Desi Anwar, Bali – The Balinese are calling it the third Bali bomb, threatening to frighten even more foreign tourists away from their beaches.

Jakarta – Opposition lawmakers and the independent Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) doubted Wednesday whether the new supervisory board members of state broadcaster TVRI would be able to stay neutral doing their jobs.

The Australia West Papua Association believes the time is not right for either the Australian or US Governments to renew ties with the Indonesian military.

Jakarta – Lawmakers slammed Wednesday an invitation by from House Speaker Agung Laksono for legislators to participate in a launch of budget airline AdamAir's new flights in Singapore.

"(Participating in the event) could constitute a conflict of interest," House transportation commission member Afni Ahmad of the National Mandate Party said Wednesday.

Jakarta/Denpasar/Surakarta – The government made its position clear on the pornography bill on Wednesday, stating the focus should be on limiting distribution of obscene materials instead of criminalizing personal conduct, particularly of women.

I Wayan Juniartha, Denpasar – The room fell into an uneasy silence as Satria Naradha, one of the most influential community figures in Bali, made a point to the visiting members of the House of Representative's special committee on the pornography bill.

Tiarma Siboro and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – Strong words from human rights activists and grumbles from lawmakers greeted US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the second day of her two-day visit to the country on Wednesday.

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – It is pretty easy to imagine what will happen to workers and their families if the House of Representatives and the government endorse amendments to the 2003 Labor Law allowing companies to outsource not only additional and/or temporary work, but also their core businesses, and to recruit contract-based employees.

Bill Guerin, Jakarta – Spurred by the personal intervention of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Indonesia has brought to a dramatic end a four-year dispute between US oil giant ExxonMobil, the world's largest oil company, and Pertamina, Indonesia's largest state enterprise. The dispute involved rights to a massive oil discovery.

Slamet Susanto and Suherdjoko, Yogyakarta/Semarang – The social status that came with the position convinced Sugiharto to put aside hunting for a regular job and run instead for Srihardono subdistrict head in Bantul, Yogyakarta.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – Several House of Representatives factions have agreed to throw out articles in the pornography bill that criminalize personal conduct deemed indecent and allow for the establishment of a special anti-pornography body.

Faiza Mardzoeki & Max Lane – A united front has developed among almost all women's rights organisations to campaign against a new law currently before the parliament, the Law Against Pornography and Porno-Action (UUAPP). Opposition to the law was the focus of International Women's Day protests in Jakarta on March 8.

Jakarta – Human rights groups criticized US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday for restoring full military ties with Indonesia, saying the army remains a threat to the country's young democracy.

At least 300 students in Ambon, Maluku, went on a three-kilometer long march Tuesday to demand a thorough investigation in the shooting of a civilian during a deadly clash between police and the military in the city last week.

Sue Pleming, Jakarta – US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice began a trip to Indonesia on Tuesday seeking closer ties with the moderate Islamic country in a region where China's influence is growing.

Jakarta – Fighting terrorism and military cooperation are set to top the agenda in talks between visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Lisa Misol, New York – US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to Jakarta today is intended to showcase Indonesia's transition to democracy. It follows the Bush Administration's controversial decision to reestablish full relations with the Indonesian Military (TNI).

J. Soedjati Djiwandono, Jakarta – Scanning the print media around March 11, it was clear that few, if any, remembered, or perhaps most just ignored or could not care less, what happened on March 11 in 1966. During the 32 years of the New Order regime under Soeharto, March 11 was regarded as sacred.

A group of residents have been unrelenting in their protest over the proximity of extra-high voltage power lines (Sutet) to their property, despite the seemingly blinkered government response. The Jakarta Post's Abdul Khalik and Andi Haswidi look at the root causes of the problems that drove a group of villagers to embark on a hunger strike.

Anne Gearan, Jakarta – Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Indonesia has earned the restoration of close military ties with the United States, despite complaints from human rights groups that the move betrayed victims of military brutality.

Bandung – West Java: At least 10 infants have died of malnutrition in West Java over the past three months, with the real number of malnourished children estimated to be much higher in the province.

Head of the provincial health agency's service division, Fita Rosemary, said they had recorded 24,067 cases of malnourished children from January to March this year.

A'an Suryana, Jakarta – Art curator Agus Suwage had not expected that exhibiting an art work by photographer Davy Linggar would land him in serious trouble. "I knew from the media that a group of people had filed a lawsuit against us, but I was steadfast as I believed that we had done nothing wrong.

The East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) today urged Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to support an Indonesia policy that genuinely promotes justice, peace and human rights.

Jakarta – Unruly demonstrations make for good newspaper copy and dramatic photos, but trashing a government building is likely to lead to criminal punishment.

Anissa S. Febrina, Jakarta – The government needs to provide better infrastructure and simplify regulations so as to lower logistics costs and help boost the growth of the country's manufacturing sector, an economist says.

Tb. Arie Rukmantara, Jakarta – Indonesian environmentalists plan to discuss pollution and rights abuse by multinational companies during the upcoming UN Human Rights Commission meetings in Geneva.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – House Speaker Agung Laksono denied reports Saturday that members of the House of Representatives would receive yet another pay hike.

"There will be no salary hike in 2006. We don't know yet if there will be any in 2007 or 2008. We last got a salary increase approved in 2005, but it has yet to be disbursed," he told reporters.

Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, Padang – Illegal loggers have stripped bare at least 20 percent of the forest in Kerinci Seblat National Park in West Sumatra, and the losses will continue unless the authorities take action, an official says.

Duncan Graham, Surabaya – Before sociologists and grief counselors got hold of the word, "closure" meant keeping the door shut. Now it refers to the absence of a corpse, unresolved disputes about cause of death, the mystery of a sudden fatality.

And the reason. And the perpetrator. Suciwati does not have closure. Maybe she never will.

The emergence of democracy in Indonesia has "thoroughly transformed" US relations with that country, the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, said in remarks made public yesterday.

Panca Nugraha, Mataram – About 300 people, mostly women, took to the streets Saturday in a loud protest against the antipornography bill, which they said degraded women, insulted many local cultures and threatened tourism.

Mark Forbes and Karuni Rompies in Jakarta – Lilis Lindawati finished waitressing at 8pm and was waiting for a bus when the men in brown shirts came. Five jumped from the back of a ute and forced her into a nearby van.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – The two largest factions in the House of Representatives are expected to push for major changes to the pornography bill currently being deliberated, as the controversy over the issue continues to grow.

The Golkar Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) occupy 128 and 109 seats respectively in the 550-seat House.

Jakarta, Makassar – A bomb exploded at a Hindu temple in the conflict-scarred town of Poso, Central Sulawesi on Friday, a day after the government announced an extension of its security operation in the area for another three months.

Benget Simbolon Tnb., Jakarta – The government is yet to take serious action to protect migrant workers overseas despite recurring cases of their ill treatment by recruiters and employers, a seminar concluded Thursday.

Tony Hotland, Jakarta – Eight months ago, top officials were seen attending Cabinet meetings dressed simply. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono often wore smart, short-sleeved batik shirts and his Cabinet also sported casual attire.

Ubud – Emerald rice paddies once stretched for mile upon mile alongside the road that winds through scenic Ubud on Indonesia's Bali island, but today just glimpses remain as hotels, restaurants and shops have risen up to block the view.

Suherdjoko, Wonosobo – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told protesting subdistrict heads Thursday that he would not heed their demands for longer terms of office, and added that such a move would be against the law.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – The government has extended its security operation in the conflict-scarred region of Poso, Central Sulawesi, by another three months because it says tensions remain high in the area.

Ambon, Maluku – A protest at the State Islamic Institute in Ambon escalated Thursday when 500 students told lecturers and staff to leave the campus. The protesting students have sealed off the campus since Monday, forcing 3,000 students to miss classes.

Tb. Arie Rukmantara, Jakarta – Munir's murder, the religiously motivated attacks on Ahmadiyah followers and forced church closures are some of issues local activist groups plan to raise at the upcoming session of the United Nation's Commission on Human Rights.

Charles Honoris, Tokyo – The proposed pornography bill has created a nationwide controversy. Several interpretations of the bill suggest that the article outlawing women from showing "sensual parts" could result in banning women from wearing swimsuits or bikinis – or even the kebaya. Even more difficult will be to define what constitutes an "erotic dance".

On March 8, no less than 400 mostly women activists from Perempuan Mahardhika, which is made up of urban poor, worker and student organisations along with other women's groups, marched to demand government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stop paying the foreign debt and use the budget to improve welfare for the poor.

Tb.Arie Rukmantara, Jakarta – A technical snafu Wednesday meant legislators were unable to scrutinize the government's controversial US$30 million out-of-court settlement with PT Newmont Minahasa Raya over a pollution case.

Dear friends,

ID Nugroho, Surabaya – Eighteen underage prostitutes were recently held at Surabaya Police Headquarters for several days after being picked up by officers during a raid on the city's Dolly red-light district.

Jakarta – Women's groups took to the nation's streets Wednesday to voice their opposition to sharia law and the controversial pornography bill, both which they said unfairly criminalized women's sexuality and behavior.

Jakarta, Kompas – Commemorating International Women's Day on March 8, women in Jakarta, Banda Aceh, Yogyakarta and Makassar held peaceful actions demanding that the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) resolve the nation's major problems.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – Poor coordination among government agencies, a lack of security features and systemic corruption makes it all too easy for criminals to get hold of multiple identity cards, a Home Ministry official says.

Multa Fidrus, Tangerang – Some 1,500 people representing various groups staged a rally Monday at the Tangerang administration office on Jl. Satria, to show support for a bylaw that regards the performance of sex work as a criminal offense.