The hardline Indonesian terrorist group founded by slain militant Noordin Mohammed Top has been left in complete turmoil by the killing of its new leader, analysts say.

Dion Bisara & Muhamad Al Azhari – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati is expecting the country's annual growth to rebound in the third quarter, supported by global economic recovery.

"Our [annual] growth is likely to be in a range of 4.1 percent to 4.3 percent in the third quarter [of 2009]," Sri Mulyani said, as compared to 4 percent in the previous quarter.

Ulma Haryanto – Although the state health insurance system has been widely criticized for its shortcomings, millions of poor people across the country still depend on it for much-needed medical care.

Febriamy Hutapea & Markus Junianto Sihaloho – The government and the House of Representatives were under strong pressure on Tuesday to investigate how a section in the newly enacted Health Law that identifies tobacco as an addictive substance had disappeared.

Michael H. Posner
Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
U.S. Department of State
2201 C St., N.W.
Washington, DC 20520

October 13, 2009

Dear Mr. Assistant Secretary:

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-135-2009

Dear friends,

Camelia Pasandaran – The government has allowed individuals and groups to exploit Indonesian migrant workers by failing to provide them the necessary legal protection, according to a nongovernmental organization.

Nivell Rayda – Ali did not expect to be solicited for bribe money from the "religious" office that was supposed to take care of arrangements for his marriage, but that was exactly what happened.

Nurfika Osman – The People's Democratic Defense, a fringe nationalist group that had announced plans to invade Malaysia, may think its fighting for its country and compatriot workers overseas, but an embassy official in Kuala Lumpur said they're only worsening the situation.

Candra Malik – Radical Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir said police committed murder when they killed suspected terrorists Muhammad Syahrir and Saefudin Jaelani during a raid in Ciputat, Tangerang on Friday.

Jakarta – Indonesian villagers said on Monday they had rejected a request by the family of two terror suspects killed by police to bury the bodies in their village, saying they were unwelcome dead or alive.

Students set fire to women's underwear on Monday during a protest at an Islamic university against Japanese porn star Maria Ozawa, or Miyabi, who is scheduled to arrive in Jakarta to star in a local film.

Jakarta – A group of Jakarta locals will form a group to defend Japanese porn movie star Maria Ozawa, or Miyabi, who will visit Indonesia to shoot a comedy film.

Moses Silalahi of Petukangan Utara subdistrict in South Jakarta said he and some of his friends would rally in support of the Japanese adult film star under a community group called the Miyabi Defenders' Front.

Jakarta – The names of political party elites who President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono may appoint to fill slots in his next Cabinet have begun to circulate.

The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), for example, says Yudhoyono should appoint its former president, Hidayat Nur Wahid, to chair a ministerial post in the next Cabinet.

Fidelis E Satriastanti – The newly installed members of the House of Representatives only start work today, but already they have "homework" in the form of a comprehensive green agenda being pushed by environmentalists.

Tom Allard, Jakarta – Counter-terrorism authorities in Indonesia and across South-East Asia will redouble efforts to find two men who have been at large since the first Bali bombings that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.

Irvan Tisnabudi – The recently passed law on regional taxes should be welcomed by business because it sends regional governments a clear signal to stop levying unreasonable or illegal taxes, a legislator who drafted the measure said.

Camelia Pasandaran – The number of Indonesian migrant workers infected with HIV/AIDS is increasing as a result of human trafficking and a lack of information provided by labor agencies in the country, an observer said on Sunday.

Ismira Lutfia & Putri Prameshwari – About Rp 185 trillion ($19.6 billion) is spent each year treating smoking-related diseases, a consumer advocacy group said on Sunday as it renewed calls to increase the tax on cigarettes.

Camelia Pasandaran – Analysts and activists are expressing concern about the health of Indonesia's nascent democracy after the president's Democratic Party and its coalition have gained near-dominant strength as a result of this year's elections, warning of a possible return to the authoritarian days of the New Order era.

Jakarta – Residents of Sampiran hamlet in Benjaran village in Talun district, Cirebon, West Java, have refused the bodies of two slain suspected terrorist brothers – Syaifudin Zuhri and Muhammad Syahrir – in their village.

Tom Allard, Jakarta – Indonesian police believe they have killed the two most wanted terrorists in the country after a raid on a boarding house where militants linked to the July hotel bombings in Jakarta were hiding.

Rizal Harahap and Hyginus Hardoyo, Pekanbaru, Jakarta – Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie's move to include political turncoat Rizal Mallarangeng and Titiek Soeharto in the party's executive board has sparked a strong protest from active cadres and functionaries.

Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – The government has been urged to make a "breakthrough" in its children- and health-related programs, with Indonesia's infant mortality rate currently among the highest in Southeast Asia.

Jakarta – Most buildings that collapsed during the recent earthquake in Padang, West Sumatra, were badly designed and constructed, a survey has concluded.

Dicky Christanto, Jakarta – Following the House approval of the 2009 Corruption Court Law, the Corruption Eradication Commission may have to surrender its authority to prosecute to the AGO, despite NGO's and activist's claims that competition between the two institutions would improve prosecution in graft trials.

Jakarta – Experts and practitioners have criticized the national education system, which they said was discriminatory and a throwback to the colonial era.

Senior education practitioner H.A.R Tilaar said the spirit of colonialism was still evident in the country's current education system as there was still social segregation, continuing on from the Dutch colonial era.

Stephen Fitzpatrick, Jakarta – The head of Indonesia's anti-corruption commission has appeared in court charged with masterminding the murder of an alleged rival for the attentions of a beautiful golf caddy.

Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) has slammed the government for its failure to protect children's rights, leading to highest infant mortality rate in Southeast Asia, and endless child trafficking and prostitution.

Jakarta – The House of Representatives has yet to take the human rights factor into consideration in doing their legislative task and control function, say an activist.

Jakarta – The National Family Planning Coordinating Board of Indonesia (BKKBN) revealed the country might exceed its ideal population of 237.8 million people by 2015, if existing budget and technical challenges continue.

BKKBN head Sugiri Syarief said Thursday the country's population might reach 255 million by 2015.

Batam – More than 1,000 workers staged a protest on Thursday at Batam mayor's office in Riau Islands province, against contract-based employment, which they said did not provide them with job security.

Markus Junianto Sihaloho – Transforming the Defense Ministry into a purely civil institution must be the government's top priority during the 2009-14 term, a nongovernmental group said during a discussion in Jakarta.

A police source has told the Jakarta Globe they are convinced that the two men killed in Friday's terror raid are Saifuddin Zuhri bin Djaelani Irsyad and Mohamad Syahrir, both wanted in relation to the July Jakarta hotel bombings, but police will have to carry out tests before their identities are confirmed.

A demonstration against the rumored arrival of Japanese porn star Maria Ozawa, more popularly known as Miyabi, will take place in Jakarta on Friday along with three other protests.

Azis Edward – About 50 members of the Islam Defenders Front went to the office of Maxima Pictures on Friday to protest the planned involvement of porn star Maria Ozawa, better known as Miyabi, in the movie "Menculik Miyabi" ("Kidnapping Miyabi").

Camelia Pasandaran & April Aswadi – Outrage has greeted the appointment of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ally Rizal Mallarangeng to a senior position in the Golkar Party.

Febriamy Hutapea, Pekanbaru (Riau) – Aburizal Bakrie on Thursday began his six-year term at the helm of Golkar, the country's second largest political party, and vowed to maintain its position at the forefront of national policy.

Nurfika Osman & Candra Malik – Terrorism experts and religious leaders were critical of police after two suspected terrorists were reportedly killed in a raid on Friday, saying security forces missed an opportunity to gather key intelligence on terror networks by failing to take them into custody.

Dessy Sagita – The limited authority and small budget provided to the national body responsible for family planning and birth control have put the country at risk of a population explosion and a lowering of the general standard of living, an official said on Thursday.

Jakarta – An NGO has urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to issue a presidential decree concerning the establishment of an ad hoc human rights court.

Farouk Arnaz – National Police on Thursday said they would provide support for the Attorney General's Office to review the controversial murder case of renowned activist Munir Said Thalib.

Former top intelligence official Muchdi Purwoprandjono was acquitted of charges he ordered the killing.

Multa Fidrus, Tangerang – Dozens of the Kaukus Peduli Jalan Tol (Toll Road Concerned Caucus) activists rallied outside the office of Cikupa-Merak toll road operator PT Marga Mandala Sakti (MMS) in Cikupa, Tangerang on Thursday to protest a 58 percent increase in toll rates.

Azis Edward – Anticipating a forced eviction, hundreds of residents blocked a road in Cakung Cilincing, North Jakarta, on Thursday morning armed with molotov bombs and sharpened sticks to defend their homes.

The road blockade lasted for three hours and brought traffic in the area to a standstill. Hundreds of vehicles were backed up from the obstruction.

Tom Allard, Jakarta – Scientists who examined last week's devastating earthquake in West Sumatra have come to an alarming conclusion: it was not "the big one" they have long been forecasting for Padang.

Al Araf and Anton Aliabbas, Bandung – The swearing-in ceremony of the 2009-2014 House of Representatives' members is a sign that democratization in Indonesia is a continuing process. It is hoped the new Members of Parliament (MPs) will complete the reforms agenda, including those related to the Indonesian Military (TNI).

Markus Junianto Sihaloho – Although their plans have been widely condemned by officials, the People's Democratic Defense (Bendera) announced on Thursday that they are ready to invade Malaysia and would start to dispatch volunteer vigilantes on October 9.

Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta, Bendera coordinator Mustar Nona Ventura said they would not be deterred.

Camelia Pasandaran – Analysts on Tuesday attacked the House of Representatives for its poor attendance record, during a judicial review hearing in the Constitutional Court.

Ruslan Sangadji and Rizal Harahap, Pekanbaru – The Golkar Party's eighth national congress is awash in money, with rival candidates for the chairmanship shelling out hundreds of millions prior to the vote.

Pekanbaru, Riau – Golkar advisory board member and Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare, Aburizal Bakrie, was officially elected as the new Golkar Party chairman on Thursday morning after securing more than half of total votes at the party's national congress.