Doubts that the upcoming general election next year can bring significant changes for the better to this country's political landscape are growing as the General Elections Committee (KPU) is giving political parties a final chance to list their legislative candidates today.

Indonesia, the world's largest Islamic country, is often described as a crucial ally of the United States in the war against terrorism.

Bambang Nurbianto, Jakarta – The Bus Rapid Transit system, or busway, has attracted strong opposition from transportation experts and observers since it was first introduced by the Jakarta administration in early 2002.

The experts argued that the busway would not be able to resolve chronic traffic congestion in the capital and poor-quality public transportation services.

Theresia Sufa, Bogor – Dozens of vendors pelted PT Jasa Marga Jagorawi toll road officers with stones and chased after them with machetes and sticks on Sunday at about 4 p.m. at the South Sentul entrance ramp.

Jakarta – The leader of a new Indonesian anti-corruption body was sworn in Monday, vowing never to bow to pressure and promising to act swiftly to halt graft.

Fedhly Averouss Bey, Jakarta – The University of Indonesia (UI) Student Executive Council (BEM) together with BEMs throughout Indonesia have formed the National Student Alliance in the lead up to the 2004 general elections which has the aim of ensuring the elections are "luber" (direct, open, free and confidential), "jurdil" (honest and fair) and free of money politics.

Jakarta – Dozens of activists and public figures have launched a national movement which will urge Indonesians not to elect "rotten" politicians in next year's legislative and presidential elections.

Kurniawan Hari and Urip Hudiono, Jakarta – The Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) will launch on Monday a nationwide information campaign on politicians running for office.

Religious figures, politicians and non-governmental groups (NGOs) are expected to support the campaign, which aims to rid the country of unscrupulous politicians.

Urip Hudiono, Jakarta – Prominent Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid is pursuing his presidential bid next year by launching a book on nation-building titled Indonesia Kita [Our Indonesia].

The 157-page book was launched on Saturday, containing a 10-point political platform to rebuild Indonesia should he be elected president in 2004.

Jepara – Vice President Hamzah Haz has called on the people not to be carried away by the notion that the New Order era was a much better time because, he said, the regime's mistakes in development had plunged the country into the present prolonged crisis.

Barus – Starvation has begun to threaten some 140 traditional fishermen in Pasar Tarandam village, Barus subdistrict, Tapteng district, North Sumatra, because of the presence of Thai trawlers in their district's sea.

Fitri Wulandari, Jakarta – The power crisis, which started several years ago, became worse this year and the problem is likely to continue haunting the nation in upcoming years.

Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta – Growers have blamed the high cost of locally-produced sugar on the old and inefficient manufacturing facilities of producers, and accused them of deliberately organizing damaging and misleading campaigns designed to put the blame on growers in order to obtain profitable import licenses.

Jakarta – The total number of foreign intelligence agents in Indonesia is far greater than the estimation given by the army chief of staff General Ryamizard Ryacudu who said that there are 60,000 people.

Bambang Nurbianto, Jakarta – After much debate and public criticism since November over a 30 percent tap water rate hike proposed by the city administration, councillors have decided that Jakartans will kick off the new year with an increased water bill.

Evi Mariani, Jakarta – More than 2,500 families will be evicted from their houses along Jl. Tanah Merah, Rawa Badak subdistrict, North Jakarta, and Pinang Ranti subdistrict, East Jakarta, in January.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – President Megawati Soekarnoputri signed on Friday two decrees, one on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and another on the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI), allowing the new institutions to commence their work.

Jakarta – A warning by the Indonesian army's chief of staff that troops would be deployed if next year's general election turned into bloody chaos shows that the military wants to make a political comeback, says a human rights organisation.

Jakarta – There is concern that the organisation of the general elections in Aceh will face a number of serious complications because there are a number of contradictory legal stipulations which cannot be resolved in terms of laws which regulate a military emergency and those which regulate elections.

Jakarta – At least 1732 state civil servants from a number of departments are still members or heads of political parties. This violates Government Regulation Number 13/1999 on State Civil Servants which is an enhancement of Government Regulation Number 5/1999.

Kompas – A reexamination, evaluation and refinement of People's Representative Assembly (MPR) Decree Number VI/MPR/1999 and MPR Decree Number VII/MPR/1999 is being carried out by the department of defense and members of the People's Representative Assembly (DPR).

Dadan Wijaksana, Jakarta – It has been six years since the banking sector started its restructuring efforts. Still, while improvement in its financial health is undeniable, certain flaws remain – indicating that the recovery process is still a long way off.

After withdrawing as a presidential contender for Golkar Party, Muslim intellectual Nurcholish Madjid seems to have run out of room to move in his efforts to seek a strong political party as a vehicle.

Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta – Down but not out, is perhaps the idiom that fits the Indonesian Military (TNI) the most after the reform movement in 1998 put an end to three decades of undemocratic rule, placing much on security for the sake of economic growth.

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – Despite their pledge to fight for the aspirations of the public at large, legislators in the House of Representatives continue to display a willingness to betray their constituents in order to further their own interests.

Urip Hudiono, Jakarta – The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) has slammed the Army chief's statement that he would deploy troops if the 2004 elections turn into bloody chaos, saying such a remark was politically unethical and could pose a serious threat to the nation's newly born democracy.

Jakarta – Christmas celebrations across the country proceeded peacefully on Wednesday and Thursday amid the heightened presence of police.

Fitri Wulandari, Jakarta – The government expects investment in oil and gas, as well as power sectors, to improve next year on the back of attractive oil and gas resources and the liberalization programs in the power sector.

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro said the government expects to sign 15 new oil and gas contracts next year.

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – How tragic and terrible has been the violence against a great number of Indonesian women employed overseas this year! Not only were they harassed, physically abused or even raped but were also sent home without proper payment or traded from one employer to another.

Rizal Maslan, Jakarta – Indonesian Human Rights Watch director, Munir, has said that the statement by army chief General Ryamizard Ryacudu that 60,000 foreign agents have entered Indonesia in order to weaken the military represents an endeavour to create new tensions. This could also damage foreign diplomatic relations.

Dadan Wijaksana, Jakarta – The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) has so far handed over Rp 26.1 trillion (about US$3.1 billion) to the state coffers from its assets sale programs this year, slightly exceeding the target of Rp 26 trillion.

Robert Go, Jakarta – Indonesia's Religious Affairs Minister Said Agil Al Munawar is under fire after the government admitted errors and cancelled bookings for 30,000 Muslims who had registered to undertake the haj next month.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – A middle-aged lady carrying a stack of papers rushes into the National Police Headquarters' detective building, mumbling almost hysterically as bystanders try to understand.

M. Rizal Maslan, Jakarta – Army chief Ryamizard Ryacudu has again said that at least 60,000 foreign agents have entered Indonesia. According to Ryacudu, these foreign agents are linked with a modern war plan to weaken the role of the TNI (armed forces) and to play people off against each other.

Samarinda – The orangutans (Pongo pygmaues) in East Kalimantan province are now on the brink of extinction, because rampant and expanding illegal logging in the province.

The candidacy of three daughters of founding President Sukarno in the upcoming 2004 general elections has opened up new potential for a test of the loyalty of nationalist voters and possible scenarios concerning the ability of President Megawati Sukarnoputri and her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to retain power.

Jakarta – In Jakarta on Thursday December 25, army chief of staff General Ryamizard Ryacudu, explained that army intelligence has obtained indications that the 2004 elections will be tainted by disturbances. He gave the example of the 60,000 foreign agents from large foreign countries which are in Indonesia at the moment.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – The National Police announced on Tuesday another financial scandal at Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) involving Rp 200 billion (US$23.5 million) from the workers insurance fund, PT Jamsostek.

Jakarta – Indonesia's General Elections Commission (KPU) Chairman Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin expressed hope that people in the provinces of Maluku, North Sulawesi and Papua would not boycott the 2004 general elections.

"We hope the elections would run well and people in Maluku, North Sulawesi and Papua could accept the reality," he said on Wednesday.

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – Government critics, students, and non-governmental organization activists on Tuesday launched a nationwide drive aimed at urging the people not to elect "dirty rotten politicians" in the 2004 elections.

Robert Go, Jakarta – Indonesian soldiers will be mobilised to take control of the situation should next year's elections "turn bloody", the army's top officer has warned.

The remarks by the Army Chief of Staff, General Ryamizard Ryacudu, has rekindled talk about the military seeking to reassert itself in domestic politics.

Jakarta – President Megawati Sukarnoputri has questioned the motives behind the assumptions which have been made about the organisation of the 2004 general elections which claim they will be susceptible to turmoil and disturbances.

Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – High-profile minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is a dark horse likely to steal the spotlight from incumbent President Megawati Sukarnoputri as she strives for re-election next year.

Jakarta – Indonesia's economic growth rate in 2004 will increase to between 4.2 and 4.4 per cent despite the possibility of heightened tensions at home during the general and presidential elections, an economic research organization said.

Moch. N. Kurniawan, Jakarta – The commitment of political parties that will contest next year's elections to transparency is in doubt as they remain reluctant to disclose the source of their initial campaign funds to the General Elections Commission (KPU), a week after the deadline.

Thousands of Indonesian police went on alert as Christians in the world's largest Muslim-populated nation prepared to celebrate Christmas under the shadow of a continuing terror threat.

Almost 166,000 officers, or two-thirds of the entire force, will be deployed nationwide to safeguard the Christmas and New Year festivities – more than 22,000 of them in the capital alone.

Urip Hudiono, Jakarta – The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) criticized the House of Representatives for producing legislation that served the interests of capital owners more than the general public.

Fitri Wulandari, Jakarta – The country's economic growth is projected to remain at a moderate level of around 4 percent next year as uncertainty during the seven-month voting and campaigning periods will cause investment to remain weak.

Urip Hudiono, Jakarta – The Coalition Against Forests for Mining and representatives of about 5,000 Kao and Malifut tribespeople of Halmahera island in North Maluku are demanding Australian company PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals (NHM) to immediately stop its open-pit mining in the protected forest of Toguraci.

A. Junaidi, Jakarta – Many officers from the Indonesian Military (TNI) and police, as well as politicians and government officials are involved in the rare animal trade in the country, allowing the illicit practice to flourish, activists claim.