Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – The House of Represantives legislation body (Baleg) agreed on Monday to delay all bill deliberations, pending discussions between the government and the legislators on which bills should be dealt with first.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – Vice President Jusuf Kalla called on members of the Indonesian Civil Servants Association (Korpri) across the country to comply with regulations set by the government, saying that the bureaucracy was the government's political machine.

Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta – A three-day exhibit, Indo Defense Expo 2004, showcasing defense equipment, concluded on Saturday, providing Indonesia with opportunities to replenish its defense equipment and technology despite the embargo imposed by the United States and its allies.

Meidyatama Suryodiningrat, Vientiane – While police may be intensifying their hunt for terrorist suspect Azahari bin Husin, they admit they are still playing an extended catch-me-if-you-can game with the notorious bombmaker. With a small legion of followers and a continued cash supply, the Malaysian national seems to be as effective in evading arrest as he is at making bombs.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – "We need to find other sources of income beside our salary," said First Sgt. Yono (not his real name), a 36-year-old officer of the police's Mobile Brigade, adding that his monthly salary was around Rp 1 million (US$111.11).

Blontank Poer and Muhammad Nafik, Surakarta – Tensions ran high on the first day of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) congress here on Sunday as senior ulema at odds over the nomination of incumbent leader Hasyim Muzadi launched an open campaign for their respective candidates.

Muhammad Nafik and Suherdjoko, Surakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono opened a five-day congress of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) here on Sunday, with its senior leaders strongly criticizing the group, the largest Muslim organization in the country, for its involvement in politics.

Multa Fidrus, Tangerang – Tangerang's main river, the Cisadane, is now lined with clusters of home factories, which has prompted environmentalists to demand the regency administration to get rid of the buildings and return the riverbanks to their previous function as green areas.

Damar Harsanto, Jakarta – In order to prevent the already over-populated city from further ballooning due to the influx of new arrivals after Idul Fitri, the Jakarta administration is set to launch an operation targeting new migrants early next month.

Two private companies are apparently continuing land reclamation work along the coastline of Dadap village in Kosambi district, Tangerang regency, despite a ban issued by Regent Ismet Iskandar.

District chief Rudi Maesal said on Saturday he had no idea if PT Koperasi Pasir Putih and PT Parung Harapan had resumed their reclamation projects.

Jakarta – The Indonesian government has officially announced that environmental pollution has taken place in Buyat Bay, Minahasa, North Sulawesi.

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono assigned Religious Minister Maftuh Basyuni to find out how prevalent religious discrimination is in the country and to review the controversial joint ministerial letter on the construction of places of worship.

Michael Casey, Buyat Bay – Mention Newmont Mining Corp. in this impoverished seaside community, and villagers angrily recount how pollution from its gold mine has killed the fish and sickened residents with headaches, nausea and tremors.

Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) patriarch and former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid has made it clear that he is extremely displeased with NU executive chairman Hasyim Muzadi and senior leaders are talking about forming a "rival" NU if Muzadi wins a further five-year term at its congress.

Blontank Poer and Slamet Susanto, Surakarta/Yogyakarta – The debate on involvement in politics seems likely to dominate the upcoming 39th congress of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the country's biggest Muslim group, to be opened in the Central Java town of Surakarta by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Sunday.

Leony Aurora , Jakarta – The year 2004 has been a good one for Imelda Ladianto. She was accepted as a teacher by a national plus school, rented a small house, and could officially call herself independent.

"The first thing I bought was a washing machine," said the 26-year-old. "I didn't want to hand wash my laundry, it's way too impractical," she added.

Damar Harsanto, Jakarta – Around 70 protesters grouped in the United Workers Alliance have demanded that the City Council revoke Governor Sutiyoso's decision to raise the provincial minimum wage to Rp 711,843 (US$79). They also said there were legal flaws in the ruling, which was issued two weeks ago.

Blontank Poer, Surakarta – Ahead of the 31st Congress of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), which will be held at the Donohudan Haj Dormitory, Surakarta, the focus of its members is on the heightened rivalry between supporters and opponents of incumbent chairman Hasyim Muzadi, who is seeking reelection for a second five-year term.

Muhammad Uzair, Palembang – The Palembang Transportation Office will soon reroute heavy vehicles from Ampera bridge to the Musi II bridge in the near future because a section of the Ampera bridge continues to slope at an angle and cause an inordinate amount of resonance during heavy traffic.

Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta – Russia has said it is willing to provide Indonesia all the assistance it wants in developing its weaponry systems and defense industry.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – With Rp 389 million (US$43,000) in assets, Minister of Agriculture Anton Apriyantono is the "poorest" of 11 Cabinet members whose wealth has been verified by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Derwin Pereira, Jakarta – The race is on for control of Golkar, Indonesia's largest political party.

The party will hold a national congress next month to select a new chairman in what could prove crucial for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's plans to rein in a hostile Parliament.

Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta – The absentee rate in government offices after the Idul Fitri holiday slightly rose compared to last year, despite the fact that civil servants were granted more time off.

Theresia Sufa and Damar Harsanto, Bogor/Jakarta – Six low-ranked police officers have denied involvement in Monday's violent protest by locals opposing the presence of Bojong waste treatment facility in Klapanunggal, Bogor regency, West Java.

Tony Hotland, Jakarta – Activists and close friends of noted rights campaigner Munir submitted on Friday, to the government, candidates for an independent team, who would assist the police in investigating his mysterious death.

Jakarta – City-run market operator PD Pasar Jaya finally bowed to pressure from traders and city councillors by suspending the demolition of the Tanah Abang textile market in Central Jakarta.

The outcome of the four-day congress of the country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), which is scheduled to be opened by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Sunday, will not only determine the future direction of the organization and the well-being of its 40-million members, but will also strongly influence the nation as a whole and the development of Islam in g

Indra Harsaputra and Muhammad Nafik, Surabaya/Jakarta – Rivalry is heating up inside Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) ahead of its national congress to elect a new leader, which observers say could lead to a split in the country's largest Muslim organization.

Indonesian police identified six suspected terrorist "nests" just a day after arresting four of the Australian embassy bombers.

Bandung/Padang/Samarinda – After a year of delays, a former West Java councillor went on trial in Bandung on Thursday for corruption.

If convicted, Kurdi Mukri, former deputy speaker of the West Java provincial council and currently a legislator at the House of Representatives, could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Jakarta/Bogor – The National Police will summon Bogor Police chief Sr. Comr. Bambang Wasgito for questioning, following the bloody incident at Jakarta's waste treatment plant in Bojong village, Bogor regency, on Monday.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Tony Hotland, Jakarta – The government may also be blamed for the pollution of Buyat Bay in North Sulawesi, Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare Alwi Shihab said on Thursday, one day after he vowed to punish PT Newmont Minahasa Raya for arsenic contamination in the area.

Olle T'rnquist, Oslo, Norway – Indonesia's most prominent, bravest, and innovative democracy-and human rights fighter is no more. He was the 2000 laureate for the "Right Livelihood Award", often referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize".

Urip Hudiono, Jakarta – A hike in domestic fuel prices next year – if carefully planned and carried out – will have only a limited effect on the inflation rate, Bank Indonesia has said.

M. Rizal Maslan, Jakarta – So that there is no repeat of the Munir case, the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH) is distributing a circular containing a warning to all human rights activists to be careful in carrying out their work.

This was revealed by the director of LBH Jakarta, Uli Parulian, at the LBH offices on Jalan Diponegoro in Jakarta on Thursday November 25.

Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta – The suspicious death of rights campaigner Munir and threats against his widow, Suciwati, have inspired her along with dozens of women's groups to declare war against all forms of violence.

Fadli, Batam – Riau Islands provincial government is planning to lobby Minister of Trade Mari Elka Pangestu to allow local businessmen to resume exporting sand from the sea, a top government official said on Wednesday. The provincial government would also soon draft a bylaw that regulates the business.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Tony Hotland, Jakarta – After long and exhaustive tests carried out by a number of local and international teams, the government concluded on Wednesday that Buyat Bay, North Sulawesi, was indeed polluted and vowed to hold the polluters responsible for the environmental crime.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has agreed to establish an independent team to investigate rights campaigner Munir's death and that rights' activists design the duties and structure of the team.

Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman and his four deputies have been working without proper salaries since they took office in December 2003.

David Jay Green, Jakarta – National elections and a change in government are a wonderful time for reflection and stocktaking and Indonesia's recent set is no exception. It is a useful, as well as a fun undertaking to try and identify the most important lessons of yesterday and guess the problems we'll face tomorrow.

Derwin Pereira, Jakarta – Santiago was a world away for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in more ways than one.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has raised a call for the country to become self-reliant in supplying its defense forces with arms, munitions and equipment through close collaboration among the armed forces, academics and industry.

Jakarta – TNI [Indonesian National Military Forces] Commander Gen Endriartono Sutarto has expressed hope that the government will place a high priority on the TNI budget. Attention to this was urgently required to overcome the security problems in the country such as separatism in Nanggroe Aceh Darusslam.

Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso has vowed to press ahead with the development of a new waste processing plant in Bojong village, despite mounting opposition from residents and local legislators after police opened fire on protesters at the site.

Bogor/Bandung/Jakarta – Five residents of Bojong village, Klapanunggal district, West Java, are still missing after a violent protest on Monday against the planned trial of a waste processing facility.

The Bogor Council recommended on Wednesday the temporary closure of the disputed plant.

Jakarta – Indonesia has elected to enter into military cooperation with Russia and China. According to Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono, both China and Russia had offered.

Aboeprijadi Santoso, Amsterdam – The arsenic poisoning of the Indonesian human rights champion, Munir, has aroused so much attention that he is even more "present" in death than he was in life. Yet, without the reform of state apparatuses and the will and determination of the country's leadership, the case will remain a mystery.

Blontank Poer, Surakarta – Days before the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) begins a national congress, many would-be participants complained on Wednesday that they had not received official invitations from the steering committee.

Indonesian judges have rejected a plea to drop terrorism charges against hardline Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir and ordered him to stand trial for his alleged involvement in attacks including the Bali bombings.