Jakarta – Discussion of the Draft Law on Defense and Security (RUU Hankam) which has been initiated up by Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono is a step backwards in efforts to reform the Indonesian armed forces (TNI).

Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir has rejected charges he was involved in terrorist plots including the 2002 Bali bombings and said President George W. Bush was behind the allegations.

Urip Hudiono, Jakarta – Despite pre-election jitters and a final-quarter slowdown, the economy in 2004 still managed to grow by 5.13 percent, continuing a steady four-year improvement, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said on Wednesday.

Rusman, Nunukan, East Kalimantan – The Malaysia government's threat to crack down on Indonesian illegal workers has not only affected the illegals, but also Indonesian workers whose status is completely above board.

Budi Hartadi, Surabaya – There are many ways to express opposition to fuel price increases. On Thursday February 17, scores of students from the University of Airlingga (Unair) Student Executive Council (BEM) chose to demonstrate by walking backwards to the East Java provincial parliament in Surabaya.

Environmental investigators say they have uncovered massive timber smuggling from Indonesia's Papua province to China in what they described as the world's largest logging racket involving one wood species.

Pekanbaru (Riau) – Fire has razed 14,000 hectares of forest in two regencies here over the past week, and causing smoke haze problems.

Due to the haze problem, at least 26 people have been treated at hospitals after suffering respiratory symptoms, a high ranking official said on Wednesday.

Jakarta – As many as 90 non governmental organizations (NGOs) and 80 individuals have challenged Law No. 19/2004, which strengthens a government regulation in lieu of law approving open pit mining in protected forests.

Washington – Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday she is moving to reinstate US military training assistance for Indonesia, an important step toward restoring full military ties.

Gunawan Mashar, Makassar – Planned fuel price hikes which are soon to be announced by the government continue to attract a response from the public. Students in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar demonstrated against the price increase by hijacking a petrol truck.

Palu (Central Sulawesi) – A resident of the Alabibi subdistrict, Banggai Islands regency, Central Sulawesi province, has been arrested after he announced that he was a Muslim prophet.

Rendi A. Witular, Jakarta – As a follow up to January's Infrastructure Summit, the Ministry of Transportation will start the tender processes in March and April for three projects worth over Rp 8 trillion (US$864.9 million).

Tony Hotland, Jakarta – The Ministry of Defense is drafting a new law to replace the existing defense law aimed at upgrading coordination between the defense and security functions of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police, and putting the two forces under the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – Indonesia's economy grew faster than projected last year, thanks to continued robust spending and signs of investment revival, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Aburizal Bakrie said on Tuesday.

Jakarta – The Coalition for Clean and Proper Elections (Koalisi LSM) demanded National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar on Tuesday suspend a probe into them and instead go ahead investigating a Rp 301 billion (US$33 million) graft case allegedly involving the General Elections Commission (KPU).

Jakarta – Jakarta may still be dealing with its four main problems – garbage, flooding, a poor health system and traffic jams – for many years to come, due to a distinct lack of professionalism, a city watchdog announced on Tuesday after unveiling a report.

Although the current number of casualties of dengue hemorrhagic fever is lower than last year's, the government has announced an extraordinary occurrence of dengue fever in 12 provinces affected by the dengue outbreak, including Jakarta.

Jakarta – Some 200 evicted squatters from Tanjung Duren, West Jakarta, staged a demonstration at the West Jakarta District Court on Tuesday to demand more compensation.

Evicted on October 2, 2003, the 280 former residents have yet to receive compensation for the money they spent building homes on the site, which they claim totaled Rp 9.3 billion (US$1 million).

Banda Aceh – Hundreds of students from Syiah Kuala University (Unsyiah) in Banda Aceh again held a protest at the university compound on Monday, demanding the university president, Abdi Abdul Wahab, to provide them and the lecturers shelter and free tuition for one semester.

The two-hour long protest was the third in the past week.

Tony Hotland, Jakarta – Human rights activists urged the government to provide better legislation for human rights protection in the country as it aims to ratify the International Bill on Human Rights.

Mataram – One villager was killed and four others severely injured after gang fight between neighboring villagers in Bima regency, West Nusa Tenggara province on Sunday.

The bloody riot on Sumbawa island also left six buildings in Rompo subdistrict burned.

Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta – The National Police are facing difficulties in the investigation of the death of top human rights activist Munir, particularly due to resistance from the Netherlands government to allow the Indonesian police to investigate in that country.

Jakarta – City-owned market operator PD Pasar Jaya has raised the rental fees of at least 39 of 153 traditional markets in the capital since January, despite the traders' opposition.

Pasar Jaya president director Prabowo Soenirman said on Monday that the hike rate was based on the transaction volume at respective markets.

Jakarta – Gold mining firm PT Newmont Minahasa Raya (NMR) has demanded the police halt an investigation into the alleged pollution of Buyat Bay, North Sulawesi, after Jane Pangemanan retracted claims she made against the firm on February 3.

Abdul Khalik and Tony Hotland, Jakarta – National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar suggested on Monday that West Jakarta police officers may have protected a gambling house in Taman Palem, which his officers raided two weeks ago.

Shifts among command posts within the Indonesian Army are underway, with those in Aceh taking the limelight.

A warming-up is taking place within the Indonesian Army rank and file. Pending the replacement of its chief of staff and commander, reshuffles of posts within the corps are the order of the day once more.

Much has been made of Makarim Wibisono's appointment as chairman of the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR). The honor signifies recognition of the diplomat's long service to his country and his contribution to multilateral diplomacy. Given his experience and tenure in various international organizations, Makarim is, without doubt, a qualified candidate for the job.

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Banda Aceh – State-owned insurance company PT Jamsostek has called on companies in tsunami-ravaged Aceh to provide lists of workers victimized in the disaster, in order to speed up the payment of claims to the victims' relatives.

Surabaya (Miol) – The East Java United Opposition Front (BOB) is asking the East Java Regional Parliament (DPRD) to oppose fuel price increases which are planned for March and April.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – The government insisted on Friday it would sue Malaysian employers who refused to pay their undocumented Indonesian workers, despite calls from Malaysian officials to back down from the plan.

Yang Razali Kassim – Within days of the tsunami disaster, several Indonesian organisations sent volunteers to Banda Aceh to provide humanitarian relief. Among them were two Islamist groups, the Majlis Mujahidin Indonesia (MMI) and the Front Pembela Islam (FPI). They set up a command post at an air force base in Aceh to help bury the dead and distribute aid.

Tangerang – Tangerang District Court ruled on Tuesday that 455 dismissed workers of Kingstone Indonesia had precedence over China Trust Bank, one of the bankrupt writing equipment manufacturer's creditors, as regards claims to the company's assets.

Saturday afternoon, February 5. A historical day for the village of Perdamaian in the Langkat regency sub-district of Stabat, North Sumatra. Since the country won its independence almost 60 years ago, not one member of the People's Representative Assembly (DPR) has set foot here.

Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta – The public has high hopes that the planned government team assigned to hunt down graft suspects residing overseas will be able to conclude its mission in a country where corruptors have long managed to easily escape justice and enjoy their ill-gotten wealth abroad, according to a top lawmaker and anticorruption activist.

Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta – The government's move to amend legislation on security and defense has split legislators, with a Golkar Party lawmaker leading the opposition to attempts to prevent House members from having a say in the appointment of the Indonesian Military (TNI) chief.

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – A coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) launched a campaign on Friday opposing a proposed official secrets bill, which they said could hamper the effort to establish transparent and accountable government if it were enacted into law.

Jakarta – National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar recently ordered a major reshuffle affecting four senior officers, including police spokesman Insp. Gen. Paiman.

Paiman told reporters on Friday that the reshuffle had taken place on Tuesday after one of the senior officers reached retirement age.

Rendi A. Witular, Jakarta – After four years of pleading by the government, the global money laundering watchdog, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), has finally removed Indonesia from its list of Non Cooperative Countries and Territories (NCCT).

Jakarta – Teachers and academics doubt the government's planned national final exam will be able to narrow the gap in education between schools across the country.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – The Indonesian government is expected soon to ratify the international bill on human rights, a move that could improve the country's image in the global community.

Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta – The Ministry of Defense has finalized the first drafts on the revision of legislation on security and defense, which aim, among other things, to help create more professional military and police forces.

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – Some members of the House of Representatives have expressed opposition to articles in the draft revision of the Criminal Code that could threaten press freedom.

They said they would challenge the government-sponsored draft, which will soon be opened for deliberation in the House.

Semarang – An Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Reform Movement was launched at the Panti Marhaen Building on Jalan Brigjen Katamso in Semarang, East Java on Friday afternoon (11/2).

Jakarta – Prosecutors recommended that hard-line cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir be sentenced to eight years in jail for his alleged role in a string of terrorist acts.

Fadli, Banda Aceh – Hundreds of Syiah Kuala University students protested on the Banda Aceh campus on Thursday to demand that their tuition be waived and that the rector resign for attempting to force them to pay tuition beginning on February 14.

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – A grouping representing 52 trade unions expressed disappointment about what it said was the poor performance of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during his first 100 days in office, particularly as regards improving the lot of the country's workers.

Dear Secretary Rice,

We, The Forum of Aceh People, an Acehnese civil society group who work for peace and democracy in Aceh, have read that you intend to reopen the IMET military training program for Indonesia and build again a structural relationship with the Indonesian military. We urge you not to do this.

M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta – In a party held to celebrate his 80th birthday at the Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) building Indonesia's most credible candidate for the Nobel Prize for Literature, Pramoedya Ananta Toer, displayed a trait that was in sharp contrast with his customary nature.

Not too long ago there was a time when the public, and journalists in particular, lived with a collective daily dose of fear. A fear of speaking out about one's political opinion no matter how benign this expression might be. Any voice that even remotely could displease authorities was self-censored.

Ken Guggenheim, Washington – Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz praised "a new era" of democratic rule in Indonesia, but said no decision has been made yet about lifting restrictions on ties with the Indonesian military.