Jakarta/Semarang/Medan/Surabaya/Jayapura/Cirebon – Student protests and record-breaking attempts highlighted the 60th anniversary of the nation's independence on Wednesday with the Netherlands formally recognizing the date.

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Lawyers for an Indonesian pilot charged with poisoning leading human rights campaigner Munir Thalib Said, have accused government prosecutors of making up motives behind the murder, saying prosecutors should arrest the real murderer, instead making a scapegoat out of their client.

Members of the US House of Representatives recently called on President Bush "to reconsider strengthening ties with the Indonesian military (TNI)."

Indonesia as a nation reaches a milestone today with the celebration of 60 years of independence. There is every reason to rejoice at this achievement: we have survived as one nation in spite of the many forces that constantly threaten to divide us. In spite of our diversity, we have overcome trials and tribulations, and come out intact as one nation.

For Australians, August 15 is the date World War II finally ended. In years to come, it may also mark the day one of Asia's longest-running wars ended.

The Aceh peace accord was signed in the Finnish capital of Helsinki on Monday, the culmination of six months of tough negotiations. The accord could not be more timely as Indonesia celebrates its 60th year of independence on Wednesday.

Surabaya/Kutai Kartanegara – For the suspected members of the outlawed Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) and their families, the country's anniversary celebration has always been a bitter time, bringing back old memories.

Jakarta/Medan – The choking haze from forest fires on Sumatra island has spread to more areas on Sunday, including Medan and Pontianak, threatening public health and disrupting transportation.

Michael Casey, Jakarta – Indonesia will prosecute 10 companies – eight of them Malaysian – for illegally lighting fires on Sumatra Island that have enveloped much of Malaysia with smoke.

The widespread haze, which appeared on Aug. 2, has forced the closure of schools and workplaces and dramatically increased respiratory ailments.

Jakarta – Thousands of supporters of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) continued their protests on Sunday against a court ruling annulled the victory of Nur Nahmudi Ismail and his running mate Yuyun Wirasaputra in the Depok mayoral election.

Jakarta – Rights activists Usman Hamid and Rachland Nashidik have been named suspects arising out of a defamation complaint filed with the police by former National Intelligence Agency (BIN) director A.M. Hendropriyono.

Jakarta – Internal conflict within the National Mandate Party (PAN) has risen to new level with the resignation of co-founder and current legislator Fuad Bawazier.

Fuad, who helped found PAN in 1998, said over the weekend he was considering a jump to the up-and-coming Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) or the establishment of a new party, Antara reported.

Jakarta – The Hizbut Tahir Indonesia (HTI) activists staged a peaceful rally with about 5,000 Indonesian Muslims against what they called "the conspiracy of colonizers in Aceh and Papua" here Sunday.

The rally was held at the Hotel Indonesia Circle, Central Jakarta, for four hours, starting from 8 a.m local time, the HTI Coordinator Irwan Saifullah said.

Jakarta – Environmentalists have criticized a draft presidential regulation on forest use as not providing protection for forests because of its outright "pro-business agenda".

Friends of the Earth Indonesia executive director Chalid Muhammad said that the draft regulation did nothing to prevent further deforestation.

Jakarta/Medan – The authorities say they are trying to identify companies responsible for the current forest fires in the Sumatra region which have caused choking haze in neighboring Malaysia.

How often we are reminded. How quickly we forget. Like a recurring bad dream that is cyclical in nature, nations in Southeast Asia are again clouded by thick haze from out-of-control wildfires in Indonesia.

Jakarta – Not everybody is impressed by the nationwide campaign for the use of condoms to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS. Among those who are apparently opposed to the campaign is State Minister for Youth and Sports Affairs Adhyaksa Dault.

Michael Casey, Jakarta – A militant cleric jailed for his role in the 2002 Bali bombings will be among 53,000 inmates receiving sentence reductions to mark Indonesia's independence day, authorities and media reports said Saturday.

John McBeth, Jakarta – Indonesian officials can be excused for feeling just a little outraged over the US House of Representatives passing legislation that implicitly questions the status of the resource-rich province of Papua.

Aguswandi, Jakarta – A greater devolution of power to the regions in Indonesia than that accommodated by present autonomy law provisions should be an option in peace building.

No endeavor will succeed if it does not have the genuine support and blessings of the primary stakeholders in the process. No matter how ingenuous the initiative, the effort put into it will be indicative of the confidence in its benefit and eventual success.

Jakarta – The South Jakarta District Court ruled on Wednesday that last year's dismissal of chief welfare minister Alwi Shihab as the National Awakening Party (PKB) leader was legitimate.

"We refuse the plaintiff's request and declare that his dismissal as the PKB leader was legal," judge I Wayan Rena Wardhana told the court.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – The government will not ban the teachings of the Indonesian Ahmadiyah Congregation (JAI) nor dissolve the group, but will let the government-sanctioned Indonesia Ulema Council (MUI) decide whether it will file such a request with the court, a senior minister says.

Ridwan Max Sijabat and Multa Fidrus, Jakarta – Condemning Garuda Indonesia management's move to close the offices of the Association of Garuda Flight Attendants (Ikagi), labor unions threw their full support behind the employees' planned strike this weekend.

Jakarta – Thousands of workers at state oil and gas company Pertamina say they will hold a nationwide strike on Wednesday in protest against a plan for massive layoffs.

Pertamina president Widya Purnama recently signed a decision aimed at terminating some 4,015 contract workers in the company.

The trial over the murder of Indonesia's top human rights campaigner has been criticised by activists who doubt that it will reveal the truth behind a case that has grabbed international attention.

Prosecutors on Tuesday indicted a Garuda pilot for murdering pro-democracy champion Munir Thalib, who died on a flight to Amsterdam last September.

Zakki P. Hakim, Jakarta – Industry players slammed the government for requiring local factories to comply with environmental regulations that exceed the current capabilities of the firms.

Mark Forbes, Jakarta – The trial of a Garuda pilot accused of poisoning Indonesia's leading human rights campaigner is becoming a key test for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as investigators and activists claim the case is covering up a conspiracy that goes right to the top.

Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta – Garuda pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto stood trial at the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday on charges of masterminding and executing the murder of top human rights campaigner Munir last year.

A former Indonesian minister, who during his career in the government was deeply involved in handling rebellious provinces, has reportedly told President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono that Papua will become the next major headache for Indonesia if the government fails to take a lesson from the decision of the majority of people in the predominantly Catholic territory of East Timor to sep

The trial of Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto for the murder last September of Indonesia's foremost human rights activist Munir, which commenced in Jakarta today, is clearly designed to detract attention from the real reasons for the crime which brought to a tragic end the life of a man who had shown outstanding courage in exposing atrocities and human rights violations perpetrated by

Bill Guerin, Jakarta – Less than two weeks after the US Agency for International Development (USAID) announced a $20 million program of assistance to help improve Indonesia's legal system, a 55-year-old American stands in the dock of a district court in the remote North Sulawesi province, 1,300 miles northeast of Jakarta, and could be jailed.

Damar Harsanto and Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – Workers in the entertainment industry are paying dearly for the current police campaign against drugs in cafes and amusement centers across the capital.

Jakarta – An Indonesian pilot hs gone on trial for the arsenic-poisoning murder of a leading rights activist in a case seen as a test of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's commitment to the rule of law.

Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta – Anticorruption bodies, criminal experts and the public have put high hopes on the new head of internal affairs at the National Police Headquarters that he will quickly resolve allegations of money laundering involving 15 police officers.

Urip Hudiono, Jakarta – Continuing high global oil prices have put Indonesia's fiscal stability teetering on a tightrope as the oil-producing country fails to benefit from the situation. Instead, the country faces swelling oil import costs due to rising domestic fuel consumption.

Abdul Khalik and Yuli Tri Suwarni, Jakarta/Bandung – Over 5,000 members of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and Nahdhatul Ulama (NU) gathered on Sunday in Depok, West Java, to protest a court ruling that declared Golkar Party candidate Badrul Kamal the winner of the June 26 Depok mayoral election.

Jakarta – Despite the ongoing controversy surrounding the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI)'s edicts against secularism, pluralism and liberalism, the Indonesian Council for Islamic Propagation (DDII) will fully support the MUI in its "war on deviant thoughts", a top preacher said on Sunday.

Israr Iskandar, Jakarta – Indonesian leaders were quite disturbed on hearing that two members of the US House of Representatives had questioned the status of Papua within the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI). Under Bill No. 2601, the US House cast doubt on the effectiveness of Papua's special autonomy and disputed the presence of this territory within NKRI.

Muhamad Ali, Hawaii – The fatwas (edicts) issued by the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) concerning intra and inter-religious issues in the country have generated concerns and criticisms from other scholars and the public, and clearly demonstrates that there is still a semantic and intellectual gap among the religious elites themselves about how to deal with religious diversity and f

In simultaneous rallies in Depok and Jakarta, hundreds of supporters of Nur Mahmudi Ismail on Saturday staged protests over the West Java High Court verdict overturning election results for the first directly elected Depok mayor.

Jerry Norton, Jakarta – Optimistic talk that a decades-long simmering civil war in Indonesia's Aceh province is about to end. A peace pact brokered in Europe. International monitors set to make sure the warring sides follow through.

That's the background to a deal set for signing by Indonesia's government and Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels in Helsinki on Aug. 15.

Jakarta – Budianto and Sugito, two victims of mystery shooting incidents in Poso on Thursday (04/08), were key witnesses in several terrorism case in the conflict area.

Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Arjanto Sutadi said on Friday (05/008) that 13 witnesses had been questioned in these cases.

Fearing escalating tension in Depok following the court ruling that overturned the result of the June 26 mayoral election, the Jakarta Police called on Depok residents to stay calm, while saying that police would send more personnel.

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said the police would maintain a high alert in the Depok mayoralty.

Jakarta – The highest Islamic authority in Indonesia has been criticised by the world's largest Muslim organisation over its controversial edicts against "liberal Islamic thought," a report says.

The Indonesian Ulema Council last week issued 11 edicts to fight "deviance and secularism" in the world's largest Muslim-populated nation.

Jakarta/Bandung/Surabaya – More criticism has been levied against the controversial edicts issued by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), this time from the world's largest Muslim organization, Nahdhatul Ulama (NU), which has around 40 million members.

Jakarta – After seven long hours, the members of the Islamic Liberal Network (JIL) felt relieved, at least for the day.

And so did some 300 people gathered outside the Utan Kayu Community complex to express their support for JIL following rumors of a planned attack by hard-liners after Friday prayers.

Michelle Janowitz – With many companies engaged in an endless quest to secure successful low-cost solutions for running their business, outsourcing has inevitably developed into one of the more popular ways to drive company costs down.

Ruslan Sangadji, Poso – Another wave of terror hit the city of Poso in Central Sulawesi when two men were shot dead by unidentified people on Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.

Budianto, 26, an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver, was shot while eating dinner with his wife and child at 8:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday in his house in Gebang Rejo, Poso Kota.

Jakarta – A senior US defense official on Wednesday expressed optimism that Washington would restore full military cooperation with Indonesia, citing the country's moves towards democracy.