Tiarma Siboro and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono spoiled the commemoration of rights defender Munir's birthday on Wednesday by shelving the establishment of an independent team to investigate his death.

John Aglionby, Jakarta – Three hundred non-governmental organisations and individuals yesterday wrote to Lord Browne, the chief executive of energy group BP, to express their "mounting concerns" over the company's failure to meet human rights commitments made two years ago in a multibillion pound natural gas project in Indonesia.

An army whistleblower today found some backing for his claims after a government review found Australian troops in East Timor had been cut off from top secret information.

Late today, Defence Minister Robert Hill released details of a review by Inspector General of Intelligence and Security Ian Carnell into claims by army officer Lance Collins.

Indonesian presidents after Soeharto are likely to have learned one important lesson from the former dictator: Don't slip on the oil. Politically, oil is indeed a slippery commodity for Indonesia.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – After 59 years of independence, poverty remains a major problem in 190 regencies in the country, a minister says.

Indonesia says it won't shy away from the controversy of prosecuting the world's biggest gold mining company for alleged pollution.

At least ten suspected rebels have been killed in gunbattles this week in Indonesia's restive province of Aceh, the army said Wednesday.

Nine rebels were gunned down by government troops in three separate clashes on Monday, said Ary Mulya Asnawi, an army spokesman in North Aceh's capital Lhokseumawe. He added that three soldiers were wounded.

Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has appointed a fellow former general to head the nation's sensitive intelligence agency, BIN. Retired Lieutenant-General Sjamsir Siregar once served in the military's intelligence wing and some analysts see his appointment as a much-needed bridge between the police and the military.

Presenter/Interviewer: Sen Lam

Salim Osman, Jakarta – The falling out between two key figures of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) is threatening to break up Indonesia's largest Muslim organisation with millions of followers.

Suryani Ika Sari, Jakarta – Trade unions and labour groups from the United Workers' Alliance have demonstrated at the Jakarta Provincial Council building demanding to meet with the Jakarta governor, Sutiyoso, and calling on the governor to repeal Govenoral Decree Number 2515/2004 which sets the provincial minimum wage at 711,843 rupiah per month.

Australia will double anti-terrorism aid funding for Indonesia to $20 million over the next year, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said.

Damar Harsanto, Jakarta – "Forget asking about how we're going to cope with the fuel price hike. Just asking the government to increase our wages to meet the minimum cost of living is difficult enough," complained Iqbal.

Fadli, Batam – Businesspeople oppose Riau Islands acting governor Ismeth Abdullah's plan to review the monthly minimum wage of Rp 635,000 (US$70.50) on the industrial island of Batam.

Jayapura – At least 5,000 people in Indonesia's West Papua province face hunger and starvation after fleeing a military offensive against separatists, church leaders in the region said.

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Papua will probably return its special autonomy status to Jakarta and, instead, demand for a self-determination ballot for the province's future, if the government decides to establish Papuan People's Assemblies in Papua and West Irian Jaya, Papuan leaders say.

Bill Guerin, Jakarta – Indonesia's prolonged transition to democracy may have distracted it from issues tied to its Association of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN) membership and lessened its political weight and influence there, but after last week's ASEAN summit in Laos, the country's sixth president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has grabbed the ASEAN free-trade ball and is running wi

Jakarta – In one of the Indonesia's highest profile anti-corruption arrests to date, prosecutors on Tuesday detained the governor of Aceh province for allegedly embezzling US$1.3 million of state funds.

Indonesia's president has picked an army general who supported his recent rise to power to head the country's intelligence agency – a key post in the fight against terror in the world's most populous Muslim nation.

Puji Santoso and Andi Hajramurni, Pekanbaru/Makassar – Violence triggered by the recent election of a Golkar Party leader in South Sulawesi spread to Siak regency, Riau province, on Sunday night.

As a result, Siak Police deployed dozens of personnel to prevent the riot from escalating as tensions ran high in the regency.

Tony Hotland, Jakarta – Nurhasanah, 48, could not hold back the tears welling up her eyes as she shared the story of her son who disappeared more than six years ago during the May 1998 riots, one of the more tragic events in Indonesian history.

Dadan Wijaksana, Jakarta – A visiting team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recognized early signs that the administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is serious about improving the business climate here.

The Jakarta Police receive more money than any other police force in the country, yet residents say they are still unable to deal with crime and traffic in the capital. In conjunction with the Jakarta Police's 55th anniversary on December 6, The Jakarta Post asked residents for their opinion on this much-maligned force.

Indra Harsaputra and ID Nugroho, Surabaya/Blitar – More towns in East Java will likely follow Blitar's major flood with the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) forecasting continuous torrential rain and strong winds this week in the province, which has been denuded of much of its protective forests.

Theresia Sufa, Bogor – Hundreds of women demonstrated on Monday to demand seven village heads in the area help secure the release of 19 residents detained by the Bogor Police following a violent clash at the Bojong waste treatment facility in Bogor regency on November 22.

Medan – The chief of the Bukit Barisan military command, Maj. Gen. Tri Tamtomo, reiterated on Monday that any soldiers found providing protection for places of entertainment would be severely punished.

Devi Asmarani, Yogyakarta – Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono yesterday urged religious leaders to play a strong role to build tolerance in their communities in the fight against terrorism.Opening a two-day meeting on inter-faith cooperation here, he said religious leaders must promote religion as an agent of peace in the world.

Terrorism is the enemy of all faiths, Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told religious leaders from across Asia, Australia and the Pacific at a conference on how to curb rising religious extremism.

Damar Harsanto, Jakarta – The city administration is sticking to its plan to simultaneously build new busway corridors from the Pulo Gebang bus terminal, currently under-construction in East Jakarta, to Kalideres, West Jakarta, even though land acquisition remains a problem.

Mudrajad Kuncoro, Yogyakarta – Problems with regional autonomy and increasing demands for bribes are further slowing Indonesia's exports in a highly competitive regional market, a survey of 100 top executive managers says.

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – Scholars on Islamic studies warned on Saturday that religious radicalism would continue to grow over the next few years, partly due to perceived unfair treatment of Muslims around the world.

Religious leaders from 13 countries gathered in the heartland of Indonesia's al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah group to discuss how to combat sectarian extremism.

Jakarta – A police expert urged the government on Saturday to establish the planned National Police Commission (KKN) immediately to allow the public at large to have a say in the work of the police and thus minimize abuses by police personnel.

It has been four years since the police force said it intended to institute reform in order to provide better service and protection to the public. Previously, the police force was an integral part of the military for over 30 years. However, many still consider that the police have yet to "reform" themselves.

Zakki P. Hakim, Jakarta – A 40 percent increase in fuel prices would have little direct impact on the production cost of food and beverages, but the prices of several commodities could rise significantly due to higher transportation and packaging costs.

Evi Mariani and Bambang Nurbianto, Jakarta – After 55 years of service, the prestigious Jakarta Police are still deemed a disappointment by taxpayers, who pointed to unresolved crimes and chaotic traffic management on Monday.

Dwo, Jakarta – It is hoped that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will immediately form a special team which can handle the murder of human rights activist Munir.

Bambang Nurbianto, Jakarta – The recent call for thrift by People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) chairman Hidayat Nurwahid has apparently yet to be heeded by the city's 75 councillors.

Instead, they will start discussing draft bylaws on financial matters for city council leaders and members that will entitle them to numerous facilities, including cars.

Jakarta – On December 7, around 500 trade union members from the United Workers' Alliance held a demonstration in front of the offices of the Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD) in Jakarta on Jalan Kebon Sirih Central Jakarta.

Jakarta – Last week, the former chairperson of the People's Democratic Party (PRD), Budiman Sudjatmiko, decided to join the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) along with 51 other democratic activists. After two years of study in England, Sudjatmiko's decision to enter the PDI-P appears to be the start of his return to the political arena.

Semarang – The majority of regency and city branches of the Golkar Party will support the election of media magnate Surya Paloh over the incumbent leader, Akbar Tandjung, in its upcoming congress in Bali.

Nani Afrida, Banda Aceh – Amid stepped-up security measures imposed by the civil emergency administration, conditions in strife-torn Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam remained relatively calm on the 28th anniversary of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) on Saturday.

Damar Harsanto, Jakarta – A court order meant to protect the livelihoods of 3,000 vendors in the Tanah Abang textile market would actually stop most of them from trading, the market's operator claims.

Evi Mariani, Jakarta – It has been a week since kancil, 4-wheeled mini-taxis, hit the streets of Jakarta, but their presence is very limited because only 26 are in operation thus far.

The locally made vehicles were produced in a bid to phase out the Indian-made bajaj (three-wheeled motorized taxis) which are notorious for their shrill engines and thick, black smoke.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – While vowing to lead the fight against corruption, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has declined to suspend corruption suspect Abdullah Puteh immediately, as ordered by the powerful Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Surabaya – Nahdlatul Ulama head Hasyim Muzadi has stared down an attack by a rival faction, winning re-election as the chairman of Indonesia's largest Islamic grassroots organisation for another five years.

Surakarta – Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) has enacted several important policies including revoking its order to back the National Awakening Party (PKB) it founded after the downfall of president Soeharto in 1998.

All 40 million members of the nation's largest Muslim organization are now free to support any political party in next elections according to their own wishes.

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – A close aide of Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung said on Friday that the party's regency chapters may not be given the right to vote in the upcoming national congress to avoid possible vote buying.

Chaidir Anwar Tanjung, Pekanbaru – On Saturday November 4, more than 5000 workers from the Indonesian Workers Metal Federation (Federasi Buruh Metal Indonesia, FBMI) went on strike demanding that the government of Riau province revise the minimum regional wage level.

Nani Afrida and Tiarma Siboro, Banda Aceh/Jakarta – Anticipating possible skirmishes during the 28th anniversary of the Aceh Free Movement (GAM) on December 4, the civil emergency administration on Friday banned the populace from engaging in any activities related to the occasion.

Banda Aceh – Officials threatened to "shoot on sight" rebels caught raising separatist flags in Aceh province to mark the anniversary of their movement today. But the rebels remained defiant.