Robert Go, Jakarta – The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (Ibra) would be investigated for holding back nearly eight trillion rupiah (S$1.68 billion) worth of funds that should have been deposited into the state treasury, said the agency's supervising cabinet minister.

James Balowski – On 12 September 1984, dozens of people were killed and injured when troops fired on Muslim demonstrators in the port district of Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta.

Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has demanded the national rights body reinvestigate the 1984 Tanjung Priok bloodshed.

Amid protests that the rights body be dissolved, Kontras also demanded on Friday that the reinvestigation be conducted by a different set of people representing the National Commission on Human Rights.

Jakarta – At least 20 people were killed and more than 100 seriously injured Friday in an eruption of deadly street fighting between Muslims and Christians in the eastern Indonesian city of Ambon, reports and hospital officials said.

Jakarta – A new moral movement made up of some 33 public figures is emerging out of the growing disappointment at the slow pace of reform under the administration of President Abdurrahman Wahid.

Makassar – Wirabuana Military Police are investigating the alleged involvement of 28 soldiers in the Poso riots which began on May 23, regional military commander Maj. Gen. Slamet Kirbiantoro disclosed on Thursday.

Shinta NM Sinaga/FW & LM, Jakarta – The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) has admitted that they have found many irregularities in their audit of the Ministry of Defense. While the Ministry has vowed to follow up the irregularities found, the Agency has stated that it is about to look into whether the information provided is accurate.

Jakarta – The latest eruption of violence between Muslims and Christians in the eastern Indonesian city of Ambon has left up to 20 dead over two days, including a police major.

There seems to be no end in sight for the wave of sectarian violence plagueing the Maluku islands for the past 18 months.

Vaudine England, Jakarta – The navy yesterday evacuated more than 750 terrified Christians from the village of Duma on Halmahera, as large groups of Muslim fighters rampaged across the North Maluku.

Jakarta – Legal observers called on authorities in the country's legal circle on Wednesday to apply thorough and strong measures to combat chronic and acute judiciary mafia practices.

Jakarta – The chairman of the Indonesia's upper House of Representatives, Amien Rais, added his voice Thursday to the chorus protesting the detention of Bank Indonesia Governor Sjahril Sabirin, saying it smacks of political intervention.

Jakarta – A series of peaceful protests at the provincial parliament in Indonesia's West Kalimantan on Thursday forced the postponment of a meeting to decide on the fate of the governor there, an official said.

A Ismail/Swastika & LM, Jakarta – The continuing conflict between the people of Porsea village, North Sumatra, with PT Inti Indorayon Utama (IIU) has claimed the life of Herman Sitorus, an engineering highschool student shot by a North Tapanuli police subprecinct officer in a heated brawl Wednesday.

Lindsay Murdoch, Jakarta – Authorities yesterday arrested a top Indonesian economic official over a $US80million banking scandal linked to Golkar, the former ruling party.

Leigh Murray and Grainne McCarthy, Jakarta – Criticism of the detention of Bank Indonesia Governor Sjahril Sabirin mounted Thursday amid suggestions of political interference, with analysts and business executives saying the case has dealt another blow to already shaky investor sentiment towards Indonesia.

Robert Go, Jakarta – The country's top economics minister has berated the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (Ibra) for working at a snail's pace and said it was a long way from meeting its projected contribution to this year's national budget.

Jakarta – Indonesia's inability to guarantee land security is blocking foreign investment in farm-based businesses in Asia's third-largest agricultural producer, analysts said.

Michael Vatikiotis, Jakarta – In Indonesia, one needn't look far to find a fertile breeding ground for left-wing sympathies: Farmers protesting over the price of rice, workers seizing their factories, students marching daily against corruption.

The National Commission on Human Rights' committee for the 1984 mass killing in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta (KPP HAM Tanjung Priok), has come under fire for its report to the House of Representatives (DPR) suggesting to summon parties related to the killings instead of recommending a trial.

Jakarta – Indonesian defence minister Yuwono Sudarsono on Wednesday blamed loyalists of former president Suharto for formenting outbursts of bloody violence wracking several Indonesian provinces.

Jakarta – More than 150 people were killed and many more injured in Monday's attack by Muslims on Christians on the island of Halmahera in Indonesia's Maluku islands, a report said Wednesday, as the military expressed helplessness in the face of constant anarchy.

Jakarta – A group of some 50 students calling themselves the Inter-Campus Muslims Students Association (HAMAS) yesterday attacked the office of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), damaging Komnas HAM's board in front of the office.

Agence France Presse in Jakarta – Jakarta yesterday issued a fresh appeal to Switzerland to help recover cash that may have been stashed there by former president Suharto, suspected of embezzling billions from state coffers during his 32-year rule.

Harry Otten, Amsterdam – "The policy demanded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in exchange for loans leads to an increase in poverty.

Subsidies on electricity, education and public transport are being cut ... There's already 80 million Indonesian people living below the poverty line. IMF policy will push even more people below it."

Robert Go, Jakarta – Local governments have been warned not to abuse new regional autonomy laws or they risk losing both domestic and foreign investment, high-level central government officials have warned.

Jakarta – Communal violence in several parts of Indonesia has left over three quarters of a million internal refugees across the country, an official of the Population and People's Movement Administration Agency said Tuesday.

The recent escalation of fighting in Indonesia's Moluccan Islands has been blamed on the arrival of more than 2,000 fighters from the Lashkar Jihad.

Jakarta – The National Awakening Party (PKB) Faction in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) is proposing a compromise in the heated debate over communism by allowing such teachings in academic circles but not the growth of communist political parties.

Jakarta – The Indonesian government plans to develop two million hectares of new paddy fields outside Java to secure rice supplies for the nation's growing population.

Jose Manuel Tesoro, Jakarta – Ever since the beginning of the Asian financial crisis, a country's currency and its publicly traded stocks have been used by journalists the same way we use shorthand to record interviews – as quick and dirty ways to reflect complex realities.

Surabaya – Indonesian police have shot dead two farmers and wounded scores more in two days of clashes over land compensation claims in East Java province, police and witnesses said on Monday.

Jakarta – Lawyers of former Indonesian president Suharto have turned to the UN human rights commission in a bid to end his house arrest and weekly questioning, reports said Monday.

Vaudine England, Jakarta – "In Indonesia, silence often speaks louder than words ... You have a nation of silenced voices and muted expressions."

So writes John McGlynn, editor-in-chief of Jakarta's Lontar publishing foundation, in a collection launched last night of writings by former political prisoners, alleged communists and intellectuals.

Tom McCawley, Jakarta – Indonesia's military will keep operating many of its illegal businesses because the state budget is inadequate to fund a reform programme aimed at reducing the military's extensive influence.

Susan Sim, Jakarta – Mr Djohan Effendi's first thought when his long-time pal asked him to be his third State Secretary in eight months was instant despair.

"What sins have I committed to deserve this?" the Islamic scholar asked President Abdurrahman Wahid, who promptly burst into laughter.

Susan Sim – The People's Consultative Assembly session in August will be a breakpoint for the major political parties, who will also have to work out an inter-party relationship based on some national platform.

Indonesians have spoken out against their politicians in a newspaper survey. They say their leaders show little regard for the country's 200 million people and have not done enough to bring former president Suharto to justice.

Jakarta – Indonesia's once all-powerful military yesterday announced the replacement of 122 commanders and staff officers in a reshuffle aimed at modernising the forces.

Jakarta – In an apparent about face, Indonesia's top prosecutor said there had been contact but no negotiations between the family of former president Suharto and the government over a possible hand-over of any ill-gotten wealth, newspapers reported Saturday.

Jakarta – The prominent Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has been accused of being among those who are conspiring to topple President Abdurrahman Wahid.

Jakarta – Governor Sutiyoso questioned on Friday the effectiveness of the actions by the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), which recently raided a number of city nightspots.

Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Right (Komnas HAM) announced on Friday that it had found no evidence of intentional mass killings or burials in the 1984 Tanjung Priok bloody shootings in North Jakarta. The commission, led by chairman Djoko Soegianto, reported its final conclusion of the incident to the House of Representatives.

Jakarta – Indonesia's central bank on Friday temporarily eased lending limits for banks to encourage them to boost economic activity through increased loans.

Bank Indonesia deputy governor Subarjo Joyosumarto said in a statement rules covering capital adequacy ratio (CAR) limits and divestment of bank equity in heavily-indebted companies would also be relaxed.

Lindsay Murdoch, Jakarta – A group led by a former Australian foreign minister, Mr Gareth Evans, has warned of the possibility of a coup in the long-term in Indonesia if its enfeebled government fails to meet popular expectations.

Jakarta – Legislator Pande Nabanan doubts that the government will be able to solve the July 27, 1996, bloody takeover of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) headquarters.

He, instead, feared that the investigation into the case would meet the same fate as many other unresolved cases after they reach the hands of the Military Police (MP).

Robert Go, Jakarta – Indonesia needs to have a coherent strategy on economic reforms and make serious efforts in eradicating corruption if it wants international donors to keep funds flowing into the country, urged a top World Bank official yesterday.

Jakarta – University of Indonesia students gave President Abdurrahman Wahid and Attorney General Marzuki Darusman "Soeharto Awards" on Wednesday, for their eight-month performance.

SCTV private television station reported that Abdurrahman won two trophies: for failing to eradicate corruption and nepotism, and for maintaining the status quo.

Lindsay Murdoch, Jakarta – The Defence Minister, Mr Juwono Sudarsono, says there is a plot to destabilise Indonesia ahead of an August session of parliament at which some MPs are expected to challenge the presidency of Mr Abdurrahman Wahid.

After several months, Indonesia's military is re-emerging from the shadows. On June 13, the head of Indonesia's armed forces (TNI), Admiral Widodo Adisucipto, warned that the country was sliding further into chaos and that the government's first concern was to prevent the nation's disintegration.