Indonesia's pesantren schools have been accused of breeding JI terrorists. Matthew Moore and Karuni Rompies talk to teachers and pupils and find deep suspicion of the West.

Leo Wahyudi S. – A number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have condemned the recent evictions at Jembatan Besi, Tambora, West Jakarta, which left around 10,000 people homeless. They said that landowner PT Cakra Wira Bumi Mandala could have warned people about the planned eviction and taken more humane measures against the squatters.

Kafil Yamin, Jakarta – Indonesia's former armed forces chief and would-be president, General Wiranto, is all for reforms to make the country truly democratic and have a more professional military, but he believes this reformasi should be guided by the military itself.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – The government appears to be undeterred by a recent massive demonstration in Bali against the new visa policy and vows to start charging incoming tourists from countries such as Japan and Australia with visa fees, starting October 1.

Former Udayana military chief Maj. Gen. Williem T. Da Costa and five other senior military officers were sworn in as new legislators to replace six others who have reached mandatory retirement age.

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – State-owned insurance company PT Jamsostek and labor unions have strongly urged the House of Representatives to maintain the government's monopoly in running social security programs for workers, in its amendment of the social security law to allow private company participation.

The Jakarta Transportation Office's plan to have all private vehicles undergo periodic road worthiness tests starting next year has evoked strong reactions from the public, and has become one of the hottest issues of debate in this capital city, Jakarta.

The idea came from Ground Transportation director general Iskandar Abubakar.

How should Australia respond to the growing terrorist threat in Indonesia? Unfortunately, if the knee-jerk reaction of many politicians and commentators is anything to go by, we should turn to the military as the only force in Indonesia capable of confronting terrorists.

M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta – To rectify past mistakes when resolution of labor disputes could take years to complete, Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea vowed on Thursday that the bill on industrial dispute settlement currently being deliberated by the House of Representatives would produce a speedy outcome.

As drought continues to grip much of Indonesia, it was little surprise to see agricultural policies in the news last week. Nor was it much surprise to see that one of the people making noise was the chairman of the Indonesian Farmers Association, Ir Siswono Yudohusodo.

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – The North Sumatra legislative council approved on Thursday a controversial bylaw on spatial planning for the province, which critics say fails to protect the interests of people and allows illegal loggers to denude protected forests.

Damar Harsanto, Jakarta – One of two packages exploded in the front yard of the residence of renowned human rights activist Munir on Jl. Cendana XII No. 12 in the Jaka Sampurna housing complex, South Bekasi.

Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, Jakarta – The involvement of public order officers, policemen and military officers in the eviction of around 10,000 illegal occupants of private-owned land at Jembatan Besi area, Tambora, West Jakarta, has been protested by urban activists.

The information disclosed by new media watchdog Aceh News Watch on Wednesday that most national newspapers and television stations had failed to practice the very basic media principles of impartiality and coverage of both sides in a conflict in their reportage of the war in Aceh surprises no one.

Robert Go, Jakarta – Indonesia took delivery of its first two Russian-made Sukhoi fighter jets yesterday as officials declared that the arms embargo by the United States and its allies would drive them to search for alternative suppliers.

At least three people have been killed and 45 injured in clashes between supporters and opponents of the setting up of Central Irian Jaya province in Timika since Saturday, when the province was formally established.

Sari P. Setiogi, Jakarta – A noted woman activist and legislator called on Wednesday for a specific revisions to Marriage Law No. 1/1974 in order to promote more equal relations between husband and wife.

Oyos Saroso HN, Lampung province – Many thousands of people from Lampung have been forced to start eating cassava as the drought continues its stranglehold over the impoverished province.

Jakarta – Plans by a large number of foreign companies here to relocate their operations to other countries is an apparent reaction to their frustration over the slow progress by the government to improve the country's business climate.

Jakarta – Police fired warning shots and tear gas yesterday to disperse about 500 slum dwellers protesting against an attempt to evict them from their Jakarta settlement.

Jakarta – The Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) warned on Tuesday that more foreign companies were set to relocate their operations here to other countries due to the worsening investment climate in the country.

Bali – More than 1,500 Balinese tourist industry workers took to streets of the capital, Denpasar, on Wednesday to protest government plans to revoke visa-free travel for foreign visitors.

M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta – A coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) here on Tuesday revealed that the police had committed human rights abuses when they violently quelled a recent riot in Bulukumba regency, South Sulawesi.

Police claimed to have shot dead only two people during the July 21 incident, but the NGOs said the death toll reached five.

Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Yusuf Kalla said on Wednesday that the government had distributed 1,800 tons of relief rice to 250,000 farmers in Java, which is suffering from harvest failure due to the long drought.

Evi Mariani, Jakarta – Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), farmer and labor unions from across Indonesia gathered in Jakarta on Tuesday for a two-day meeting to prepare for the September 10 to September 14 World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial summit in Cancun, Mexico.

Max Lane – Indonesia is in a process of transition out of the period of dictatorship during the presidency of Gen. (ret) Soeharto. This process of transition is occurring in the midst of a severe and continuing economic crisis, often seen to be linked to globalization.

A new study of the extremist Jemaah Islamiyah movement says the group may have been set back by recent arrests – but is far from stalling in its plans to carry out a holy war – or jihad – in the region. In fact, the report's author says she's has had to reassess the size of the organisation that was behind the Bali bombing and dozens of similar attacks across the region.

Yuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung – More than 700 families staged a rally again on Monday in Bandung, West Java, to demand that they be compensated or relocated from their current residential areas beneath dangerous high-voltage transmission lines.

Tony Sitathan, Jakarta – Indonesia is in the midst of a political storm over the implementation of a comprehensive anti-terrorist bill or even an Internal Security Act (ISA) modeled after Singapore and Malaysia ever since the latest terrorist attack ripped through the heart of the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, killing at least 14 people and injuring close to 150 others.

Bambang Nurbianto, Jakarta – Apparently trying to take all opportunities available before their terms end next year, and undeterred by public criticism, city councillors will spend Rp 9.6 billion (US$1.1 million) of taxpayer money for foreign sightseeing tours this year.

Rizal Maslan, Jakarta – On Monday August 25, the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) sent a letter to President Megawati Sukarnoputri requesting that G30S/PKI(1) political prisoners who are innocent be rehabilitated. The matter was in reference to considerations made by the Supreme Court to provide such rehabilitation.

Moch. N. Kurniawan and Suherdjoko, Semarang/Jakarta – Due to a threat to the water supply of 128 million people living on Java, the government declared on Monday a ban on logging and decided to review farming policies on this densely populated island.

Jakarta – The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is currently running a campaign to urge global companies to stop buying plywood from Indonesian firms suspected of retaining illegal logs and damaging the environment.

M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta – Religious leaders have thrown their support behind plans to impose the tight surveillance of a number of districts in West Java – believed to be home to militants advocating sharia (Islamic law) – as part of preemptive measures against future terrorist attacks.

Former Armed Forces Commander Wiranto has re-stated his determination to run for the presidency.

Speaking at the launch of his biography, (Testimony in the Middle of the Storm) in Solo on Friday, Wiranto urged his audience not to take wild chances in electing a new president.

Bill Guerin, Jakarta – Yet another prehensile remnant of the Suharto regime's mismanagement of Indonesia's economy – Bulog, the national foodstuffs monopoly – is about to transformed into something hopefully not a piggy bank for whomever is in power. But don't count on it.

Increasing pressure from military hardliners to push President Megawati Sukarnoputri to give extra power to the military-backed intelligence service following the J.W. Marriott Hotel bombing has prompted former President Abdurrahman Wahid to come out against the return of military power.

Moch. N. Kurniawan, Jakarta – The General Elections Commission (KPU) announced on Thursday the allocation of 550 seats of the House of Representatives for 30 provinces with five new provinces securing at least three seats through the 2004 legislative elections.

Kornelius Purba, Jakarta – People in Papua and Aceh need to learn from Americans about the proper way of "reading" their leaders' lips.

Maryadi, Jakarta – The Committee to Guard against the New Order (Komite Waspada Orde Baru, KWOB) has put forward 10 conditions for presidential candidates for the period 2004-2009. One of the conditions is that a presidential candidate does not come from one of the New Order [regime of former President Suharto] political parties.

Matthew Moore, Jakarta – Indonesia's plans to use nuclear power to meet its spiralling energy demands have been boosted by the Russian Government's approval of a draft agreement allowing it to build nuclear power plants in Indonesia.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Ainur R. Sophiaan, Jakarta/Surabaya – President Megawati Soekarnoputri ordered Cabinet ministers on Thursday to start emergency measures by Monday to help people who are suffering due to the drought across Java.

Canberra – Australia and Indonesia will co-host a terrorism summit early next year, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer announced today.

Mr Downer met with his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirayuda in Canberra today, where the two agreed to co-host a regional meeting.

Indonesian Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir has emotionally denied any knowledge of the terror group he is accused of leading and said the "terrorist state of America" had stage-managed his treason trial.

Bashir, in a fiery defence speech, also warned judges they will go to hell if they convict him and told prosecutors to repent for aiding "the infidel enemies of Islam."

Kurniawan Hari and A'an Suryana, Jakarta – Major factions in the House of Representatives (DPR) are to revise the Antiterrorism Law, but aside from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), they are not keen on giving more power to security authorities in the fight against terror.

An Indonesian newspaper editor is facing criminal charges after comparing President Megawati Sukarnoputri as a cannibal and leech. The editor of the tabloid-style Rakyat Merdeka is charged with insulting the President, a charge which attracts a possible six year jail sentence. The trial has prompted concerns of a return to the days of government control.

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Denpasar – Around 700 people staged a protest here on Tuesday to demand that the Bali legislative council and the central government postpone swearing in the reelected governor of the resort island, following allegations of bribery during the gubernatorial election.

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – The General Elections Commission (KPU) decided on Tuesday that an electoral district for the regional legislative councils (DPRDs) in regencies and provinces would have on average six to 12 seats.

Maryadi, Jakarta – A class action by the People's Lawyers Union (Serikat Pengacara Rakyat, SPR) against President Megawati Sukarnoputri over the declaration of a military emergency in Aceh has been adjourned again. The adjournment, the second one [since the action was launched], was because neither the defendant or their legal council were present.

Jakarta/Bandung – The government has finally decided to dismiss some 6,000 employees of state-owned aerospace company PT Dirgantara Indonesia as part of a restructuring program designed to help lift the ailing company out of years of financial difficulties. The decision was made at a shareholders meeting on Tuesday.