A permanent government agency has been set up to help communities affected by a torrent of mud that has swamped entire villages in East Java province, Indonesia's presidential spokesman

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – The House says it will endorse a bill on military tribunals requiring soldiers who commit crimes to stand trial in civilian courts, a prospect the armed fo

Jakarta – In order to increase the chances of Indonesia being reelected as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, the government must soon make a breakthrough in invest

Luhur Hertanto, Jakarta – There has been more hints given out on the puzzle of who the new suspects are in the murder human rights activist Munir.

Aries Witjaksena, Jakarta – The central leadership board of the National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) reported the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) and the Islamic Defenders Militi

Joe Humphreys – It is the first such ballot since the country gained independence in 2002 – after 21/2 years of transitional rule by the UN, and a 24-year occupation by an often brutal

Riyadi Suparno, Jakarta – The number of people living below the poverty line increased last year and will most likely increase again this year, but it is yet to be determined whether or

Ahmad Pathoni, Dili – East Timorese streamed to the polls on Monday to vote for a new president, hoping the election can help end deep divisions after a year of instability in one of th

Stephen Fitzpatrick, Dili – Jose Ramos Horta went to Easter mass at the weekend with "a host of sins" to confess, not least of which was having entertained lustful thoughts towards the

Badriah, Jakarta – National Police Chief General Sutanto is still unwilling to name the new suspect in the Munir case.

Imron Rosyid, Jakarta – A number of legislators are urging the police to announce the name of the new suspect in the human rights activist Munir murder case as soon as possible.

Rafiqa Qurrata A, Jakarta – Once not being enough, the National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) has again reported the Islamic Defenders Militia (LPI), the Islamic Defenders Front

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jakarta – Papuan Muslims will hold an inaugural three-day congress in Jayapura beginning Tuesday, which is slated to attract 260 participants from 29 regencies and m

John Aglionby, Dili – When East Timor's 600,000 voters head to the polls Monday for the first round of a presidential election they do so aware that their choice will resonate far beyon

Lindsay Murdoch, Dili – Leading candidates in East Timor's presidential election have accused each other of manipulating tomorrow's vote as officials race to deliver ballot papers to 50

Damien Kingsbury – Those who view East Timor's politics as largely benign describe the mood before tomorrow's presidential election as "dynamic".

It's five years on from independence, and as the troubled country gears up for Monday's elections, people there tell Joe Humphreys how they see the future.

Fabio Scarpello – Fiery campaigner Ceu Lopes, 50, was active during her fledgling nation's 24-year struggle against the occupation by Indonesia.

Jakarta, The level of confidence of Papuan civil society towards the central government has declined as the result of a number of basic problems.

[Reluctant Indonesians: Australia, Papua and the future of West Papua By Clinton Fernandes Scribe, $22.]

John Martinkus – There was a moment this week in Dili when it looked as though the increasingly bitter race for the presidency would spill over into violence.

Niniek Karmini, Jakarta – An Indonesian passenger jet was flying at up to 265 mph, almost double the normal landing speed, when it crash-landed one month ago, killing 21 people, a chief

Presi Mandari, Jakarta – Indonesia's small, plastic identity cards may seem innocuous enough but campaigners who are trying to have the compulsory religion category dropped say they are

Hestiana Dharmastuti, Jakarta – The law is impartial, it does not recognise position or rank so whoever is guilty of murdering Munir must be indicted by the courts.

Dili – Half the candidates in East Timor's presidential poll said Friday they fear many attempts have been made to manipulate the election process ahead of Monday's vote.

Emmy Fitri, Jakarta – One may well wonder whatever happened to public health and social services for it is still easy to see beggars with missing arms, legs or fingers at the traffic li

Stephen Fitzpatrick, Dili – East Timorese resistance hero Xanana Gusmao has promised he will unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in oil revenue held in a New York escrow bank account

Karen Michelmore, Dili – The distinctive buzz of motorcycles can be heard in the distance, growing increasingly louder.

Ary Hermawan, Jakarta – The government will allocate more money for infrastructure development in next year's budget in an effort to ease the distribution bottlenecks that have seriousl

Yermias Ignatius Degei – Papuan students in Java and Bali who are members of Front Persatuan Perjuangan Rakyat Papua Barat (F-PEPERA-PB) or The United struggle front of West Papuan Peop

Irwan Firdaus, Jakarta – The editor-in-chief of Playboy Indonesia was acquitted Thursday of charges that he violated the Muslim nation's indecency laws by publishing pictures of scantil

Jakarta – Members of the United National Liberation Party (Papernas) on Wednesday reported the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) and Islam Defense Warriors to the city police for attacking th

Urip Hudiono, Jakarta – The government's efforts to recover the assets of seven foundations associated with former president Soeharto has received strong support from the Supreme Audit

Multa Fidrus, Tangerang – Overcrowding and poor sanitation at Tangerang Penitentiary (LP Pemuda) are said to be the main causes of the deaths of 50 inmates over the past four months.

Djoko Tjiptono, Jakarta – Rumours that there is a new suspect in the Munir murder case are growing. And the rumour has it that the new suspect is a general.

Djoko Tjiptono, Jakarta – After "sleeping" for so very long, there has been a new twist the Munir murder case.

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – A special rapporteur has submitted a report on the 2004 murder of Indonesian rights activist Munir Said Thalib to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Aboeprijadi Santoso, Amsterdam – Former president B.J. Habibie has often been synonymous with unpredictability.

Banten – Safety inspectors have seized hundreds of items of marine safety equipment aboard ferries crossing the Sunda Strait in Merak Port, Banten, due to their allegedly falsified expi

Jakarta – There was once a period when rival ideologies were deep and prevalent across this land. At that time political ideologies became the supreme commander.

Max Lane – On March 28 and 29, a series of rightist mobilisations took place in Jakarta, including a 500-strong mobilisation aimed at disrupting a march and rally organised by the Natio

Jakarta – Professionals, lawmakers, academics and journalists have joined forces to urge President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to honor his campaign commitment to eradicate corruption at a

Max Lane – East Timor's presidential election campaign is now officially underway. Voting will be held on April 9.

Ahmad Pathoni, Dili – A former East Timorese independence fighter jailed by Indonesia for six years pledged on Wednesday to unite his conflict-torn country and bring justice to its peop

Mario de Queiroz, Lisbon – With less than a week to go to the presidential elections in East Timor, the violence has not let up in this small island nation that was born in May 2002 aft

Dili – The candidates for next week's East Timor presidential election should publicly commit to addressing the country's human rights problems and propose reforms, a rights group said

Sunil Jagtiani, Banda Aceh – Brightly coloured new homes now dot the Indonesian province of Aceh as it slowly rebuilds after the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, but some lie empt

Dini Mawuntyas, Madiun – Scores of protesters from the National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) in the Central Java city of Madiun set fire to pieces of white cloth symbolising the

Karen Michelmore, Baucau – Two people were injured when supporters of rival political parties clashed during campaigning in East Timor's presidential elections, a candidate said today.

Rod McGuirk, Dili – Machete-wielding gangs roam the dusty streets of Asia's newest nation, torching homes and shooting each other as international troops struggle to keep order.