Leony Aurora, Jakarta – One afternoon, a bunch of children were kicking around a ball in an empty field when suddenly a woman – clad in training pants and clutching a cassette of dance music – arrived.

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Casingkem binti Aspin and Istiqomah binti Misnad are two of many Indonesian migrant workers who have been victims of human trafficking that involved corrupt government officials, local and international syndicates.

Meiwita Budiharsana, Ford Foundation David & Joyce Djaelani Gordon, YaKita – HIV/AIDS is growing at an alarming rate in Indonesia. One of the main ways in which it is spread is through the sharing of infected syringes by injecting drug users (IDUs).

Gary LaMoshi, Denpasar – On October 12, 2002, bombs targeting nightclub revelers along Jalan Legian in the heart of Bali's Kuta Beach resort killed 202 people, mainly Western tourists. At the time, experts predicted that Indonesia's US$5.4 billion tourism industry would need a decade to recover.

Police raided a squatter settlement in a Malaysian jungle, burning down shacks and arresting more than 100 illegal immigrants, mainly from Indonesia's war-torn Aceh province, a human rights group said Wednesday.

Oyos Saroso H.N., Bandarlampung – The cement shortage in Lampung and Banten provinces, triggered by mechanical problems at the PT Semen Baturaja cement factory in South Sumatra, has propelled the price of the commodity upward.

A sack of cement, which usually sells for Rp 27,000 (US$3), now costs Rp 36,000, or even as much as Rp 40,000 in several areas in Lampung.

"A mouse dying in a rice barn" is perhaps the most suitable adage to describe the dire condition of PT Asean Aceh Fertilizer (AAF), after the decision early this week by the outgoing administration of President Megawati Soekarnoputri to close down the 570,000-ton capacity urea factory due to an acute shortage of natural gas feedstock.

Dili – The International Monetary Fund says that East Timor faces "significant economic challenges" and cautions that the new nation's future oil and gas revenues will initially be "substantially less than predicted".

Depok – The Depok chapter of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) threatened to raid nightclubs if the administration did not close them down during Ramadhan.

In a rally on Monday at the Depok City Hall, the group demanded the administration issue a bylaw banning nightclubs from operating during the fasting month.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – A coalition of non-governmental organizations questioned Monday the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) commitment to seriously investigate alleged corruption by the General Elections Commission (KPU) in the procurement of materials for the April 5 legislative election.

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – President-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono may have won by a landslide, but it is questionable how effective his administration will be because most regional administrations and legislatures are controlled by different political parties, analysts say.

Citing "grave concerns over the prospects for real military reforms," 45 members of the US Congress called possible State Department plans to provide foreign military financing (FMF) for Indonesia in 2006 "premature, unwarranted, and unwise."

Jakarta – A small bomb exploded outside the house of anti-corruption activist on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi early on Tuesday, breaking windows but causing no injuries, police said.

M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta – Leader of the Justice Prosperous Party (PKS) Hidayat Nur Wahid relinquished on Monday his chairmanship of the Muslim-based party, saying he would concentrate on his new job as the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker.

After all the praise that has been heaped by the public and the media on President Megawati Soekarnoputri for the contribution she made in smoothing the path towards democracy in Indonesia, news of the unexpected resignation of the chief of the Indonesian military (TNI), Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, and his proposed replacement by the Army chief, Gen.

Palu – An activist with a governance watchdog lashed out on Monday against a plan by 11 councillors to visit Jakarta, saying the trip was a waste of money.

Kendari – A anti-illegal logging protest on Monday nearly turned into brawl in Kendari, capital of Southeast Sulawesi province.

Dozens of environmental activists had been staging a heated protest outside the Southeast Sulawesi Council, demanding the government to prosecute those people responsible for illegal logging in Muna regency.

Puji Santoso, Pekanbaru – A protest against prostitution held by 500 students and residents in Riau province ahead of the Ramadhan fasting month, which starts this Friday, ended in a clash.

Zakki P. Hakim, Singapore – Singapore is hopeful that Indonesia's business climate will improve following its successful presidential election, Prime Minister Lee Hsie Loong said here on Monday.

Yeo Wei Meng – Shortly before midnight on October 12, 2002, a devastating terror attack was launched at the beachside town of Kuta on the island of Bali, Indonesia. Two bombs exploded in quick succession in Paddy's Irish Pub and outside the Sari Club.

Damar Harsanto, Jakarta – Ahead of the rainy season expected to begin next month, the Jakarta administration is getting busy in anticipation of possible flooding in the capital, dredging rivers and cleaning up garbage jamming sluice gates.

Lance Gay, Washington – Two years after a terrorist explosion killed 202 people at a resort in Bali, the Bush administration is weighing increased support for Indonesia in the war against terrorism.

Ati Nurbaiti, Jakarta – A former teacher and ticketing agent for an airline sought work one day at a hat shop. She wasn't exactly seeking a career in sales; "I just needed to know if I could still work" after a long spell at home, she said.

Kurniawan Hari and Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta – Several analysts are calling for the appointment of an Air Force officer as the Indonesian Military (TNI) chief to replace Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, the Army general who resigned from his post last week.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati and Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – The question of Army chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu's appointment as acting Indonesian Military (TNI) chief must be resolved immediately as it sets a bad precedent for the institution, analysts say.

Evi Mariani, Jakarta – The newly installed Jakarta Police chief, Insp. Gen. Firman Gani, dismissed seven low-ranking officers during a ceremony on Monday, the first mass dishonorable discharge ceremony this year. The police chief's orders for the dismissals were issued on October 5.

Dili – East Timor has launched an official website to promote tourism in the world's newest nation.

The new site www.turismotimorleste.com has versions in Portuguese and English and contains key facts on Timor's history and culture, as well as information on accommodation and specialist holidays including hiking, diving and bird watching.

An Islamic judicial system has been introduced in Indonesia's restive province of Aceh as part of increased autonomy granted to the staunchly Muslim province by Jakarta.

"The head of the Supreme Court is currently in Aceh to inaugurate the operation of the Sharia Court there," said Andi Syamsu Alam, deputy chairman of the Supreme Court for religious court affairs.

Jerry Norton, Jakarta – Public attitudes towards terrorism in Indonesia have changed dramatically in the two years since the Bali bombing, and the country is now facing up to the problem, the outgoing US ambassador said on Monday.

Blontank Poer/Nana Rukmana, Cirebon – Hundreds of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) members ended a three-day conference in Cirebon, West Java on Sunday, with several recommendations including a changing of the guard in the nation's largest Muslim organization.

Jakarta – Indonesia missed an opportunity to restore military ties with the United States by failing to make its soldiers accountable for abuses in East Timor, the outgoing US ambassador said Monday.

"I consider it a misgiving on my part that I'm leaving without having normalized mil-mil relations because it was there to have," Ambassador Ralph Boyce told reporters.

Ridwan max Sijabat, Jakarta – Two experts have called on president-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, popularly known by his initials SBY, to avoid appointing individuals with a military background to his Cabinet in the interests of professionalism and democracy.

Jakarta – Departing US Ambassador Ralph Boyce said Monday he regretted that Indonesia hasn't improved its human rights record enough to allow the resumption of military relations with the US

Rendi A. Witular, Jakarta – Experts agree on the plan by president-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to revise the 2005 state budget, citing the urgency to revise the crucial oil price assumption to better reflect current developments in global oil prices.

Peter Sweeney – Australia has been called on to give a "fairer go" to East Timor over the oilfields issue. The Federal Government has been accused of "megaphone diplomacy" in its negotiations with its battling neighbour.

Farish A Noor – Bambang managed to persuade most of the voters that he could restore calm and stability to the country. A long-time ally and friend of the US, he was touted as the man who could bring about Indonesia's recovery and improve the country's relationship with the West.

Jakarta – Indonesia's military chief has resigned and President Megawati Sukarnoputri has replaced him with a hard-line general known for his xenophobic remarks and criticism of rights activists, officials said Saturday.

Langsa – Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh expressed on Saturday his expectation that the armed conflict in his province would be settled soon. "I have a hunch that the armed conflict will be settled in three months time," he said.

"I base this on the fact that the security situation in Aceh is getting better while the people are more at ease and feel safer," he added.

Jakarta – The Acehnese Popular Democratic Resistance Front (Front Perlawanan Demokratik Rakyat Aceh, FPDRA) and the Acehnese Democratic Women's Organisation (Organisasi Perempuan Aceh Demokrati, ORPAD) are calling on the new government to repeal the state of civil emergency and withdraw all TNI (armed forces) and police troops from Aceh.

Bill Guerin – As incoming president Susilo Bambang Yudhyono prepares to step into the palace, a mercurial dispute between US-based Newmont – the world's biggest gold producer – and Indonesia's local authorities and environmental activist groups yet again highlights the difficulties of mining in the country.

The World Health Organization insisted that a strain of bird flu that has killed millions of birds in Indonesia is potentially deadly to humans, contrary to claims by Indonesian officials.

Karen Michelmore, Darwin – Most Australians believe an independent adjudicator should decide the location of Australia's maritime boundary with East Timor if negotiations fail, a national poll found today.

Washington – Amnesty International Wednesday urged Indonesian President-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to give top priority to ending human rights violations in the restive province of Aceh.

Banda Aceh – A rebel commander was among five guerillas killed in new violence in Indonesia's Aceh province, where the government is trying to crush an insurgency, the military said Thursday.

Soldiers shot dead the 26-year-old Free Aceh Movement district commander during a skirmish on Wednesday, said Aceh military spokesman Asep Sapari.

East Timor Foreign Minister Jose Ramos-Horta said Wednesday his country is to participate in the ASEAN Regional Forum for the first time in Laos next June.

The Australian Greens today challenged Labor to pledge to refer the dispute between Australia and East Timor over oil and gas reserves to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) if it wins government.

Greens Senator Bob Brown pointed to a Newspoll survey showing overwhelming support among Australians for the independent adjudicator to settle the matter.

Gary LaMoshi, Denpasar – Last month's bombing of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta and next week's anniversary of the 2002 bombings in Bali are reminders of the serious terrorism threat in the world's largest predominantly Muslim nation.

Jakarta – Indonesia's first democratic presidential poll has helped distance the country from its days of authoritarian control, but it has also intensified calls for justice as the wounds of military atrocities and dictator Suharto's rule remain open, Agence France-Presse reported.

Gede Suardana, Denpasar – The commander of the Udayana territorial military command, Major General Supiadin AS, has accused the United Opposition Front (BOB) who have been rejected militarism at demonstrations of being communists. He also believes they want to sow discord within the TNI (armed forces).

Muhammad Atqa, Jakarta – Earlier today the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (Komite Pembebasan Napol/Tapol) submitted a complaint to the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) over violence perpetrated against their activists in three different cites, Denpasar (Bali), Yogyakarta (Central Java) and Kupang (West Timor).