Jakarta – Efforts in Indonesia to ease chronic traffic jams in the teeming capital Jakarta are boosting one of the city's more curious professions – car jockeys.

But don't think horses and high stakes. Eni and her two-year-old son spend six hours a day riding in strangers' cars, playing a daily game of cat and mouse with traffic wardens.

M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta – A former business associate of well-connected businessman Tomy Winata told the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday that his Artha Graha company security guards' threats of violence had always been a fixture of how Tomy did business.

Jakarta – Former vice president Gen. (ret.) Try Sutrisno defended on Monday a decision by the military to open fire on a crowd during the Tanjung Priok incident in 1984.

Semarang – The campaign against rotten politicians which is being promoted by a number of non-government organisation (NGO) activists should be supported. However just campaigning against rotten politicians is not enough to bring about improvements. There also needs to be a movement to put intelligent people into these posts.

Student protesters on Monday burned effigies of former president Suharto and parliament speaker/Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tanjung.

Mafoot Simon – All was quiet in the Islamic religious school on the outskirts of this city at the weekend, as students and workers went about their business, in stark contrast to a fortnight ago.

Then, a convoy of cars heralded the arrival of presidential hopeful Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana and an entourage of VIPs out to woo the heartlander vote.

Pasuruan – Her father was known as the Smiling General and some have already dubbed her party the Smiling Party. But Suharto's daughter, Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, is leaving furrowed brows around Java.

By Mafoot Simon THE story goes that motorists worried about accidents during Indonesian elections carry the colours of all contesting parties – it's their ticket to a safe passage.

But that was in the past.

Mafoot Simon – The sense of anxiety is palpable as six men try to stay calm. After all, they are in their party leader's house to complain about another party official.

For almost three hours, they try to convince Mr Haji Juwanto, head of the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P) here, that the party should take action.

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro said the government would increase security at all vital projects and assets across the country, in a move hoped to help attract new foreign investment in the oil and gas sector.

Ben Terrall – In the first visit to Indonesia by a Bush cabinet official since George W.'s October "trip to al-Qaeda hell" (in the words of an unnamed White House official quoted by the New York Times) John Ashcroft flew to Bali in early February to attend a two-day regional conference on terrorism.

Jakarta – Thousands of white-clad, religious conservatives rallied and prayed in cities across Indonesia on Sunday, demanding the imposition of traditional Islamic law in the world's most populous Muslim nation.

Robert Go, Medan – Motorised-rickshaw driver Iskandar was one of millions who chose the black bull symbol of President Megawati Sukarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party – Struggle (PDI-P) in 1999.

Muh. Azis Tunny and Yemris Fointuna, Ambon/Kupang – Tens of thousands of eligible voters in Maluku and East Nusa Tenggara provinces may not be able to vote in the upcoming elections, as they are not registered with the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

In Maluku province, the BPS has finished registering voters, although 7,000 eligible voters have not been registered.

Damar Harsanto, Jakarta – In funeral services, preachers often say, "May he rest in peace". But you can't take that on face value if you are a Jakarta resident.

Urip Hudiono, Jakarta – Students, parents and teachers of the SMPN 56 state junior high school opposing a controversial property deal sought protection from the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) on Friday, the day they were supposed to be evicted.

Indra Harsaputra and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta/Surabaya – The historic verdict by the Constitutional Court to scrap a ruling which prohibits former members of the outlawed Indonesia Communist Party (PKI), or their relatives, from contesting in April's legislative election has not moved the government to dismantle decades-long discriminatory rulings against them, a minister po

Mafoot Simon – In this Indonesian city of almost 1,000 Islamic religious schools, it comes as no surprise that the Muslim parties will slug it out for votes in April's legislative election.

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – Having seen the current pre-election political maneuverings in the country, nobody would argue the classic adage in politics "There are no perpetual enemies, only interests".

Semarang – State Minister of the Environment Nabiel Makarim says it is very difficult to end illegal logging across the country as local government officials and people benefit from the practice.

Taufik Kamil, Jakarta – Indonesian State Minister of Environment Nabiel Makarim has said that indications of Malaysia's involvement in receiving illegal wood from Indonesia are stronger, as proven by a video recording made by Greenpeace, the international environment protection organization.

Dewi Santoso, Jakarta – The start of the academic year is four months away, but schools in Jakarta – including kindergartens, high schools, state and private schools – are already advertising in the media.

Jakarta – Two months and more than 300 deaths after a deadly outbreak of dengue fever across the country, Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri has declared the epidemic a problem. She urged hospitals and officials to help all patients, even if they are unable to pay for treatment.

She also advised Indonesians to take steps to prevent the virus from spreading further.

Lee Kim Chew – In his bid to become Indonesia's next president, former military chief General Wiranto yesterday used Singapore as his launch pad to project himself as the strong leader his country needs.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – The National Police have deployed over 7,000 reinforcement personnel to three conflict-prone areas to help the existing forces there maintain security and order, prior to and during the elections.

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – A constitutional law expert has called on the General Election Commission (KPU) and the Constitutional Court to have a look into two contradictory rules about the presidential elections to avoid possible chaos in the upcoming poll.

Robert Go, Jakarta – The Indonesian public received a huge shock yesterday when restructuring agency Ibra closed its books for good and handed over a bill for the economic crisis that began in 1997: around 477 trillion rupiah, or S$94 billion.

For some, this is the final chapter in a five-year reform effort; others say the process is not yet over.

Suherdjoko and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Semarang/Jakarta – Former suspected members of the Indonesia Communist Party (PKI) are urging the government they be allowed to contest the legislative election after a court this week ruled part of a law banning them was invalid.

Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has agreed in a plenary meeting to start a thorough inquiry into alleged human rights violations by former president Soeharto during his 32 years of iron-fisted leadership.

Jakarta – A panel of judges at Bengkulu district court sentenced on Thursday defendant Sardona Siliwangi, 23, to 10 years in jail for his role in the Marriott bombing last year.

Mafoot Simon, Tasikmalaya – The singer gyrated on stage in a red, body-hugging outfit with a plunging neckline as she belted out an upbeat version of Killing Me Softly. It was Valentine's Night at a hotel coffee house and singers like her would have been a common sight at clubs in Indonesian cities that night.

Matthew Moore, Jakarta – Conservation group Greenpeace is blockading two rivers in Kalimantan on the island of Borneo, hoping a mounting pile of illegally cut trees will embarrass the Indonesian Government into prosecuting offenders.

Andrew Burrell, Jakarta – Indonesia's Foreign Minister, Hassan Wirajuda, has claimed that lobbying by his government led Australia to slash funding to an ACTU-backed aid group that campaigns for independence in Papua.

Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta – Chief of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) Lt. Gen. (ret.) A.M. Hendropriyono foresees no (major) security disturbances that could obstruct the upcoming general election, saying several minor conflicts may occur but they could be kept under control.

A. Junaidi, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) has pledged to maintain its neutrality in the upcoming general election, its chief said on Wednesday.

In a hearing with the House of Representatives's Commission I on defense, TNI Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said this would represent a small break with tradition.

Surabaya/Jakarta – Influential Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) member Taufik Kiemas expressed interest in a formal coalition with the Golkar Party in the presidential elections, although this idea was quickly dismissed by his colleagues.

Devi Asmarani – The coming Indonesia elections will not be fought and won in Jakarta or in Java alone. The mood of the people living elsewhere in this sprawling country will be critical. Starting today, correspondents of The Straits Times bring you a series of special reports from around the nation.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – The decision by Kampar Regency Council to dismiss Kampar regent Jefri Noer and his deputy A. Zakir is not final, according to Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno.

Jakarta – Rizal Ramli, the former head of the National Logistics Agency (Bulog) during the era of former President Abdurrahman Wahid, has said the Supreme Court's decision to free Akbar Tanjung from charges of misusing Bulog non-budgetary funds two weeks ago is part of a grand plot which was hatched long ago.

Indonesia has hit back at an American State Department report which criticised its human rights record.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman, Marty Natalegawa, retaliated by saying the report had set a new standard in its ignorance and its failure to understand the actual conditions in Indonesia.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – The human rights condition in the country has been deteriorating since the government announced wars on separatism and terrorism last year, rights watchdogs said.

Washington – The Indonesian government's human rights record remained poor last year and it continued to commit serious abuses especially in war-torn Aceh province, the US State Department said Wednesday.

Matthew Moor, Jakarta – Indonesia's most senior intelligence official has warned of a threat posed by a "new Jemaah Islamiah" – the Asian terror group blamed for the Bali bombings – which he said was now gathering support because of the continuing conflict in the Middle East.

Anton Aliabbas, Jakarta – The chairperson of the People's Representative Assembly (DPR), Akbar Tanjung, has said that there is no need to be concerned about the decision by the Constitutional Court which allows ex-members of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) to become legislative candidates. However he also said that communism must be guarded against.

Jakarta – The Constitutional Court's decision to reinstate the constitutional rights of former communist members and their families members has sparked calls for an end to all discrimination against them.

Urip Hudiono, Jakarta – Recent floods in Jakarta that claimed six lives should serve as a warning for the city administration to build the East Flood Canal as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the planned project has been delayed as the administration lacks the funds for land clearance for the canal.

Yuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung – Hundreds of fired workers from state-owned aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI) welcomed the Jakarta State Administrative High Court's (PTTUN) verdict, which requires the Bandung-based company to reinstate its employees and pay their salaries for the dispute period.

Jakarta – The Indonesian government plans to sell its controlling stake in 19 state firms this year as part of its continuing privatisation programme, an official said Thursday.

The government will also sell its minority holding in nine other firms, said Parikesit Suprapto, an assistant deputy for privatisation in the state enterprises ministry.

Derwin Pereira, Jakarta – The power behind the throne smiles. Mr Taufik Kiemas, the garrulous husband of President Megawati Sukarnoputri, sips hot Javanese tea and munches kueh lapis as he talks animatedly about his wife's impending re-election.

Tomi Soetjipto and Jerry Norton, Jakarta – A former top Indonesian general indicted for alleged human rights violations in East Timor said on Wednesday he would improve law and order and crush terrorism if he became president in this year's elections.