M.

Jakarta – At the very start of his tenure, newly installed Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono has fired his first shot.

Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta – After leaving the post vacant for more than two months, the Indonesian Military (TNI) appointed Lt. Gen.

Bill Guerin, Jakarta – Indonesia's self-appointed guardians of morality, the once disbanded radical Islamic Defenders' Front (FPI), have once again resorted to violence in the nation's

Banda Aceh – A district court in the restive province of Aceh sentenced Tuesday the mayor of the capital, Banda Aceh, to five years in prison for embezzling more than US$386,000 in stat

It all sounds too familiar.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – In an apparent start of the government's "shock therapy" on graft and terrorism, the government announced on Monday it planned to send people convicte

Fachruddin Majeri Mangunjaya, Jakarta – We set off for a Bajau village on Kabalutan island, Palu from the port of Ampana, on Sulawesi's eastern peninsula.

Semarang – About 2,000 people calling themselves the Marhaen People's Alliance staged protest on Monday here, demanding local prosecutors stop a probe into a Rp 14 billion (US$1.5 milli

Jakarta – While giving assurances that there would be no populist measures in its economic policies, the new government remains cautious over whether or not to cut fuel subsidies in the

Agus Sumule, Manokwari – The downfall of former president Soeharto on May 21, 1998, undoubtedly fueled the widespread revival of free speech among the people – including Papuans – in de

Jakarta – Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) governor Abdullah Puteh has said that the existence of the Free Aceh Movement in Aceh is still of concern.

Tom Allard – East Timor is making a last-minute attempt to secure a $3 billion liquid natural gas processing plant and pipeline on its soil as negotiations over the Timor Gap oil and ga

Dadan Wijaksana, Jakarta – Mr.

Zakki P.

Yogyakarta – The National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Amien Rais said on Saturday he would let Muhammadiyah followers build their own political party if they perceived that PAN had fai

At least two known vigilante groups have been conducting raids and trashing entertainment spots across Greater Jakarta during Ramadhan fasting month.

The financial markets were not overly enthusiastic about the economic lineup in President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's United Indonesia Cabinet.

Tony Hotland, Jakarta – Worldwide oil prices that have zipped over historical highs are beginning to take a toll on domestic manufacturers, inevitably forcing them to jack up prices.

Bandarlampung – Four students are in intensive care in a hospital after the roof of their senior high school in Kotabumi, North Lampung regency collapsed a few days ago.

Puji Santoso, Pekanbaru – The Prosecutor's Office has named the head of the Kampar Forestry and Plantations Office (Kadishutbun), Kamril Nur, as a suspect in the embezzlement of Rp 3.8

Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta – Cabinet members dealing with security decided on Sunday their short-term priority programs, including a comprehensive review of the state of civil emergency in

Denpasar – The president of Timor Leste, Xanana Gusmao, rejected [the idea] he was not close to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and that this would be problematic fo

Jakarta (Agencies) – The newly appointed defense minister said on Monday Indonesia would shift its purchase of military equipment to nations other than the United States, its traditiona

Luke McIlveen – Hundreds of Australian soldiers were used as guinea pigs by the army in tests of an anti-malaria drug which has psychotic side effects while they were serving in East Ti

Fedhly Averouss Bey, Jakarta – The International Non-Government Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID) believes that the economic team in the Indonesian United Cabinet of newly inaugur

Puji Santoso, Pekanbaru – Although Indonesia is not an Islamic state, authorities in Riau province rounded up a number of civil servants for not fasting and food stall owners for openin

Jakarta – The East Jakarta District Court on Thursday ordered the East Jakarta municipal and Makassar district administrations to rebuild houses in Pinang Ranti they had bulldozed in an

M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta – Non-governmental organizations demanded on Thursday that the new government make corruption eradication and human rights promotion its priorities.

Bill Guerin, Jakarta – "The time for talk and promises is over.

Tony Hotland, Jakarta – International money-laundering watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) decided on Friday to retain Indonesia and five other nations on its list of non-cooper

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's pledge to eradicate rampant corruption could be seriously tested after prosecutors announced on Friday that they had halted

I.D.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Gen. (ret) A.M.

Jakarta – Bargain hunting by mostly local investors meant shares on the Jakarta stock market rebounded on Friday after posting losses for consecutive days following investor reservation

Jeffrey Robertson, Canberra – When an old and near-forgotten acquaintance arrives unexpected on your doorstep you're entitled to ask what he wants and why he wants it – two questions th

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – Although inaugurated three weeks ago, House of Representatives lawmakers will be unable to start their legislative duties until next Wednesday as they are stil

Muslim militants in Indonesia's capital have vandalised a cafe in an area popular with foreigners because it was serving beer during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.

Sari P.

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Employers and unions have voiced early doubts about whether newly appointed Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Fahmi Idris will be able to improve the

Evi Mariani, Jakarta – The Jakarta Police announced on Friday that they objected to the the recent vandalism by at least two known vigilante groups who have been conducting raids and tr

Dan Eaton and Muklis Ali, Jakarta – Indonesia's new President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, swore in his cabinet yesterday, appointing a reformist judge as Attorney-General and vowing to r

Indonesia's newly-installed President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono held his first cabinet meeting, as local media stepped up criticism of his ministerial choices, which they said sent out p

M.

Todung Mulya Lubis, Jakarta – Amid the still reverberating vow of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to eradicate corruption, we find ourselves confronting the bitter reality that Indon

Jakarta – Under the new president, the State Palace has apparently introduced stricter rules on punctuality, which on Thursday resulted in six House of Representatives being denied admi

Jakarta – Indonesia's new chief economics minister, Aburizal Bakrie, said his office is pro-business and will seek to improve the government's partnership with the business sector.

On the sidelines of his visit here to attend the inauguration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla, East Timorese Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri talked on

Meidyatama Suryodiningrat, Jakarta – It was not the best of starts. Stuttering and full of political jostling.

Dili – Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, returning to East Timor from Jakarta Friday, said he had held successful talks with Indonesia's new president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.