Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – A total of 1,660 illegal Indonesian workers were deported home by Malaysian authorities between January 11 and January 31 via Belawan port in Medan, North Sumatra, in at least ten batches.

Jakarta – Indonesian exports fell 9.8 percent in 2001, the biggest percentage slump in 12 years, the Central Bureau of Statistics said Friday.

Robert Go, Jakarta – President Megawati Sukarnoputri's economic team shows signs of wear and tear after six months in office, as Cabinet members slug it out over a controversial debt-extension deal for Indonesia's conglomerates and whether to sell Bank Central Asia (BCA), the country's largest retail bank.

Dadan Wijaksana, Jakarta – Total exports fell by 9.8 percent to US$56.03 billion last year, the biggest percentage decline in 12 years, the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) said on Friday.

Jakarta – Indonesia should follow the lead of Singapore and Malaysia in taking firmer action against suspected terrorists, US Ambassador Frank Lavin said here.

Lavin said Saturday it was "disturbing" to read reports that some of the suspected terrorists who had planned to attack American targets in Singapore, including the US embassy, had fled to Indonesia.

Jakarta – Inflation in Indonesia rose 1.99 percent in January and surged 14.42 percent year-on-year, the Central Bureau of Statistics said Friday.

Bureau chief Sudarti Surbakti said the January consumer price indexfigure showed a "significant increase" as a result of a fuel price rise in the middle of the month.

Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak and Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta – The Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations (KPP HAM) during the 1999 Trisakti, Semanggi I and Semanggi II incidents has insisted that the military and police officers allegedly involved in the cases should appear before it as witnesses despite rejections from their respective organizations.

Yogita Tahilramani, Jakarta – The lawyer of the Indonesian Mujahidin Council (MMI) chief Abu Bakar Ba'asyir said on Thursday there was no evidence of a link between his client and the al-Qaeda network.

Jakarta – An Indonesian court yesterday jailed two bodyguards who procured forged documents for Tommy Suharto, the youngest son of a former president, while he was on the run from the law for a year.

Alex Wilson and Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – The House of Representatives' decision to retain four legislators representing East Timor has raised eyebrows as the former Portuguese colony no longer has any official connection to Indonesia let alone the need for political representation.

Jupriadi, Makassar – Representatives from both of Maluku's warring factions flew home on Thursday after meeting separately with government negotiators in the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar, having agreed to take part in peace talks next week.

A'an Suryana, Jakarta – A member of the General Elections Committee (KPU) urged the House of Representatives on Thursday to immediately revise the 1999 Election Law, or else the committee would run out of time to prepare the 2004 polls.

East Timor is due to become officially and fully independent on 20 May 2002. As part of the process of preparing for this, the authorities have prepared a draft Constitution of the Democratic Republic of East Timor. Formal approval for this Constitution is expected on 16 March 2002.

New York – East Timor will have to face up to atrocities committed by the liberation movement during the 25-year independence campaign if the new nation hopes for true reconciliation and peace, its interim Foreign Minister, Jose Ramos Horta, said.

Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta – The Papuan people's hope for a thorough investigation into the apparent murder of pro-independence Papua Presidium Council (PDP) Chairman Dortheys "Theys" Hiyo Eluay may have been dashed as the government decided to include the military (TNI) and Police in the proposed investigation team.

Jakarta – Indonesia's army chief admitted Thursday that soldiers may have been involved in the murder of a Papua separatist leader and pledged action against any who were proven guilty.

"It is true that from the existing testimony there are indications towards that [army involvement] but it does not mean that it is certain," General Endriartono Sutarto said.

Lhokseumawe – Weapons are not the way to wipe out the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) guerrilla army even though their leader was killed last week, says the commander of Indonesian forces in the restive province.

The Indonesian government and the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) will resume peace talks in Switzerland this weekend after a break of more than six months, according to a mediation body.

Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, Jakarta – A number of non-governmental organizations suggested on Wednesday that the government dissolve the Public Servants' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) for failing to live up to the public's expectations in the fight against corruption.

[This year we have still to see the worst of the floods. Former state minister for the environment and professor in business ethics Sonny Keraf, who served in the Cabinet of former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, shares his views on environmental policy with The Jakarta Post contributor Dwi Iswandono.]

Question: What is your comment on the recent floods?

Jakarta – Flooded areas in Jakarta, Tangerang and Bekasi have paralyzed economic and office activities since the last three days in the capital. Floods also enveloped several areas in total darkness since the natural disaster incapacitated 120 power relay stations supplying 400 wattage power to public housing areas.

Jakarta – Indonesia lacks the legal framework and the necessary counter-terrorism laws to deal with the problem, said national police chief Da'i Bachtiar.

The only regulations now available to deal with terrorism are the Criminal Code and Law No 12/1951 on firearms, he told the House Commission I.

Prime Minister John Howard today urged the United Nations to maintain its support for East Timor and not to skimp on resources for the new nation after it achieved independence.

In a speech to the United Nations Security Council, Mr Howard warned the successes of the past two years could not be maintained without strong international support.

United Nations – The UN Security Council voted unanimously on Thursday to extend its peacekeeping and nation-building operation in East Timor until the former Portuguese colony declares independence on May 20.

Dili – The Constituent Assembly voted today to transform itself into East Timor's first legislature upon final approval of the Constitution.

Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – Indonesia's second-largest political party, Golkar, could be coming apart at the seams.

Several top members have been named and now join chairman Akbar Tandjung as key suspects in graft scandals that their political rivals are reportedly exploiting to undermine the once powerful party.

Chris Mccall, Halmahera, North Maluku – More than a year after their final stand, the Christians of Duma still lie in shallow graves dotted around the village.

Protestant and Catholic leaders in East Timor have proposed ten alterations to the text of the draft Constitution currently being discussed by the Constituent Assembly in Dili.

Max Lane – The Australia Indonesia Institute (AII) is advertised as a body promoting people-to-people relations between Australia and Indonesia. Its real role in defending the political status quo in Indonesia and Australia has been revealed by a recent funding decision.

Pidie – An unmarked mound of muddy earth marks the grave of Abdullah Syafii, the Acehnese guerrilla commander killed by Indonesian troops last week.

Jakarta – Indonesia's armed forces – widely suspected of involvement in the murder of a Papua separatist leader – will be represented on a proposed national commission to investigate the crime, it was announced Wednesday.

Jakarta – State Minister for Environmental Affairs Nabiel Makarim said on Wednesday that the current flooding in Greater Jakarta was the result of years of massive malfeasance in city planning and law enforcement which has led to major environmental destruction.

Max Lane – The Indonesian government's implementation of policies demanded by the International Monetary Fund – the reduction of subsidies on petrol and kerosene, as well as on electricity and telephone charges – has caused widespread price increases and the disappearance of some products from markets.

Jakarta – Indonesian rights activists and analysts have criticised a decision to revive a separate army command for Aceh as a misguided attempt to impose a military solution in the troubled province.

The emphasis on force to end the separatist struggle could damage Indonesia's fledgling democracy and the army's own reform drive, they warned.

Anna Peltola, Stockholm – Separatist rebels in Indonesia's troubled Aceh province said on Tuesday they would not meet Jakarta representatives face-to-face in peace talks scheduled for this weekend.

Achmad Sukarsono, Jakarta – Indonesia's president has always avoided reporters, but new curbs on journalists covering her activities have sparked fears the government may be trying to retreat behind barriers familiar under ex-autocrat Suharto.

Bambang Nurbianto, Jakarta – The problem of flooding in the capital city was worsening due to continuing violations of the Jakarta Master Plan, which had resulted in a decrease in the number of water catchment areas, an expert has said.

Jakarta – The United States is offering support – including millions of dollars for police training and increased intelligence sharing – to help Indonesia crack down on potential terrorists within its borders.

Singapore – It would be easier to fight terrorists in Indonesia if the US resumed normal military ties with the country, the chief of the US Pacific Command said Tuesday.

Erick W., Palu – The situation in Luwuk, Banggai, Central Sulawesi remained tense on Monday as thousands of people marched through the small town to protest against the assault by local police of four officers from the local administration on Sunday.

The president has recently appointed eighteen ad hoc Human Rights judges. Can Indonesia's Court of Human Rights function objectively and independently from the International Court of Justice? Indonesia is endeavoring to improve its human rights record.

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – The resignation of legislator Sophan Sophiaan from both the House of Representatives (DPR) and the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) may have been triggered by intense pressure to tow the party line on controversial issues, a fellow legislator said.

Dili – The Constituent Assembly has nearly completed its two-month debate on the 151 articles of East Timor's first Constitution, keeping the popularly elected body on schedule to promulgate the historic document in early March.

A'an Suryana, Jakarta – Political observers expressed concern on Saturday that amid the crisis of leadership the nation was facing, the government of President Megawati Soekarnoputri had failed to accommodate the aspirations of the people.

Jakarta – Economic factors and not intimidation are now the main reason why many East Timorese refugees are reluctant to go home from Indonesia, the UN refugee agency said Monday.

With less than four months to go before East Timor attains full independence, an estimated 60,000-75,000 of them are still in Indonesian West Timor.

Yemris Fointuna, Jakarta – Prosecutors from the Attorney General's Office have begun questioning two army officers as part of their investigation into the 1999 murder of a Dutch journalist in East Timor, officials said on Saturday.

Kuala Lumpur – Malaysian manufacturers Monday urged the government to allow the employment of Indonesian women workers amid a recent ban on the intake of Indonesian workers.

Ahmad Junaidi, Jakarta – Activists have demanded that the Inspectorate General of the Ministry of Home Affairs mount an immediate investigation into Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso for allegedly violating ministry decree No. 50/1999.

Jakarta – Indonesia criticised neighbouring Malaysia on Monday for Kuala Lumpur's decision to halve the number of Indonesians working in the country and said the move could backfire and spark an influx of illegal workers.