Jakarta – Indonesia is hoping the Experts Commission the UN has set up to reinvestigate the 1999 human rights violation cases in Timor Leste will not need to carry out its mandate or come to Indonesia because Indonesia and Timor Leste already have set up a Truth and Friendship Commission to deal with the matter, Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono said here on Tuesday.

The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has asked the President to approve the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission. Based on a law enacted by the House of Representatives last year, the deadline for the setting up of this 21-member Truth and Reconciliation Commission is next month.

Jakarta – A faction in the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), calling itself the Reform Group, has suggested the upcoming party congress form a presidium to provide transitional leadership as the party moves away from current leader Megawati Soekarnoputri.

An Indonesian plan to build two full-size nuclear reactors has outraged green groups and surprised analysts, who warned it would be a disaster-in-waiting for the volcanic island chain that is plagued by earthquakes and terrorism.

Hera Diani, Jakarta – The unprecedented direct presidential and legislative elections last year were widely praised as free and fair.

One of the organizations that contributed a great deal to the successful elections was the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES).

Jakarta – Dozens of residents of Kebon Kacang sub-district in Central Jakarta protested on Monday a road elevation project in the area, fearing that it would only worsen floods there.

The owner of Plaza Indonesia is currently raising the surface of Jl. Kebon Kacang 30 by one meter, making it higher than the foundations of houses in the area.

The Indonesian army will set up 22 new territorial commands in the next five years, from 2005-2009, said army chief of staff Lt General Djoko Santoso, in a meeting with Parliament's Commission I.

Jakarta – Paul Wolfowitz' candidacy for World Bank president has triggered criticism from rights activists in Indonesia, where he served as US ambassador during Suharto's dictatorship but never spoke out publicly against the regime's violent abuses or endemic corruption.

Tony Hotland, Jakarta – Two retired military generals stated on Monday they had played no part in alleged corruption in the procurement of a total of 100 British Scorpion tanks in the 1990s.

Hera Diani, Jakarta – Liberal Muslim scholars here welcomed on Monday the news of a woman leading a mixed-gender Friday prayer service in New York last week. They were not convinced, however, that a woman could ever lead an Islamic prayer service here.

Theresia Sufa, Bogor – The gigantic and pungent Titan Arum or Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus titanum), which can reach up to three and a half meters in height, is slowly disappearing from its native Sumatra rain forests and increasingly blooming in foreign places.

Theresia Sufa, Bogor – The majority of 277 animal conservation areas across the country are left unprotected, threatening the sustainability of animals here, a noted ornithologist warns.

Tony Hotland, Jakarta – The Dutch government has agreed to hand over to Indonesian authorities much awaited information and evidence in the poisoning death of rights campaigner Munir.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – House faction leaders ignored an invitation from the government to discuss the fuel price increases on Friday night, saying they were preparing for a plenary session on Monday to discuss the controversial policy.

Kalinga Seneviratne, Jakarta – From Medan to Jakarta, Yogakarta, Surabaya, Solo and Batam, all across this vast archipelago Indonesian konfrontasi, or confrontation volunteer militias, are undergoing martial-arts training to attack what they call "arrogant Malaysia".

Jakarta – Activists assisting victims of last year's police shooting in Manggarai regency on Flores island have criticized the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) for "not being serious" about the case.

[The following is an abridged translation of a selection of articles from Detik.com which were posted on its web site between March 15-18. Demonstrations have continued almost daily throughout the country after the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice-President Jusuf Kalla (SBY-Kalla) announced the decision cut fuel (BBM) subsides on March 1.]

Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta – A former top official of the defunct Election Supervisory Commission (Panwaslu) said the central government should delay the country's first direct elections for local government officials because most regions still did not have election supervisory commissions.

Those acquainted with politics looked on in amusement. The majority of those who had held their representatives in something like reverence stared in bemusement.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – The government's plan to rehabilitate the civil and legal rights of past former political prisoners is expected to finally end all forms of discrimination against them and their families.

Rendi A. Witular, Jakarta – The government is planning to revoke the visa-free service currently given to a handful of countries and regions outside the Association of the Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN), in addition to providing the visa-on-arrival for 16 new countries and extending the maximum stay period.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – The government has moved to restore the rights of and provide compensation for former political prisoners exiled on Buru Island in Maluku between 1969 and 1979.

Most were accused of having links to the outlawed Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has urged the government to set up mechanisms to control the conduct of police amid a rising trend of human rights violations by law enforcers in various parts of the country.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – Following the recent fuel price increase, the country's fuel consumption has declined by 16 percent compared to the previous month.

State oil and gas company Pertamina said in a statement on Wednesday that fuel consumption this month averaged 158,000 kiloliters per day, compared to last month's 189,700 kiloliters per day.

Jakarta – National flag carriers Garuda Indonesia has fired its entire 13-member board, in a government move to improve the management of the carrier and its financial performance, a minister said.

The government, which owns Garuda, dismissed six commissioners and seven directors of the Jakarta-based airline on Tuesday, said State Minister of State Enterprises Sugiharto.

Tony Hotland, Jakarta – The House of Representatives questioned on Wednesday the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) in a closed-door meeting to determine what knowledge the agency had regarding the murder of prominent human rights activist Munir.

Samarinda, East Kalimantan – Though East Kalimantan is rich in natural resources, many of the schools in the province have fallen into disrepair from neglect.

Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta – Provincial election commissions (KPUD) are facing a number of problems, including a lack of clear guidelines, in organizing the country's first direct elections for local government chief executives.

Yuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung – The food and beverage allowance for the West Java governor and deputy governor for fiscal year 2005 has been increased by more than 60 percent to Rp 1.138 billion (US$126,450).

Tony Hotland and Rendi A. Witular, Jakarta – A brawl among legislators ended the second day of the House of Representatives plenary session to discuss the government's fuel hike policy, leaving the public disgusted by the immaturity of their representatives.

The arguments made by several factions at the House of Representatives to support their stubborn demands for the total cancellation of the March 1 fuel price hikes not only miss the whole point of good energy policy and prudent fiscal management but also have little to do with what they claim to be the interests of the people.

Astrid Felicia Lim, Jakarta – The Fact Finding Team in the case of Munir which was formed by national police headquarters has said that two perspective suspects in the murder are officers of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN). BIN chief Syamsir Siregar says that if there is evidence that his people are involved legal action will be taken against them.

Agus Supriyanto, Jakarta – National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Syamsir Siregar has objected to remarks that BIN is involved in the murder of human rights activist Munir. There are suspicions that the murder is part of a criminal conspiracy and that BIN in involved.

Hera Diani, Jakarta – Already the subject of widespread criticism from liberals, the draft revision of the Criminal Code has sparked further protests for being too harsh on crimes committed by citizens but failing to deter the state from practicing violence.

Jakarta – Indonesians must change the way they perceive domestic chores and show their maids more appreciation, activists say.

Tati Krisnawati of the National Commission of Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) said that the way domestic workers were treated needed a "revolution" in gender perspectives.

Urip Hudiono, Jakarta – The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) found 2,128 cases of irregularities in the management of state funds during the second semester of last year, with potential losses to the state totaling Rp 7.12 trillion (about US$765 million).

Tony Hotland and Urip Hudiono, Jakarta – Despite President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono saying that the fuel price increases were final, seven of 10 factions at the House of Representatives continue to convey their rejection of the government's policy.

James Balowski, Jakarta – International Women's Day rallies, held in most major Indonesian cities on March 8, were dominated by protests against fuel subsidy cuts, which were announced by the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on March 1.

Zakki P. Hakim, Jakarta – The much-hyped Ambalat dispute has encouraged the Indonesian Military (TNI) to renew its demands for more up-to-date weaponry, with the constraints on the military budget forcing it to look for new funding sources. In response, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) chairman Mohammad S.

Jerry Norton, Jakarta – Indonesia's expulsion of two foreign experts on the country shows freedom of expression should not be taken for granted in the fledging democracy, a prominent attorney said on Monday.

Kornelius Purba, Jakarta – Soon after reading a magazine cover story about the alleged poisoning of human rights activist Munir during a Garuda flight, a woman came up with a suggestion to help the airline convince future passengers they weren't being poisoned.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – The Ministry of Defense is considering a system that will enable the three branches of the Indonesian Military (TNI) to share equipment to save money.

Every time the government raises domestic fuel prices closer to their real economic cost, businesspeople always raise a rumpus, urging the government to deal firmly with the old problems of red tape, illegal levies, and corrupt tax and customs services to offset the additional burden on business.

Joseph Moakley, a member of the US Congress from the Republican Party, has said: "The US must get out of the business of training the foreign military.

Jon Afrizal, Jambi – The champions of democracy in Jambi province are no longer consistent in upholding their principles, with many of them getting involved in campaigning for candidates contesting the upcoming gubernatorial elections, a leading think tank has claimed.

Badriah, Jakarta – Workers claim that as a group they are suffering most because of the government's decision to increase the price of fuel on March 1 which has flowed on to increases in the price of basic goods.

Bill Guerin, Jakarta – Indonesia's legal system itself is in the dock following the seemingly light sentence given last week to its best-known militant, Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir. On March 4, Ba'asyir was convicted by a Jakarta court to 30 months in jail for his part in the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people.

Jakarta, Kompas – Victims of the 1965 tragedy – who are still stigmatised as members of the Indonesian Communist Party or its affiliated organisations – are suing Indonesia's five presidents, former presidents Suharto, B.J. Habibie, Abdurrahman Wahid and Megawati Sukarnoputri, and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Azas Tigor Nainggolan, Jakarta – On March 1 the government raised the prices of most fuel products despite many protests from the community. The present price hike, the government said, was necessary to cut the subsidies, which have become too costly, and do no benefit the poor or the little people, who actually deserve them.

An Indonesian militant arrested in the southern Philippines late last year allegedly "planned and executed" the blast outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta in September, a top Philippine police intelligence official said today.