Protests against price hikes for fuel and phone charges are continuing for a second week across Indonesia. The price rises for fuel, electricity and phones are aimed at cutting back on government subsidies as the administration tries to rein in its large budget deficit.

Ati Nurbaiti, Ambon – It seems an inevitable, accepted fact of life here that while things must return to "normal", it would be wishful thinking to imagine that it means resuming normalcy in full, at least in the foreseeable future.

Jakarta – Despite making progress in clamping down on suspected terrorists, Indonesia lacks a comprehensive policy to combat terrorism and puts too much weight on responding to possible attacks rather than preventing them, security analysts say.

Bill Guerin – A year ago Indonesia's debut into the free-trade era took place when it opened its markets to the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA).

The landmark event, on January 1, 2002, was notable mainly for the silence of the government that had preceded the move, and the apathy of the people and business community. Public ignorance of AFTA prevailed.

Jakarta – Police have uncovered a fifth military-style training camp in South Sulawesi – suspected to belong to the group behind last month's bombings in Makassar – which had enlisted the support of trainers from Afghanistan and the Philippines.

Jakarta – Already under investigation for corruption, Indonesia's Attorney-General was accused by police yesterday of embezzling thousands of dollars from a charity set up to help refugees.

Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – After pulling up President Megawati Sukarnoputri, Indonesia's main audit body is flexing its muscles and plans to fire more shots this month at big names for their questionable wealth.

The move is likely to rile government officials and parliamentarians who have thrown their weight behind its closure.

Jakarta – Domestic researchers lashed out at the government's plan to impose restrictions on foreign scholars who wish to conduct field studies in the troubled provinces of Papua and Aceh. They said that the restriction impinged on academic freedom.

Tony Sitathan, Jakarta – "I do not know how I am going to survive with three children, an ailing mother and an unemployed husband, with the current increases in basic electricity and telephone charges.

Jakarta – Street protests continued across the country Friday against steep increases in fuel and utility charges as the government began distributing cheaper rice nationwide to those hardest hit by the price rises, AFP reported.

About 10,000 students and workers staged a noisy but peaceful rally in Makassar, South Sulawesi province, El Shinta radio reported.

M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta – Leniency in the labor law and lack of enforcement of standard safety measures have put the lives of millions of workers at risk, particularly those working in hazard-prone work places, a labor activist said on Thursday.

Multa Fidrus, Tangerang – Police fired two warning shots into the air to disperse a rally of some 1,000 former workers of PT Doson Indonesia, a company that produces shoes for Nike, in Tangerang.

The workers responded to police by throwing shoes at the officers, but there was no violence, reports said.

Jakarta – The non-governmental organization, The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), condemned on Thursday the government's decision to allow controversial pulp plant PT Toba Pulp Lestari to restart operations, Antara reported.

Jakarta – Hundreds of workers grouped in the workers union of many companies joined in a rally in protest of the increase in fuel oil prices, telephone and electricity tariffs in front of the State Palace on Thursday.

Maria Endah Hulupi and Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta – Thousands of workers and students staged a rally in front of Merdeka Palace, Central Jakarta, on Thursday to demand that the government annul the utility price hikes introduced on the first day of the new year.

Berni K. Moestafa, Jakarta – Unable to force the government to cancel utility price increases despite mass protests across the country, protesters vowed to continue demonstrating and consider "radical means" to put pressure on the government.

Jakarta – Calls for a national boycott on taxes and utility bills, and for the resignations of President Megawati Soekarnoputri and her deputy Hamzah Haz, mounted across the archipelago on Thursday as nationwide protests heated up against fuel, electricity and telephone price hikes.

Jakarta – The police reiterated once again that they would take very strict actions against demonstrators, if they planned to insult state symbols, Antara reported.

Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – With a glut of new parties set up ahead of next year's general election, disputes are breaking out over the right to use some of the most popular Indonesian signs and symbols.

Jakarta – In another show of deep cracks within the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), five functionaries in Lampung have been dismissed from their posts for defying directives on the recent gubernatorial election.

Jakarta – Unable to accept the burning of her effigy, President Megawati Soekarnoputri urged the people not to insult state symbols when expressing their aspirations, Antara reported.

Jakarta – The government has announced a plan to restrict foreign researchers' access to conduct field work in Papua and Aceh, saying that many came with intentions other than academic goals that could amount to an interference in Indonesia's domestic affairs.

Berni K. Moestafa, Jakarta – Some 25,000 workers are expected to hit the streets of Jakarta on Thursday in what will likely be the biggest demonstration so far against the utility price hikes.

Jakarta – Indonesia's foreign direct investment pledges slumped 35 per cent last year compared with 2001, a bad sign for economic growth and a reminder of the nation's reputation as a tough place to do business.

State investment agency BKPM said in a statement on Tuesday that foreign investment approvals last year fell to US$9.74 billion from US$15.06 billion in 2001.

Jakarta – A lawyer for a Christian gang suspected of deadly bombings and shootings in Maluku said Wednesday some attacks had been assisted by special forces soldiers, AFP reported.

Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – President Megawati Sukarnoputi faces one of her toughest challenges today as Indonesia's businessmen join thousands of their employees here in a rare alliance to protest against the recent price hikes.

Evi Mariani, Jakarta – About 150 becak (trishaw) drivers united in the Daya Manunggal Becak Driver Group (PBDM) visited the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) office in Central Jakarta Wednesday, pressing for their right to operate legally in Jakarta.

Robert Go, Jakarta – Indonesia could be building nuclear power plants by the end of this decade, as part of government efforts to provide alternative energy sources to the country's power-hungry households and businesses, said senior officials yesterday.

Jakarta – Hundreds of students burned tyres and pictures of President Megawati Sukarnoputri yesterday when protests against fuel, telephone and electricity price hikes were held in 10 Indonesian towns and cities.

The recent furore over Singapore Technologies Telemedia's purchase of a major stake in Indonesia's Indosat is just a case of domestic political bickering, a former Indonesian minister said yesterday. Former trade minister Arifin M.

A new report claims Indonesia's booming paper industry is responsible for widespread attacks on indigenous communities in Sumatra. The New York-based group Human Rights Watch also alleges police are helping suppress protests against the seizure of forest land, claiming land seizures and "brutal" assaults on local residents are commonplace.

Derwin Pereira, Jakarta – It comes as no surprise that a handful of legislators are seeking an inquiry into the S$1.2 billion purchase of a major stake in telecommunications firm Indosat by Singapore Technologies Telemedia (STT).

Jakarta – Mass strikes by public transportation drivers commenced in a number of cities on Monday as street protests against recent hikes in utility prices continued in several parts of the country.

Jakarta – The country's booming paper industry is responsible for widespread attacks on indigenous communities in Sumatra, said a Human Rights Watch report released Monday.

According to the report, which was quoted by AFP, police are helping suppress protests against the seizure of forest land.

Richel Langit, Jakarta – Dozens of people suspected of plotting the deadly Bali bombing have been arrested, and the head of the joint international team investigating the terrorist attack, Inspector General I Made Mangku Pastika, has been declared the Asian Newsmaker of the Year by the US magazine Time, but the terrorist network operating in the world's largest archipelagic country

Jakarta – In a mainly Muslim nation dominated by Javanese culture, few Indonesians know much about the remote and mainly Christian province of Papua, beyond the stereotype of tribesmen living in the forest.

Robert Go, Jakarta – Indonesia's businessmen and labour unions have formed a rare alliance to protest the government's New Year price hikes – paving the way for a mass nationwide strike this week.

Labour activist and union chief Dita Indah Sari said employers have not only backed, but also encouraged, union plans to strike against the latest series of price hikes.

Hundreds of Indonesians took to the streets here to protest the government's decision to raise electricity and telephone rates and fuel prices, while elsewhere in the country higher fuel costs were likely to cause transport disruptions.

Debbie A. Lubis, Jakarta – The government's decision to hike fuel, electricity and telephone charges has drawn a strong public rejection, with many protesters demanding President Megawati Soekarnoputri step down.

Bill Guerin – Indonesia's largest supermarket chain PT Hero Supermarket plans to open three hypermarkets on the outskirts of Jakarta this year to stem a steady drop in the chain's market share against very strong competition from foreign retailers.

Tom Hyland, Jakarta – The relentless techno beat is so loud your insides vibrate. Strobe and laser lights flash out across the crowd of maybe 5000 that surges in waves across the vast dance floor. It's 2am on a Saturday and amid the noise and crush, the mood in this north Jakarta nightclub is a strangely mellow mix of joy and energy.

A'an Suryana, Jakarta – Employers remain committed to implementing a 7 percent increase in the minimum labor wage despite a simultaneous utility price hike, said an industry leader.

Makassar – Hundreds of students of the State University of Makassar on Friday staged a demonstration at the provincial legislature here, demanding President Megawati Soekarnoputri to immediately resign for her incompetence in leading the nation.

Jakarta – A number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) launched a campaign on Thursday against the much-criticized government policy of exonerating some former bank owners from their past banking crimes.

Damar Harsanto, Jakarta – Women, beware. Every five hours, a woman is raped in Indonesia. Every day, at least one rape case in Jakarta is reported by the media, not to mention the unreported ones, which may be triple the number.

Jakarta – People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais said Tuesday the government should stop working with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2003, Antara reported.

Derwin Pereira, Jakarta – Indonesia is drawing a line in the sand in its dealings with Aceh and Papua, warning that attempts to secede will be met by force.

Jakarta – Indonesia's year-on-year inflation was 10.03 percent in December against 10.48 percent in November, the statistics bureau said on Thursday.

The bureau said month-on-month inflation in December was 1.2 percent compared to 1.80 percent in November, still showing the impact of increased spending for year-end religious festivities.

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – A number of professional associations and corruption watchdogs threatened on Monday to file a class action suit against the government, should President Megawati Soekarnoputri insist on releasing big debtors from possible criminal charges.

The leaders of Indonesia's two largest Islamic groups have called for an end to efforts to get Islamic Sharia law enforced in the country, the world's largest Muslim nation.

"There is no need to press ahead with the struggle for Sharia," Ahmad Syafii Maarif, chairman of the Muhammadiyah group, told The Jakarta Post daily.