Irawaty Wardany, Jakarta – While press freedom in Indonesia has moved ahead in leaps and bounds in recent years, most media sources are still controlled by players who prioritize econom

Jakarta – While poverty remains the leading cause of child trafficking in Indonesia, the attitudes of parents and a wide-scale lack of education in certain areas of the country also con

Mustafa Silalahi, Jakarta – Around 3,000 workers from the Indonesian Metal Trade Union Federation (FSPMI) and ex-workers of Panasonic and Nippon Glass held a demonstration in front of t

Adianto P Simamora, Bogor – A coalition of local and international environmental activists has warned that efforts made by developing countries to combat climate change will be hampered

Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, Padang – A West Sumatra independent corruption watch body said it was suspicious of the recent release of 10 former legislative members from all corruption charges

Agus Rakasiwi – The 1998 reform movement finished the task of removing Suharto from the Indonesian presidency. But have Indonesia's problems now ended?

Irawaty Wardany, Jakarta – The Central Jakarta District Court refused on Wednesday a request to postpone the detainment of former president director of Garuda Indonesia Indra Setiawan,

The latest analysis by the International Monetary Fund which portends a weakening global economy could adversely affect Indonesia's economic prospects, which have looked much rosier aft

Irawaty Wardany and Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Jakarta/Malang – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono inaugurated six of seven new members of the General Election Commission (KPU) at the State

Telly Nathalia, Jakarta – The United Nations and Portugal must share responsibility for violence that marred East Timor's 1999 vote for independence, a former general told a truth commi

Jakarta – A political expert warned Tuesday that it might be too late for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to improve his performance in key sectors before the 2009 elections.

Abdul Khalik and Desy Nurhayati, Jakarta – The Indonesia-Timor Leste Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF) is moving closer toward submitting its conclusions about alleged human rig

Bill Guerin, Jakarta – After years of policy confusion and political gridlock, Indonesia's Parliament this month ratified a government plan to establish full free trade zones (FTZ) for

Jakarta – Hundreds of employees from state-owned bus company Perusahaan Pengangkutan Djakarta (PPD) braved the rain to rally in front of the company's Jl Panjaitan headquarters in East

We received information from Jayapura on Sat, 20 Oct 2007 that a West Papuan lawyer Sabar Iwanggin has been arrested in Jayapura and was being interrogated by personnel from the Detachm

Interview by Philip Smucker.

Tangerang – At least two residents were injured in a clash with police at a protest over a slaughterhouse in Sepatan district on Monday.

Members of the Papuan community living in the Papua New Guinea capital say they fear for their safety after the murder of a senior court magistrate at the weekend.

Yemris Fointuna, Kupang – The Kupang Legislative Council agreed to increase the amount of a monthly allowance paid to teachers following a strike and street rally involving some 5,000 t

Rofiqi Hasan, Denpasar – Scores of activists from the Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) held a demonstration in the Balinese provincial capital of Denpasar on Tuesday October 23.

A United States-based West Papuan journalist and academic says the media access to Indonesia's Papua region has become more restricted.

Jakarta – Over the last three years of the administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the upholding of human rights has been limited to building a good image.

Hundreds of employees from the Jakarta Transport Company (PPD), who have yet to be paid five months in outstanding wages and holiday bonuses, went on strike and demonstrated at the PPD

Hyginus Hardoyo, Wonogiri – Amid reports of the environmentally costly exploitation of forest resources across the country, good news comes from a handful of villages in Java.

Hyginus Hardoyo – Farmers who are actively involved in the sustainable development of community-based forests in Wonogiri, Central Java, say they are not reaping the rewards of their ha

Nurrohman, Bandung – In their daily lives women are still often marginalized, cornered and treated as creatures who are worth less than men.

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – The Golkar Party's political engine is up an running on every level ahead of the 2009 elections, but the party seems determined to maintain political stabi

Agus Supriyanto, Jakarta – The economists are concerned that the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla's government will conduct "window dressing" to enhance the economic report with

Jakarta – Lawyers for former president Soeharto criticized Monday state prosecution charges alleging the misuse of Supersemar Foundation funds, saying foundation money provided to some

Medan/Bandung – With the end of the long holidays, Indonesia's cities are returning to normal. That means traffic, smog, and big queues for public services.

Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for the Economy Boediono said he expected the Indonesian economy to fare well amid a global slowdown, countering projections by the International Monetar

Jakarta – On a bridge in Karet, Central Jakarta, a middle-aged man sat eating a cracker.

Jakarta – Former Jakarta governor Sutiyoso said Sunday that he had approached several political parties in line with his plans to contest the 2009 presidential election.

George Junus Aditjondro, Yogyakarta – The Helsinki peace agreement made on Aug.

Alfian, Jakarta – The Golkar Party could win the 2009 general elections but it needs to be on the alert for the possible loss of voters to the Democratic Party (PD), observers said Sund

Sultani – The public's assessment of the performance of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration over the last year has shown progressive signs that they have had enough.

Adhityani Arga, Jakarta – The pilot of a Garuda Indonesia aircraft that crashed at Yogyakarta airport killing 21 people ignored 15 warnings as he descended too rapidly, a transport safe

Emily Sherlock – They have been interrupting our TV viewing for months.

Mustaqim Adamrah, Jakarta – Jakarta administration has been criticized for raids aimed at preventing arriving migrants trying their luck in the city.

Desy Nurhayati, Jakarta – Indonesia will struggle to provide adequate sanitation and clean water to 72.5 percent of its population by 2015 in accordance with its commitment to achieving

Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara – Around 5,000 schoolteachers threatened to strike unless their allowance is increased significantly.

Fadli, Batam – Riau Islands businesspeople have proposed setting the 2008 monthly minimum wage for Batam city below the average inflation rate.

Hasrul, Kendari – The bodies of 27 people have been recovered after a ferry sank Thursday night off the coast of Baubau in Southeast Sulawesi carrying more than 100 passengers.

The Idul Fitri party is over. People are now returning to Jakarta after spending time – and money – in their hometowns.

Adianto P.

Anton Muhajir, Contributor, Kuta – Yustine (not her real name) says she feels more comfortable in the glittering Seminyak area near Kuta in Bali than in her hometown in Java.

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Instead of begging rich countries for forestry projects, the government should instead increase the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police budgets t

... Congratulations to our leaders
the people's prosperity is ensured...

Adianto P. Simamora and Irawati Wardany, Jakarta – Local organizers said Wednesday's Stand Up and Speak Out events against global poverty drew a record number of people.

Harlyne Joku – West Papuans numbering 600 have agreed to be repatriated to their home province in Indonesia, the independent group supporting special autonomous region of Papua (IGSSARP