Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – A baby boom is looming large in Indonesia with its much-touted population control programme losing pace due to budget cuts and decreasing foreign aid, following the 1998 fall of the Suharto regime.

Dennis Shanahan – In a David and Goliath scenario, a row over oil revenues is threatening relations between Australia and its struggling neighbour East Timor

Dadan Wijaksana, Jakarta – Aside from global concerns over a possible hike in US interest rates, the rupiah's sharp drop should also be blamed on excess liquidity in the domestic banking sector, which has opened up greater room to speculate against the local unit, according to the central bank.

Jakarta – President Megawati Sukarnoputri has given police the go-ahead to investigate allegations of a multimillion-dollar graft case involving the governor of the war-torn province of Aceh, a spokesman said Friday.

Yuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung – Aceh military operation commander Maj. Gen. George Toisuta will soon be promoted to head the first division of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command, the Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesman said.

Nani Afrida, Banda Aceh – "Free Aceh Sumatra!," shouted several guerrilla rebels of the Aceh Free Movement (GAM), during a ceremony for the release of 155 hostages, including RCTI cameraman Ferry Santoro, in a village in East Aceh regency recently.

Stevie Emilia, Shanghai – Current instability and the upcoming presidential elections in Indonesia constitute the main hindrance to the national target of halving the poverty rate, economists here said.

Rachel Harvey, Jakarta – As Indonesians prepare for their first direct presidential election on 5 July, the latest opinion polls suggest a retired general is the frontrunner.

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, also known by his initials SBY, is drawing support from his image as a man of integrity, a strong communicator and firm leader in times of crisis.

Richard Ackland – "After all we've done for them," moaned Alexander Downer, the Foreign Minister, on Four Corners a couple of Mondays ago. Those ungrateful East Timorese beating their wretched little chests and complaining about Australia wanting the lion's share of the oil and gas fields lying between the two countries.

Hasrul, Kendari – The Southeast Sulawesi General Elections Commission (KPUD) has rejected several campaign teams proposed to back presidential candidates as they include civil servants, such as the deputy mayor of Kendari and other senior officials. "Only three teams submitted lists of their members.

Jakarta – Indonesia's General Elections Commission (KPU) has asserted that it is by no means underestimating the existence of the Election Monitoring Committee (Panwaslu), and that it has no plan to replace Panwalu members, KPU deputy chairman, Ramlan Surbakti, said here Thursday.

Dadan Wijaksana, Jakarta – The rupiah continued to falter on Thursday and ended at a fresh 19-month low, showing no sign of a rebound at a time when other currencies in the region started to regain ground against the US dollar.

Jakarta – Indonesia's state-owned oil and gas company, PT Pertamina, is broke and it has asked for a government bailout, as excessive costs have put the company's operating cash flow, and the company's future, in critical condition.

Roger Mitton, Washington – The possibility that Golkar candidate Wiranto may become the next president of Indonesia is causing concern in the United States. The former Indonesian Army general has been accused of complicity in a notorious massacre of demonstrators in Timor Leste in 1999.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – Illegal logging cases investigated by police in the first quarter of 2004 almost doubled compared to the same period of 2003, police said on Thursday.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief A.M. Hendropriyono said security authorities might not extend the work permit of International Crisis Group (ICG) director Sidney Jones, claiming she had tarnished the country's image.

Jakarta – National Intelligence Agency (BIN) Chief Hendropriyono here Thursday accused the director of the International Crisis Group (ICG) in Indonesia, Sidney Jones, of having harmed the interests of the Indonesian government and nation by purveying untrue reports about Indonesia.

Jakarta – A case involving the International Crisis Group's director, American Sidney Jones, has nothing to do with freedom of expression but is simply an administrative matter, foreign affairs minister Hassan Wirajuda said here on Friday.

Jakarta – Indonesia's police commander joined in the government's criticism of the International Crisis Group yesterday, threatening the think-tank with legal action if it issues 'statements that destabilise security' in the presidential election.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – Rights activists warned on Thursday against cracking down on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that were critical of government policies, as the move would tarnish the country's fragile democracy.

Andi Hajramurni, Makassar – A police code of ethics committee dishonorably discharged an officer on Thursday for his role in a brutal attack on the Makassar-based Indonesian Muslim University (UMI) that injured 65 students.

Jakarta – An intelligence coordinating meeting which was held yesterday has yet to officially recommend that the director of the International Crisis Group (IGC) Sydney Jones be expelled from Indonesia.

Jakarta – Five political parties in Indonesia are ready to declare their support for National Mandate Party (PAN) presidential candidate Amien Rais, PAN secretary-general Yasin Kara said yesterday.

Derwin Pereira – The political star of retired general Wiranto appears to be getting brighter.

The former military commander, who more than three years ago suffered an ignominious exit from politics, has now taken a big step towards clinching the presidency in Indonesia.

Jakarta – Indonesian presidential candidate Wiranto is expected to travel to Singapore on Friday on his first trip abroad since a human rights tribunal in East Timor issued an arrest warrant on May 10 against the former military chief.

Ambon – Maluku's provincial capital of Ambon was tense again on Thursday following a traffic accident and bomb explosions in Pardais Tengah at around 7.51 pm.

Pip Hinman – Jakarta's decision to lift martial law in Aceh, in favour of an "emergency status", won't change the lives of ordinary Acehnese for the better, according to a leader of the Acehnese community in Australia. Nurdin, who was once imprisoned and tortured by the Indonesian army, said that Jakarta's troops must be forced out of Aceh.

Bill Guerin, Jakarta – "It's all over for Cemex, and as far as we're concerned they can go back to Mexico," said Titi Nazif Lubuk, deputy leader of the West Sumatra legislative assembly.

Jakarta – The United States government will support whoever will be elected as Indonesia's next president, US ambassador to Indonesia Ralph Boyce said after meeting Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Wednesday.

Jakarta – Golkar Party presidential candidate Wiranto met with US ambassador Ralph L Boyce at the latter's residence on Jalan Suropati, Central Jakarta, here on Thursday.

Jakarta – A number of political parties are ready to declare their support for National Mandate Party (PAN) presidential candidate Amien Rais, PAN secretary general, Yasin Kara said Thursday.

The Jakarta-based director of an international analysts' group says Indonesian authorities have threatened to expel her because of her reports on the country.

Matthew Moore, Jakarta – The researcher regarded as the leading expert on the South-East Asian terrorist group Jemaah Islamiah has been stopped from working in Indonesia and has been told the visa that allows her to stay in the country will not be renewed.

Jakarta – Revered Indonesian author Pramoedya Ananta Toer, 79, won the Norwegian Authors' Union award for his contribution to world literature and his continuous struggle for the right to freedom of expression.

Jon Lamb – Solidarity protests took place across Australia on May 20, the second anniversary of East Timor's independence. The actions condemned the Australian government for its refusal to negotiate a fair and just maritime boundary and for its ongoing theft of East Timor's oil and gas resources.

Shefali Rekhi – Indonesia's economy might be improving, but this has not translated into a "feel good" factor among the people on the ground.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – Despite earlier assurances that the governor of Nanggroe Aceh Darrussalam would remain in charge of the civil emergency administration, a presidential instruction to be issued on Thursday will effectively curtail his powers.

Jakarta – Six suspected separatist rebels were killed in Indonesia's Aceh province Thursday, as Amnesty International said the continuing military campaign there had caused "a marked deterioration" in the province's human rights situation.

Ambon – Two bomb explosions shook Ambon, Maluku's provincial capital, on Wednesday striking fear into the hearts of the local population.

A. Junaidi, Jakarta – Activists and experts supported on Wednesday an antipornography bill, but urged the government and the House of Representatives to drop several controversial articles in the bill, including those banning of erotic dances and kissing on the lips in public.

Damar Harsanto, Jakarta – The city administration was slammed on Wednesday for what critics said was its harsh treatment of sidewalk vendors, while at the same time turning a blind eye to businesses being run out of houses not designated for commercial or business purposes.

[The following is abridged from a statement issued on May 20 by the Movement Against the Occupation of the Timor Sea (MKOTT).]

Dear Australian people,

Warm solidarity greetings from East Timor!

Jill Jolliffe, Darwin – Officially it was a day of celebration, but there was an undertone of pessimism at ceremonies in Dili last Thursday marking East Timor's second independence anniversary and the drastic cutback of the United Nations' peacekeeping mission.

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Denpasar – Around 300 former refugees of Balinese descent stayed overnight in tents at Niti Mandala square in front of the Bali governor's office on Tuesday, demanding compensation for their property abandoned in 1999 when East Timor broke away from Indonesia.

Abdul Khalik and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – The National Police and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) separately announced on Tuesday they would investigate corruption cases in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) that allegedly involve Governor Abdullah Puteh.

Dennis Shanahan – Australia has pressured the leadership of the fledgling state of East Timor, warning it that more public attacks over oil rights could severely damage the relationship.

An advocacy group pleaded Wednesday for the release of dozens of women it said were arrested by government forces and falsely accused of treason in the war-torn province of Aceh.

Sister Susan Connelly This anniversary is tinged with a lot of embarrassment for us as Australians. Despite all East Timor has been through, more often than not with Australian connivance and reluctance to help or tell the whole truth, today the Australian government is once again in the role of spoiler regarding the just sharing of the resources of the Timor Sea.

Jakarta – Indonesia's former president Abdurrahman Wahid is suing the General Election Commission for US$110 million (S$189 million) after it disqualified him from the July presidential race on health grounds.

Jakarta – Indonesian presidential candidate Wiranto, who has been charged with condoning atrocities in East Timor in 1999, hopes to meet East Timor's President Xanana Gusmao this weekend to discuss the abuses, a Wiranto aide said Wednesday.