Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – With only four days to go before the House of Representatives ends its five-year term at the end of this month, it appears most likely that it will be unable to finish deliberating the controversial Indonesian Military (TNI) bill.

Ellen Nakashima, Jakarta – Indonesian security forces have used torture and inhumane treatment to force confessions from suspected separatists and their sympathizers in the province of Aceh, where the government and rebels have fought a long-running conflict, a human rights group alleges in a report to be released Monday.

Umar Juoro, Jakarta – The early results of last Monday's presidential election clearly show that Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will win the presidency convincingly with about 60 percent of the vote. We see again the overwhelming expression of the voters for change.

Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – Indonesia's powerful military will bow out of politics for good after losing its reserved seats in the country's top legislative body, armed forces chief General Endriartono Sutarto said yesterday.

Heather Draper, Denver – Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX) isn't concerned about its operations in Indonesia, despite the arrest there last week of executives from rival Newmont Mining Corp. (NEM) on pollution allegations.

Jakarta – Political parties that supported Mr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the Sept 20 run-off poll are accusing him of breaching a pre-election agreement.

Dean Yates, Bogor – From across Java island they have travelled. Farmers, widows of soldiers, mothers with babies, some seeking a favour from Indonesia's next president or telling him which of the country's problems he should tackle first. Others just want to shake his hand.

Dadan Wijaksana, Jakarta – The government expects this year's non-tax revenue to increase by more than 60 percent from the original allocation in the 2004 state budget, due mostly to the soaring oil prices.

Devi Asmarani – As the early vote counts began to pour in last Monday, President Megawati Sukarnoputri slipped away from guests at her private residence in the South Jakarta suburb of Kebagusan. Saying she was unwell, she retired to her room – presumably to watch in private the rising fortunes of rival Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Businessman Ian Melrose today launched a new TV commercial to promote a fair deal for East Timor in negotiations over oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea. The talks began in Canberra this week and will continue in Darwin next week.

Dewi Santoso, Jakarta – More women's groups demanded on Friday that the House of Representatives delay the endorsement of the migrant workers' protection bill as it did not include protection of undocumented workers, who make up the bulk of Indonesians employed overseas.

Satish Mishra, Jakarta – As Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono starts on his final preparation to take over the reins of – ower, it is worth remembering what most observers and pundits were saying about the implications of the presidential elections on Indonesia's daily life and development prospect less few days ago.

If politics were reality TV, democracy would mean electing the most-popular idols on TV shows through a cellular phone short message service (SMS).

For those who love watching reality shows there is nothing wrong with sending SMS messages to vote for their idols – indeed in this country's it's a burgeoning craze.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) said on Friday that it had decided to form two teams to probe disappearances during the New Order era.

M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta – President Megawati Soekarnoputri has not only been beaten by her rival in the September 20 election in terms of votes. Former general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also beat her in terms of campaign funds with Rp 50 billion at his disposal compared to Megawati's Rp 17 billion.

Eugene Low, Washington – Mr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono may be the preferred choice of officials in Washington to be the next Indonesian president, but Indonesia watchers in the US do not expect an immediate improvement in bilateral relations.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – Megawati Soekarnoputri is now trying to reconcile with her party's veteran members who had been sidelined as she is apparently coming to grips with her imminent ouster by the people.

Rendi A. Witular, Jakarta – Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who will likely be sworn in on October 20, was encouraged on Friday by local businesspeople to crack the whip against thieving government bureaucrats so companies could produce their goods at lower prices for the domestic and international markets.

Sari P. Setiogi and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – The United States Embassy has criticized the Indonesian police for detaining without charge several executives of P.T. Newmont Minahasa Raya, a mining company with its headquarters in Denver, in the US.

Bambang Nurbianto, Jakarta – As many observers had predicted, presidential candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his running mate Jusuf Kalla would win a landslide victory in the city, collecting 69.21 percent of the votes.

The people of Indonesia this week voted for change ... as retired general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono maintained a clear lead in the country's first direct presidential election. The people's choice faces one of the most challenging jobs in Asia – to help Indonesia realise something near its potential.

Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – In her first public statement since her loss in Monday's election became apparent, President Megawati Sukarnoputri yesterday apologised to the country's highest legislative body for her administration's shortcomings.

Jakarta – Mr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is almost certain to emerge the winner of the country's first direct presidential polls, has begun to unveil plans for his first 100 days in power. His focus: hot spots across the archipelago and dialogues with the common people.

Some analysts are describing the election as the end of the transition period from the overthrow of Suharto to a normalised process of politics. But, if the election is a victory for the Reformasi movement, how to explain the central role of politicians from the Suharto era? This issue was debated at the annual Indonesia Update at the Australian National University in Canberra.

New York – Presidential front-runner Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono could strengthen bilateral ties between Indonesia and Timor Leste, Timor Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta said here on Thursday.

Banda Aceh – The continuing armed conflict in Aceh has cost the lives of husbands of 14,000 women in the province over the past 15 years, according to one agency.

Jakarta – As Megawati Soekarnoputri and running mate Hasyim Muzadi head toward a crushing defeat, signs of cracks in the so-termed Nationhood Coalition are becoming more and more apparent.

Conn Hallinan – Behind a recent, highly controversial indictment by the US Department of Justice, the administration of President George W Bush is maneuvering to revive military ties with the Indonesian armed forces (TNI, for Tentara Nasional Indonesia), one of the world's most oppressive institutions.

Indonesia's outgoing President Megawati Sukarnoputri has addressed the nation's highest Assembly, the MPR, detailing her achievements over three years in office. Mrs Megawati has refused to concede her loss until official results from Monday's election.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – About 120 polling station guards in Jayapura, Papua, have seized three ballot boxes to protest what they claim is the authorities' failure to pay them for their work in Monday's presidential election.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Walking one or two days to vote is not usual for the people of Papua, Indonesia's easternmost province.

Jakarta – The ability of Mr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is poised to become the country's sixth president, will be sorely tested when he comes to grips with the country's fuel subsidy policy.

Donggala – Hundreds of residents staged a protest in front of the – ffice of General Elections Commission (KPU) in Central Sulawesi, demanding that KPU officials in the province annul the installation of a local councillor.

Patrick Walters – Early on Monday evening, Indonesia's next leader sat down in a comfortable armchair beneath the large pendopo, or open-air pavilion, inside the family compound at Cikeas, west Java, to view the election results on a large television screen.

Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon's motion to recognise the importance of the Timor Sea Boundary negotiations for the future of East Timor passed through the NSW Upper House today with unanimous support.

"The Greens are heartened to receive the full support of all parties on such a vital issue for East Timor." said Ms Rhiannon.

Sian Powell, Jakarta – As the votes in Indonesia's first direct presidential election were tallied yesterday, President Megawati Sukarnoputri remained tight-lipped over her resounding defeat.

Jakarta – Indonesian presidential front-runner Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Wednesday called for a peaceful end to Indonesia's bloodiest internal conflict, the 28-year separatist war in Aceh province.

Banda Aceh – The Aceh government started on Tuesday its third "re-education" course in nationalism for former separatist rebels who had been captured or surrendered during the one-year military crackdown on the province. The course involves 340 former rebels who were previously in military jails.

Nani Afrida, Banda Aceh – The case file on First Lt. Simorangkir, a member of the Navy Military Police who shot five fellow soldiers in late August, has been submitted to the Military Court in Aceh for prosecution.

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) will sit out its final session from September 23 through September 27, during which it will hear and comment upon the accountability report of President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Matthew Moore, Indonesia – Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met his supporters yesterday in the first discussions on the shape of his new government following his landslide win in Monday's election.

Sari P. Setiogi, Jakarta – After almost four months of hectic political activities as the running mate of presidential candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri, Hasyim Muzadi will return to the top post in the country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) on Wednesday.

Former general, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono remains on track for a landslide victory in Indonesia's first direct presidential election. After an election campaign characterised more by personalities than politics, the challenges facing Indonesia's first democratically-chosen leader are substantial.

Presenter/Interviewer: Sen Lam

As the vote count rolls on it has become clear that Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his running mate Jusuf Kalla are going to win in a landslide and lead the nation for the next five years. The results are showing a stunning defeat for the incumbent President, Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Oyos Saroso H.N., Bandarlampung – Following a green light from the Central government, Lampung Prosecutor's Office will soon question 69 councillors from Lampung provincial council for their alleged roles in the Rp 19.5 billion (US$2 million) graft case.

Max Lane – In a move criticised by Indonesian human rights organisations, interim home affairs minister Hari Sabarno announced on September 15 that officers of the National Intelligence Body (BIN), a civilian agency reporting directly to the president, would be given powers of arrest. Under Indonesian law at the moment, only police officers can make arrests.

Kevin Bogardus, Washington – Former Sen. Bob Dole, the Kansas Republican who ran for President in 1996, is known for his dry wit and television commercials after 45 years of public service. What he is not known for is his work as a powerful lobbyist in the nation's capital for Indonesia.

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – With their five-year term ending in roughly a week, members of the House of Representatives are rushing to finish deliberations of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and regional autonomy bills.

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – The Golkar Party dismissed on Monday nine key Golkar members for defying the executive board's order to support presidential candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri and her running mate Hasyim Muzadi in Monday's election runoff.

Jakarta – A leader of the insurgents fighting Indonesian rule in Aceh province said Tuesday he expects the war to continue even if a former peace negotiator is elected as Indonesia's new president.