US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signaled that the United States was ready to restore full military training ties with Indonesia that were downgraded 13 years ago.

Rice told a Senate panel she was in the "final stages" of consultations with Congress on certifying Indonesia as eligible to benefit from the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program.

David Loyn, East Timor – Aprecio Guterres will be the last person to be tried by the war crimes court set up in East Timor.

After his case has been heard, the United Nations has ordered the court to close, as operations wind down ahead of the final UN pullout on 20 May. It has already stayed a year beyond its original mandate, and no further extension looks likely.

The reconstruction of Aceh moved into a new stage this week with the completion of military-style barracks to shelter victims of the December 26 tsunami. Not all the barracks have been completed but some 3,281 families, or more than 11,000 people, have now moved from their tents – that had been their home since the December 26 disaster – to the more substantial constructions.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) and dozens of its international counterparts are teaming up to take an active role in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Aceh and North Sumatra, Red Cross representatives said on Wednesday.

Jakarta – Discussion of the Draft Law on Defense and Security (RUU Hankam) which has been initiated up by Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono is a step backwards in efforts to reform the Indonesian armed forces (TNI).

Rusman, Nunukan, East Kalimantan – The Malaysia government's threat to crack down on Indonesian illegal workers has not only affected the illegals, but also Indonesian workers whose status is completely above board.

Bandung – Environment activists and Bandung residents have filed a civil lawsuit on Wednesday against Bandung Mayor Dada Rosada over the development of the Punclut Tourist Resort.

Washington – Researchers and advocates today called on US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to consider new evidence of Indonesian involvement in an August 2002 attack on US citizens within the Freeport mining project area in Timika, West Papua, Indonesia, before releasing International Military Education and Training (IMET) military aid to the Indonesian military (TNI).

Bekasi – The ongoing construction of Blue Oasis City complex in Karangkitri, Bekasi, has come up against protest from all sides.

Aji Ngumboro, member of Bekasi council Commission A for legal and administrative affairs, said the administration should stop the project that is being developed by PT Rekapastika.

Tony Hotland, Jakarta – In the eyes of the business community, Jakarta is the most corrupt city and the customs service the most corrupt institution in the country, according to a survey by Transparency International Indonesia (TII), the results of which were revealed on Wednesday.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – Law No. 32/2004 on regional administrations could create undemocratic elections of governors, mayors and regents, scheduled to begin in June across the country, a court heard on Wednesday.

Budi Hartadi, Surabaya – There are many ways to express opposition to fuel price increases. On Thursday February 17, scores of students from the University of Airlingga (Unair) Student Executive Council (BEM) chose to demonstrate by walking backwards to the East Java provincial parliament in Surabaya.

Gunawan Mashar, Makassar – Planned fuel price hikes which are soon to be announced by the government continue to attract a response from the public. Students in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar demonstrated against the price increase by hijacking a petrol truck.

Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir has rejected charges he was involved in terrorist plots including the 2002 Bali bombings and said President George W. Bush was behind the allegations.

Mark Forbes, Canberra – A Defence Department official deliberately cut the flow of military intelligence to troops in the field in East Timor. But the official's identity is being concealed while the department decides what action to take.

Anton Muhajir, Denpasar – It was drizzling that Saturday, but Ketut Karja and his two friends were still working in their rice field in Legian, on the outskirts of north Kuta. Across the street, several Westerners were seen sitting in the gazebo of a restaurant. They were separated only by several rice fields and a highway known as "Sunset Road".

Washington – Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday she is moving to reinstate US military training assistance for Indonesia, an important step toward restoring full military ties.

Environmental investigators say they have uncovered massive timber smuggling from Indonesia's Papua province to China in what they described as the world's largest logging racket involving one wood species.

Pekanbaru (Riau) – Fire has razed 14,000 hectares of forest in two regencies here over the past week, and causing smoke haze problems.

Due to the haze problem, at least 26 people have been treated at hospitals after suffering respiratory symptoms, a high ranking official said on Wednesday.

Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) has rejected a government's plan to merge state-owned Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN) with a publicly-listed state bank.

Jakarta – As many as 90 non governmental organizations (NGOs) and 80 individuals have challenged Law No. 19/2004, which strengthens a government regulation in lieu of law approving open pit mining in protected forests.

Palu (Central Sulawesi) – A resident of the Alabibi subdistrict, Banggai Islands regency, Central Sulawesi province, has been arrested after he announced that he was a Muslim prophet.

Rendi A. Witular, Jakarta – As a follow up to January's Infrastructure Summit, the Ministry of Transportation will start the tender processes in March and April for three projects worth over Rp 8 trillion (US$864.9 million).

Urip Hudiono, Jakarta – Despite pre-election jitters and a final-quarter slowdown, the economy in 2004 still managed to grow by 5.13 percent, continuing a steady four-year improvement, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said on Wednesday.

Tony Hotland, Jakarta – The Ministry of Defense is drafting a new law to replace the existing defense law aimed at upgrading coordination between the defense and security functions of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police, and putting the two forces under the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs.

Although the current number of casualties of dengue hemorrhagic fever is lower than last year's, the government has announced an extraordinary occurrence of dengue fever in 12 provinces affected by the dengue outbreak, including Jakarta.

Ben Moxham – The East Timorese newspaper Suara Timor Lorosae reported on February 7 that at least 53 people had died of starvation in the village of Hatabuiliko since October. "There is absolutely nothing to eat," said Domingos de Araujo, the sub-district secretary, and "those still alive are looking for wild potatoes in the forest."

Medan – The state government must do something to involve the Acehnese in its rebuilding and reconstruction programs, a group of activists said on Tuesday.

It's almost two months after the Indian Ocean Tsunami wiped out much of Banda Aceh in Indonesia. But while many reports have focused on the progress of rebuilding efforts, the long-troubled province is experiencing much more subtle shifts.

Jakarta – On the grounds that the investigation is yet to be completed, the detention of Government Watch coordinator Farid Faqih by police on charges of being involved in the theft of aid for victims of the Acehnese disaster was extended by 40 days on Tuesday February 15. Under the extension, Faqih will retain the status of a prisoner until March 27.

Jakarta – The Coalition for Clean and Proper Elections (Koalisi LSM) demanded National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar on Tuesday suspend a probe into them and instead go ahead investigating a Rp 301 billion (US$33 million) graft case allegedly involving the General Elections Commission (KPU).

Sydney – Woodside Petroleum Ltd said the 5 billion AUD Greater Sunrise gas project in the Timor Sea is stalled but remains viable.

Woodside chief executive Don Voelte told an analyst briefing a decision to progress depends on the governments of East Timor and Australia reaching agreement.

Jakarta – Some 200 evicted squatters from Tanjung Duren, West Jakarta, staged a demonstration at the West Jakarta District Court on Tuesday to demand more compensation.

Evicted on October 2, 2003, the 280 former residents have yet to receive compensation for the money they spent building homes on the site, which they claim totaled Rp 9.3 billion (US$1 million).

Jakarta – Jakarta may still be dealing with its four main problems – garbage, flooding, a poor health system and traffic jams – for many years to come, due to a distinct lack of professionalism, a city watchdog announced on Tuesday after unveiling a report.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – Indonesia's economy grew faster than projected last year, thanks to continued robust spending and signs of investment revival, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Aburizal Bakrie said on Tuesday.

Laurence Ronan – This city of 400,000 is in shambles, a third of it completely wiped off the earth, another third under water and mud. Imagine if a wave took out Dorchester, South Boston, Back Bay, and the South End, leaving only a few sticks that were trees and no buildings, just foundations. Well over 100,000 people died here and along the nearby coast.

Singapore – Peace talks with separatist rebels in Indonesia's Aceh province will continue if the guerrillas stick to the agenda of special autonomy, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here on Tuesday.

Andreas Harsono, Lamno – Muhammad Ali finished a plate of fried noodles, sipped a glass of cold tea and lamented about his misfortune in a coffee shop at the market in small town Lamno, about 200 kilometers south of the Acehnese capital Banda Aceh.

Tim Johnston, Jakarta – Seven weeks after December's tsunami devastated Indonesia's Aceh province, the immediate crisis is under control. The authorities are now looking to medium-term coping strategies for the hundreds of thousands of people who lost their homes and livelihoods.

Banda Aceh – As many as 10,000 children in Indonesia's tsunami-devastated Aceh province may be seeking lost parents, the United Nations and other agencies said on Tuesday.

That figure represents about 2.5 percent of the 400,000 people displaced on the northern end of Sumatra island by the giant waves, triggered by an earthquake on December 26.

Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Ian Carnell says he has no doubt that Australian troops in East Timor have been deliberately cut off from top secret information.

The claims were first made by army whistleblower Lance Collins in a series of allegations he made about the Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO).

Mataram – One villager was killed and four others severely injured after gang fight between neighboring villagers in Bima regency, West Nusa Tenggara province on Sunday.

The bloody riot on Sumbawa island also left six buildings in Rompo subdistrict burned.

Abdul Khalik and Tony Hotland, Jakarta – National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar suggested on Monday that West Jakarta police officers may have protected a gambling house in Taman Palem, which his officers raided two weeks ago.

Jakarta – Gold mining firm PT Newmont Minahasa Raya (NMR) has demanded the police halt an investigation into the alleged pollution of Buyat Bay, North Sulawesi, after Jane Pangemanan retracted claims she made against the firm on February 3.

Banda Aceh – Hundreds of students from Syiah Kuala University (Unsyiah) in Banda Aceh again held a protest at the university compound on Monday, demanding the university president, Abdi Abdul Wahab, to provide them and the lecturers shelter and free tuition for one semester.

The two-hour long protest was the third in the past week.

Tony Hotland, Jakarta – Human rights activists urged the government to provide better legislation for human rights protection in the country as it aims to ratify the International Bill on Human Rights.

Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta – The National Police are facing difficulties in the investigation of the death of top human rights activist Munir, particularly due to resistance from the Netherlands government to allow the Indonesian police to investigate in that country.

Jakarta – City-owned market operator PD Pasar Jaya has raised the rental fees of at least 39 of 153 traditional markets in the capital since January, despite the traders' opposition.

Pasar Jaya president director Prabowo Soenirman said on Monday that the hike rate was based on the transaction volume at respective markets.

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Banda Aceh – State-owned insurance company PT Jamsostek has called on companies in tsunami-ravaged Aceh to provide lists of workers victimized in the disaster, in order to speed up the payment of claims to the victims' relatives.

Much has been made of Makarim Wibisono's appointment as chairman of the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR). The honor signifies recognition of the diplomat's long service to his country and his contribution to multilateral diplomacy. Given his experience and tenure in various international organizations, Makarim is, without doubt, a qualified candidate for the job.