesday to voice their opposition to sharia law and the controversial pornography bill, both which they said unfairly criminalized women's sexuality and behavior.

Jakarta, Kompas – Commemorating International Women's Day on March 8, women in Jakarta, Banda Aceh, Yogyakarta and Makassar held peaceful actions demanding that the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) resolve the nation's major problems.

Mark Forbes, Jakarta – An Australian aid agency is among those to have lied about their lacklustre efforts in Aceh's $7 billion tsunami reconstruction program, the program's director says.

Jakarta – About 3,000 workers took to the streets outside Merdeka Palace on Wednesday to show their opposition to a plan by the government and the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) to revise the 2003 Labor Law.

A US State Department report alleging torture and intimidation by Indonesian security forces against Papuan separatists may add weight to the case of 43 Papuan boat people seeking asylum in Australia.

On March 8, no less than 400 mostly women activists from Perempuan Mahardhika, which is made up of urban poor, worker and student organisations along with other women's groups, marched to demand government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stop paying the foreign debt and use the budget to improve welfare for the poor.

Tb.Arie Rukmantara, Jakarta – A technical snafu Wednesday meant legislators were unable to scrutinize the government's controversial US$30 million out-of-court settlement with PT Newmont Minahasa Raya over a pollution case.

Multa Fidrus, Tangerang – Some 1,500 people representing various groups staged a rally Monday at the Tangerang administration office on Jl. Satria, to show support for a bylaw that regards the performance of sex work as a criminal offense.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – Poor coordination among government agencies, a lack of security features and systemic corruption makes it all too easy for criminals to get hold of multiple identity cards, a Home Ministry official says.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – The government's campaign against graft seems to be coming unstuck at the prosecutor's office, with a mountain of cases still to be tried. A paltry two of about 2,000 corruption cases have been processed in the past six years, head of the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office Rusdi Taher said Wednesday.

P.O. Box 15774, Washington, DC 20003

8 March 2006

Assistant Secretary Christopher R. Hill
Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
US Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520

Via Facsimile 202-647-7350

Dear Mr. Assistant Secretary:

Craig Skehan – Entrenched poverty could destabilise East Timor unless earnings from oil and gas are fairly distributed, a United Nations report has found.

Half the estimated population of 1 million lacks safe drinking water and 60 in every 1000 infants die before their first birthday. Life expectancy is only 55, while the average yearly income of $500 has been falling.

Anissa S. Febrina, Jakarta – Following complaints from local manufacturers over the extent of recent reductions in import duties, the Finance Ministry's tariffs committee will accommodate further requests for lower duties on imported raw materials, an official has said.

Bill Guerin, Jakarta – In a closely watched, highly contentious court case, a German bank is in the dock in an ongoing legal battle against a Singapore-registered company over ownership of Indonesian assets that are now partly owned by the Singaporean government.

Jakarta – The business community, tired of the government failing to deliver on promises, is demanding it come through this time by implementing its latest economic policy package to increase investment and infrastructure development in the country.

[The Battle of the Banners is underway in Surabaya and many other cities. They scream "SAY NO TO DRUGS". They're part of Indonesia's war against narcotics – a conflict doomed to fail, according to experts. The Jakarta Post contributor in Surabaya Duncan Graham reports.]

Oktamandjaya Wiguna, Jakarta – The government will continue observing alleged propaganda attempts by former members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to discredit Indonesia.

Duncan Wilson, Banda Aceh – Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency for Aceh and Nias (BRR) chief Kuntoro Mangkusubroto has blasted non-governmental organizations, accusing some of dishonesty and a lack of professionalism, and threatened the agency would take over any projects that remain unfinished in June next year.

Jakarta – Cases of violence against women sharply increased last year and it is feared they will soar in the future with more regions introducing shariah bylaws, which trample on women's rights, a report says.

M. Azis Tunny, Ambon – Calm returned to Ambon on Tuesday following a weekend of violence between police and military personnel that left one police officer and one soldier dead, and one civilian injured.

Residents have resumed their daily routines in the conflict-torn city, and joint police and military patrols are helping to keep the peace.

Jakarta – The government should take the fight against graft to the regions where malfeasance is still widespread among officials, the National Coalition of NGOs against Corruption says.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – Legislation protecting state secrets should be passed before the freedom of information bill is made law, or there could be complications, the government says.

Ratih Syara Maretta, Jakarta – Wednesday March 8 is International Women's Day. A number of beautiful and stylish women wearing sun-glasses and hats commemorated IWD by holding an action opposing the Draft Anti-Pornography Bill (RUU APP).

Dozens of employees of Klub Golf Senayan in Central Jakarta demonstrate on Tuesday outside the management's office.

The gardeners, housekeepers, waitresses and security guards demanded a transportation and a meals allowance on top of their basic salary.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – Edward "Edo" Hutabarat held up the coffee-table book he wrote on traditional Indonesian fashion, including attire with plunging necklines and tightly cinched corsets, during a House of Representatives hearing on the pornography bill.

Zoe Kenny – On February 25, the five-day blockade by several hundred West Papuan villagers of the sole access road to Freeport's Grasberg mine was called off. The villagers achieved their modest goal of retaining the right (although formally illegal) to fossick among the mine's tailings to collect copper and gold remnants.

Jakarta – Commemorating International Women's Day which falls on March 8, today, thousands of women in Jakarta held an action at the State Palace and the House of Representatives (DPR).

Jakarta – Around 100 women activists from the Women's Anti-Poverty Movement (GPAK) held a peaceful action at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday March 8 to commemorate International Women's Day.

Bagus Kurniawan, Yogyakarta – Hundreds of students in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta held an action commemorating International Women's Day on March 8 where they expressed their opposition to the Draft Anti-Pornography Bill (RUU APP).

Radzie, Banda Aceh – Acehnese women are asking to be involved in the process of public policy making in Aceh. In addition to this they are also calling for the enforcement of Islamic law not just be for women but for crimes such as corruption.

Zaky Almubarok, Jakarta – The government is targeting to send 700,000 Indonesian overseas contract workers this year, an increase of 225,900 compared to last year's total of 474.310.

"They will be placed in Japan, Korea, Australia, and other countries," said the Minister of Manpower & Transmigration, Erman Suparno, in Jakarta yesterday (8/3).

Jakarta/Ambon – An Ambon Police officer was questioned Monday following a clash between police and military personnel which sparked a weekend of violence in which two people died.

Imanuddin Razak, Jakarta – At a glance, there was nothing significant about the proposal by departing Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto that soldiers be allowed to exercise their right to vote in the 2009 general election.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – A scientist dismissed on Monday nationalist fears that the bill on Aceh governance would lead to the province's succession from Indonesia.

Jakarta – The Indonesian army has lost 129 billion rupiah (14 million dollars) in an alleged embezzlement scheme involving a colonel and an official from the state bank Mandiri, it has been reported.

Jakarta – Following the arrests of two soldiers Saturday for transporting marijuana, the Marine Corps conceded Monday that at least four other marines could be involved.

It vowed to take stern measures against any member of the marines who was transporting or selling drugs.

Two Indonesians suspected of having links to the Bali bombings and an attack on the Australian Embassy in Jakarta are being interrogated in East Java.

News of their arrest came as the Indonesian parliament ratified two international treaties the government says will help it fight the global war on terrorism.

Anton Aliabbas, Jakarta – There are indications that the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) leadership is actively carrying out anti-government propaganda. Nevertheless, in general the situation in Aceh is favorable.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – The House of Representatives should exercise extra caution before passing the pornography bill into law because many of its contentious articles have not been resolved, a respected Muslim cleric says.

Fadli, Batam – Entertainment and tourism businesspeople in Batam expressed their concerns Monday over the controversial pornography bill following a meeting with a House special committee, but received little assurance their worries would be addressed.

M. Rizal Maslan, Jakarta – Jakarta military commander Major General Agustadi Sasongko Purnomo is asking the public to be on guard against the reemergence of the communist movement. This can be seen from their activities that have become increasingly noticeable of late.

Tb. Arie Rukmantara, Jakarta – A band of former 1980s student activists have joined the chorus of protests against the mining industry here, demanding the government review all work contracts with mining companies.

During the years of bloodshed in Maluku and North Maluku one of the most fervent wishes of residents was for law enforcers to do their jobs, and do them properly. At one point "An eye for an eye" became a common motto and the Ambonese feared for their survival, with the death of at least 6,000 people out of a total population of about 2.1 million in the two provinces.

Jakarta – The deadly avian influenza virus continues to take its toll on the population as the government discusses the formation of a national commission on bird flu.