Meidyatama Suryodiningrat, Vientiane – While police may be intensifying their hunt for terrorist suspect Azahari bin Husin, they admit they are still playing an extended catch-me-if-you-can game with the notorious bombmaker. With a small legion of followers and a continued cash supply, the Malaysian national seems to be as effective in evading arrest as he is at making bombs.

Reporter: Mark Colvin

Mark Colvin: East Timor's Foreign Minister, Jose Ramos Horta, says the relationship between his country and Australia seems to be at its lowest point since the liberation in 1999.

Eight former pro-Jakarta militiamen have been jailed in East Timor for crimes against humanity committed in the mayhem surrounding a 1999 UN-backed vote that led to the country's separation from Indonesia.

A special court Thursday convicted the eight of abducting and torturing two independence supporters in Dili in May 1999.

Michael Casey, Buyat Bay – Mention Newmont Mining Corp. in this impoverished seaside community, and villagers angrily recount how pollution from its gold mine has killed the fish and sickened residents with headaches, nausea and tremors.

Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) patriarch and former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid has made it clear that he is extremely displeased with NU executive chairman Hasyim Muzadi and senior leaders are talking about forming a "rival" NU if Muzadi wins a further five-year term at its congress.

Arin Widiyanti, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is to be sued by 4.1 million Acehnese people on the grounds that his broke his campaign promise by extending the civil emergency in Aceh. The suit is be registered with the Central Jakarta State Court by the People's Lawyers Union (Serikat Pengacara Rakyat, SPR).

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – With Rp 389 million (US$43,000) in assets, Minister of Agriculture Anton Apriyantono is the "poorest" of 11 Cabinet members whose wealth has been verified by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Tony Hotland, Jakarta – Activists and close friends of noted rights campaigner Munir submitted on Friday, to the government, candidates for an independent team, who would assist the police in investigating his mysterious death.

Sian Powell, Jakarta – Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono made a flying visit to the blood-soaked province of Aceh yesterday, demonstrating his resolve to come to grips with a conflict that has claimed as many as 13,000 lives since 1976.

Damar Harsanto, Jakarta – Around 70 protesters grouped in the United Workers Alliance have demanded that the City Council revoke Governor Sutiyoso's decision to raise the provincial minimum wage to Rp 711,843 (US$79). They also said there were legal flaws in the ruling, which was issued two weeks ago.

Theresia Sufa and Damar Harsanto, Bogor/Jakarta – Six low-ranked police officers have denied involvement in Monday's violent protest by locals opposing the presence of Bojong waste treatment facility in Klapanunggal, Bogor regency, West Java.

Blontank Poer, Surakarta – Ahead of the 31st Congress of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), which will be held at the Donohudan Haj Dormitory, Surakarta, the focus of its members is on the heightened rivalry between supporters and opponents of incumbent chairman Hasyim Muzadi, who is seeking reelection for a second five-year term.

Blontank Poer and Slamet Susanto, Surakarta/Yogyakarta – The debate on involvement in politics seems likely to dominate the upcoming 39th congress of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the country's biggest Muslim group, to be opened in the Central Java town of Surakarta by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Sunday.

Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta – The absentee rate in government offices after the Idul Fitri holiday slightly rose compared to last year, despite the fact that civil servants were granted more time off.

Derwin Pereira, Jakarta – The race is on for control of Golkar, Indonesia's largest political party.

The party will hold a national congress next month to select a new chairman in what could prove crucial for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's plans to rein in a hostile Parliament.

Greg Poulgrain – Thousands of people were starving after they were driven from their villages by Indonesian forces and militia groups, a Papuan leader claimed yesterday.

Jakarta – City-run market operator PD Pasar Jaya finally bowed to pressure from traders and city councillors by suspending the demolition of the Tanah Abang textile market in Central Jakarta.

Muhammad Uzair, Palembang – The Palembang Transportation Office will soon reroute heavy vehicles from Ampera bridge to the Musi II bridge in the near future because a section of the Ampera bridge continues to slope at an angle and cause an inordinate amount of resonance during heavy traffic.

Imran MA, Jakarta – As many as 25 TNI (armed forces) officers from the Karma Bhakti Infantry Battalion, Rifle Company B in East Aceh have been found to have violated the code of discipline. They have been in detention at the Iskandar Muda military headquarters in Lhokseumawe since Friday November 26.

Imran MA, Lhokseumawe – The body of a Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officer from a Brimob post in the village of Seuneubok Aceh in the Idi Rayeuk sub-district of East Aceh who was killed in an attack by TNI (armed forces) troops from the Karma Bhakti Infantry Battalion 111, Rifle Company B, in East Aceh on Friday November 26, has been returned to his home in Palembang South Sumatra.

Leony Aurora , Jakarta – The year 2004 has been a good one for Imelda Ladianto. She was accepted as a teacher by a national plus school, rented a small house, and could officially call herself independent.

"The first thing I bought was a washing machine," said the 26-year-old. "I didn't want to hand wash my laundry, it's way too impractical," she added.

Nani Afrida, Banda Aceh – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told the Acehnese on Friday that special autonomy was the best way to resolve the Aceh conflict, signaling that there would be no policy changes in dealing with the secessionist movement there.

Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta – Russia has said it is willing to provide Indonesia all the assistance it wants in developing its weaponry systems and defense industry.

Jakarta – Even though the Indonesian province of Papua sits on the sprawling nation's remote, far-eastern frontier, it has been placed squarely on the frontlines of the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Nur Raihan, Banda Aceh – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says that the extension of the civil emergency in Aceh is necessary if only to maintain continuity and to provide space for a just and dignified resolution to the Aceh problem.

Banda Aceh – Indonesia's President yesterday pitched his proposal for an amnesty for separatist rebels to bring peace to Aceh during a one-day trip to the oil- and gas-rich region, his first since taking office.

[The following Press Release by the Jakarta-based NGO, SNUP (National Solidarity for Papua), was issued on 22 November last year. It provides a much Clearer picture of events in Puncak Jaya, West Papua from September to November 2004 than previously obtained, and is therefore being translated in its entirety - February 15, 2005.]

Urip Hudiono, Jakarta – A hike in domestic fuel prices next year – if carefully planned and carried out – will have only a limited effect on the inflation rate, Bank Indonesia has said.

Indra Harsaputra and Muhammad Nafik, Surabaya/Jakarta – Rivalry is heating up inside Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) ahead of its national congress to elect a new leader, which observers say could lead to a split in the country's largest Muslim organization.

Bandung/Padang/Samarinda – After a year of delays, a former West Java councillor went on trial in Bandung on Thursday for corruption.

If convicted, Kurdi Mukri, former deputy speaker of the West Java provincial council and currently a legislator at the House of Representatives, could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Jakarta/Bogor – The National Police will summon Bogor Police chief Sr. Comr. Bambang Wasgito for questioning, following the bloody incident at Jakarta's waste treatment plant in Bojong village, Bogor regency, on Monday.

The outcome of the four-day congress of the country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), which is scheduled to be opened by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Sunday, will not only determine the future direction of the organization and the well-being of its 40-million members, but will also strongly influence the nation as a whole and the development of Islam in g

East Timor President Xanana Gusmao warned Friday his emerging nation still faces the threat of incursions by armed militias, most likely from Indonesia's West Timor.

Olle T'rnquist, Oslo, Norway – Indonesia's most prominent, bravest, and innovative democracy-and human rights fighter is no more. He was the 2000 laureate for the "Right Livelihood Award", often referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize".

Banda Aceh – The civil state of emergency authority in Aceh has decided to open five regencies for foreigners wishing to enter Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) province.

Jayapura – The governor of West Papua, Jaap Salossa, has forbidden people from commemorating December 1 as Papua's independence day as well as hoisting the morning star flag or other symbols which are incompatible with official state symbols of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Tony Hotland, Jakarta – The government may also be blamed for the pollution of Buyat Bay in North Sulawesi, Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare Alwi Shihab said on Thursday, one day after he vowed to punish PT Newmont Minahasa Raya for arsenic contamination in the area.

Indonesian police identified six suspected terrorist "nests" just a day after arresting four of the Australian embassy bombers.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who has vowed to end the decades-long conflict in Aceh province, made his first visit there against a backdrop of continued violence.

Mark Dodd, Darwin – The chief investigator of the Bali bombings, Inspector-General Made Mangku Pastika, is himself under investigation for East Timor war crimes.

Indonesian judges have rejected a plea to drop terrorism charges against hardline Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir and ordered him to stand trial for his alleged involvement in attacks including the Bali bombings.

Blontank Poer, Surakarta – Days before the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) begins a national congress, many would-be participants complained on Wednesday that they had not received official invitations from the steering committee.

Jakarta – A number of noted Acehnese figures urged the government on Wednesday to reopen dialog with the Free Aceh Movement to help settle the prolonged conflict amicably.

Derwin Pereira, Jakarta – Santiago was a world away for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in more ways than one.

Aboeprijadi Santoso, Amsterdam – The arsenic poisoning of the Indonesian human rights champion, Munir, has aroused so much attention that he is even more "present" in death than he was in life. Yet, without the reform of state apparatuses and the will and determination of the country's leadership, the case will remain a mystery.

David Jay Green, Jakarta – National elections and a change in government are a wonderful time for reflection and stocktaking and Indonesia's recent set is no exception. It is a useful, as well as a fun undertaking to try and identify the most important lessons of yesterday and guess the problems we'll face tomorrow.

Leony Aurora, Jakarta – Following months of steady growth, Indonesia's exports would hit a record US$65 billion worth this year, up 6.5 percent from last year, due to soaring oil prices and increasing export volumes, a government official says.

Jakarta – Indonesia has elected to enter into military cooperation with Russia and China. According to Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono, both China and Russia had offered.

Jakarta – TNI [Indonesian National Military Forces] Commander Gen Endriartono Sutarto has expressed hope that the government will place a high priority on the TNI budget. Attention to this was urgently required to overcome the security problems in the country such as separatism in Nanggroe Aceh Darusslam.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has raised a call for the country to become self-reliant in supplying its defense forces with arms, munitions and equipment through close collaboration among the armed forces, academics and industry.