The National Commission on Human Rights' committee for the 1984 mass killing in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta (KPP HAM Tanjung Priok), has come under fire for its report to the House of Representatives (DPR) suggesting to summon parties related to the killings instead of recommending a trial.

Robert Go, Jakarta – Local governments have been warned not to abuse new regional autonomy laws or they risk losing both domestic and foreign investment, high-level central government officials have warned.

Agence France Presse in Jakarta – Jakarta yesterday issued a fresh appeal to Switzerland to help recover cash that may have been stashed there by former president Suharto, suspected of embezzling billions from state coffers during his 32-year rule.

Jakarta – A group of some 50 students calling themselves the Inter-Campus Muslims Students Association (HAMAS) yesterday attacked the office of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), damaging Komnas HAM's board in front of the office.

Harry Otten, Amsterdam – "The policy demanded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in exchange for loans leads to an increase in poverty.

Subsidies on electricity, education and public transport are being cut ... There's already 80 million Indonesian people living below the poverty line. IMF policy will push even more people below it."

Jakarta – Indonesian defence minister Yuwono Sudarsono on Wednesday blamed loyalists of former president Suharto for formenting outbursts of bloody violence wracking several Indonesian provinces.

Jakarta – More than 150 people were killed and many more injured in Monday's attack by Muslims on Christians on the island of Halmahera in Indonesia's Maluku islands, a report said Wednesday, as the military expressed helplessness in the face of constant anarchy.

James Balowski – Defying warnings from Jakarta, the week-long Papuan People's Congress ended on June 4 with a declaration that West Papua was no longer part of the Republic of Indonesia. The congress was extended for a day because of debates over the wording of the declaration; there were fears an outright declaration of independence would antagonise Jakarta.

Iwan Triono/FW & LM, Jakarta – 350 activists from the Aceh Referendum Information Center (SIRA) demonstrated at the House of Representatives building, Central Jakarta, Wednesday demanding that a referendum be held immediately in the troubled province of Aceh.

Jakarta – The Indonesian government plans to develop two million hectares of new paddy fields outside Java to secure rice supplies for the nation's growing population.

The recent escalation of fighting in Indonesia's Moluccan Islands has been blamed on the arrival of more than 2,000 fighters from the Lashkar Jihad.

Jose Manuel Tesoro, Jakarta – Ever since the beginning of the Asian financial crisis, a country's currency and its publicly traded stocks have been used by journalists the same way we use shorthand to record interviews – as quick and dirty ways to reflect complex realities.

Jakarta – Communal violence in several parts of Indonesia has left over three quarters of a million internal refugees across the country, an official of the Population and People's Movement Administration Agency said Tuesday.

Jakarta – The National Awakening Party (PKB) Faction in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) is proposing a compromise in the heated debate over communism by allowing such teachings in academic circles but not the growth of communist political parties.

Banda Aceh – Hundreds of protesters yesterday occupied Parliament in Indonesia's rebellious Aceh province, demanding that the local legislature be dissolved.

Some 500 protesters charged that provincial and district legislators had only served the central government's interests and had failed to contribute to solving conflict in the plagued province.

Vaudine England, Jakarta – "In Indonesia, silence often speaks louder than words ... You have a nation of silenced voices and muted expressions."

So writes John McGlynn, editor-in-chief of Jakarta's Lontar publishing foundation, in a collection launched last night of writings by former political prisoners, alleged communists and intellectuals.

Twenty-four years of Indonesian occupation of East Timor ended last September in a frenzy of murder and destruction. Now the Timorese are recreating their nation with energy and hope

Surabaya – Indonesian police have shot dead two farmers and wounded scores more in two days of clashes over land compensation claims in East Java province, police and witnesses said on Monday.

Tom McCawley, Jakarta – Indonesia's military will keep operating many of its illegal businesses because the state budget is inadequate to fund a reform programme aimed at reducing the military's extensive influence.

Jakarta – Lawyers of former Indonesian president Suharto have turned to the UN human rights commission in a bid to end his house arrest and weekly questioning, reports said Monday.

Indonesians have spoken out against their politicians in a newspaper survey. They say their leaders show little regard for the country's 200 million people and have not done enough to bring former president Suharto to justice.

Susan Sim, Jakarta – Mr Djohan Effendi's first thought when his long-time pal asked him to be his third State Secretary in eight months was instant despair.

"What sins have I committed to deserve this?" the Islamic scholar asked President Abdurrahman Wahid, who promptly burst into laughter.

Susan Sim – The People's Consultative Assembly session in August will be a breakpoint for the major political parties, who will also have to work out an inter-party relationship based on some national platform.

Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Right (Komnas HAM) announced on Friday that it had found no evidence of intentional mass killings or burials in the 1984 Tanjung Priok bloody shootings in North Jakarta. The commission, led by chairman Djoko Soegianto, reported its final conclusion of the incident to the House of Representatives.

Jakarta – The prominent Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has been accused of being among those who are conspiring to topple President Abdurrahman Wahid.

Banda Aceh – The governor of Indonesia's rebellious Aceh province has been dismissed by President Abdurrahman Wahid, an official said here yesterday as students took to the streets to protest the sacking.

Jakarta – In an apparent about face, Indonesia's top prosecutor said there had been contact but no negotiations between the family of former president Suharto and the government over a possible hand-over of any ill-gotten wealth, newspapers reported Saturday.

Jakarta – Governor Sutiyoso questioned on Friday the effectiveness of the actions by the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), which recently raided a number of city nightspots.

Jakarta – Indonesia's once all-powerful military yesterday announced the replacement of 122 commanders and staff officers in a reshuffle aimed at modernising the forces.

Alastair McLeod, Jayapura – Andy Burdam was just sitting down to an evening meal with his family when the police and militiamen arrived. They punched the 45-year-old Papuan elementary school teacher and dragged him away to the local police cells.

Jakarta – Legislator Pande Nabanan doubts that the government will be able to solve the July 27, 1996, bloody takeover of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) headquarters.

He, instead, feared that the investigation into the case would meet the same fate as many other unresolved cases after they reach the hands of the Military Police (MP).

Jakarta – Indonesia's central bank on Friday temporarily eased lending limits for banks to encourage them to boost economic activity through increased loans.

Bank Indonesia deputy governor Subarjo Joyosumarto said in a statement rules covering capital adequacy ratio (CAR) limits and divestment of bank equity in heavily-indebted companies would also be relaxed.

Lindsay Murdoch, Jakarta – A group led by a former Australian foreign minister, Mr Gareth Evans, has warned of the possibility of a coup in the long-term in Indonesia if its enfeebled government fails to meet popular expectations.

Dili – The UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) is sending a wrong message to the devastated territory by failing to allocate funds for environmental protection in its new budget, according to local environmentalists.

Sonali Paul, Melbourne – Australian, East Timorese and United Nations officials have told oil companies renegotiation of the Timor Gap Treaty would not hurt their oil and gas plans, a Phillips Petroleum Co executive said on Thursday.

Lindsay Murdoch, Jakarta – The Defence Minister, Mr Juwono Sudarsono, says there is a plot to destabilise Indonesia ahead of an August session of parliament at which some MPs are expected to challenge the presidency of Mr Abdurrahman Wahid.

Robert Go, Jakarta – Indonesia needs to have a coherent strategy on economic reforms and make serious efforts in eradicating corruption if it wants international donors to keep funds flowing into the country, urged a top World Bank official yesterday.

Jakarta – University of Indonesia students gave President Abdurrahman Wahid and Attorney General Marzuki Darusman "Soeharto Awards" on Wednesday, for their eight-month performance.

SCTV private television station reported that Abdurrahman won two trophies: for failing to eradicate corruption and nepotism, and for maintaining the status quo.

Todd Callahan – At a seminar last month in Jakarta, Indonesia's new State Minister of Investment and SOEs Rozy Munir reported that the growing number of foreign and domestic investment approvals was a sign that Indonesia is slowly recovering.

After several months, Indonesia's military is re-emerging from the shadows. On June 13, the head of Indonesia's armed forces (TNI), Admiral Widodo Adisucipto, warned that the country was sliding further into chaos and that the government's first concern was to prevent the nation's disintegration.

Lindsay Murdoch, Jakarta – Key Indonesian agencies are working hard behind the scenes to sabotage attempts to improve relations between Australia and Indonesia.

Jayapura – The presidium of the Papuan People's Congress plans to meet with President Abdurrahman Wahid on June 25 to submit the result of the recent congress which declared their desire to separate from Indonesia.

Jakarta – Chief of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), Adm. Widodo AS warned foreigners yesterday against meddling in Irian Jayan or Papua affairs as the region is a legitimate part of the country, adding that the TNI will deal sternly against foreigners who fail to heed the warning.

Jakarta – Police in Irian Jaya (West Papua) have named two separatist leaders as suspects and charged them with treason following a recent congress at which the country's easternmost province was declared an independent state, a report said yesterday.

Jakarta – Eight people, including two policemen, have been killed and scores injured in the latest clashes between Muslims and Christians in the eastern Indonesian city of Ambon, the military said yesterday.

Jakarta – Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid must show at least some direction in tackling the country's economic and political woes or face the risk of an impeachment move in August, his economic advisor said Tuesday.

The attorney-general says the Indonesian president is above board. But the case of the presidential masseur, and 35 billion rupiah (S$7 million) of pension funds that have gone missing with him, has taken a life of its own.

Jakarta – Police will question State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mahadi Sinambela and Rudini, the former chairman of the General Election Commission (KPU), over an alleged malfeasance in the purchase of flags for political parties during last year's general election.

By couple of weeks ago, Philip Eng, when replying to questions from reporters on whether he was concerned with the sharp fall in the price of Astra International's shares, noted that country risk rather than corporate failings was driving the stock down.

Jakarta – Indonesian security forces fired rubber bullets to disperse stone-throwing students protesting in a provincial town in Borneo, injuring at least 14 people, a report said Tuesday.

The students then set ablaze a motorcycle and damaged three cars, all belonging to the security officials, the online service Detik.com reported.