The Constitutional Court's unanimous ruling last Thursday that Law No.

All of East Timor's fledgling dreams, and all of the threats to those dreams, are on display in The Australian today. First the good news.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has finally made up his mind to promote his long-time friend and a police officer with a good track record, Comr. Gen.

Christine Susanna Tjhin, Jakarta – Almost seven years after reform, the rule of law as one of the key pillars of democracy remains a fragile one.

Aguswandi, London – A young girl falls into a hole and enters a world of confusion and absurdity.

Nothing seems to have changed within our customs service.

In the past, journalists reporting on baffling cases had come to depend on the wisdom of rights activist Munir, who would discuss with them his suspicions or findings.

Indonesia is renowned as a nation with a long history rich in culture. That culture apparently has evolved to embrace corruption.

Tejo Pramono, Jakarta – The child malnutrition outbreak has now spread from West Nusa Tenggara, to West Sumatra, Lampung and now South East Sulawesi Provinces.

Irman G.

Aguswandi, London – Irresponsible statements from politicians in Jakarta is the last thing Acehnese need at this time, post-disaster.

That is, arguably, the most famous cellular phone number in the country – along with a few popular TV reality show and game show phone-in numbers, of course.

The babies could not wait – they died before our honorable legislators were able to complete their ongoing revision of the state budget, which would then determine the figures of "compe

John McBeth, Jakarta – Indonesia's elite have always preferred to bury unsavoury events, such as those from the bloody upheavals of the mid-1960s.

Paul Dalton and Fergus Kerrigan, Jakarta – Since 1998, foreign observers have followed with hope and concern the progress of Indonesia on its uneven path towards democracy, the rule of

It is easy to become increasingly pessimistic about the ability of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's economic team to continue economic reforms – especially when new evidence emerges

On Thursday, US President George W. Bush announced that Congress would extend the government's surveillance and law enforcement powers to track down potential terrorists.

Meidyatama Suryodiningrat, Jakarta – We frequently shake our heads in frustration at the misconduct and profiteering of public officials.

Fabio Scarpello, Jakarta – While negotiations between the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and Indonesian government officials in Helsinki, Finland, have given rise to a moderate optimism, figh

"I did this so that we would not be a nation of coolies and a coolie among nations" - Indonesia's founding President Sukarno

It is hard to get excited about suggested "breakthroughs" on resolving the conflict in Aceh. Promises have been broken and repeated initiatives have fallen by the wayside.

Dita Indah Sari, Jakarta – The debate over the pros and cons of the fuel price increase has begun to become dreary.

Wimar Witoelar, Jakarta – Time stood still for a moment on the morning of May 21, 1998. Millions of hearts skipped a beat upon hearing the announcement on television.

Anthony Paul – At first glance, the latest news from Aceh seems promising: On Wednesday, Jakarta lifted the state of emergency declared a year ago, when the army stepped up its campaign

Normalcy is a luxury for most Acehnese. Their province has practically been in a perpetual state of war for as long as most people can remember.

Kornelius Purba – My hands were clasped at waist level in a submissive, defensive posture, as one of Soeharto's most feared aides told me in a hotel in Cairo that Soeharto was very angr

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – The rampant programs on television depicting violence and sex begs a question: Are people in the TV industry equipped with any knowledge of ethics?

When Director General for Land Transportation Iskandar Abubakar launched the idea of having all private vehicles undergo a roadworthiness test in 2003, he was met with strong resistance

Otto Syamsuddin Ishak, Jakarta – Law enforcement is one of the Indonesian government's strategies for the settlement of the war in Aceh. Which law does the government seek to enforce?

Popular rock group Dewa has been reported to city police by a number of Muslim organizations led by the Islamic Defender Front (FPI) for using the Arabic script of Allah on the cover of

Aguswandi, London – Oppression is bad for a government's image, especially a government such as Indonesia that is still struggling to repair its reputation internationally.

We heard resolute words from Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Wednesday – that in three years, there should be no more elementary school buildings on the verge of collapse.

Imanuddin Razak, Jakarta – It's been seven months since rights activist Munir Said Thalib, popularly known as Munir, died of arsenic poisoning on a flight to the Netherlands, while the

Suadi Sulaiman Laweueng, the Free Aceh Movement's (GAM) spokesperson for the Pidie regency in north Aceh, spoke to Green Left Weekly's Jes Abek about the struggle in Aceh.

Aceh rebels fighting for the independence of Indonesia's northernmost province have told the Indonesian government in peace talks that they see Bougainville in Papua New Guinea as a mod

The first of many, or just one of the few. That is the question on many lips after the conviction of Abdullah Puteh on corruption charges.

Aguswandi, London – Do the Acehnese hate foreigners? Do they want the many foreign aid workers laboring to help them to leave their villages?

Endy M. Bayuni, Jakarta – The trouble with praise or accolades is that when you get too much, you get too high.

Some positive statements made by both sides ahead of the Aceh peace talks, which resume today, suggest a historic agreement may be in the making.

Imagine you are playing soccer, then at half-time the game is switched to rugby. How many of the team will run back on and try to play by the same old rules?

Paul Kingsnorth – Nona Kogoya was two years old when she died. She had been a normal, healthy young girl; but that was before the soldiers came.

Once upon a time in the not so distant past, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) bore the country's political hopes and dreams.

Jeffrey A.

Jeffrey A.

Jakarta – Life is not so sweet for a small cottage industry producing caramelized snacks in Kemanggisan Pulo, West Jakarta, since the fuel price hikes.

The House of Representatives finally came to its senses on Monday and reached a wise compromise that provides more leeway for deliberation of the contentious issue of fuel subsidies wit

Those acquainted with politics looked on in amusement. The majority of those who had held their representatives in something like reverence stared in bemusement.

The arguments made by several factions at the House of Representatives to support their stubborn demands for the total cancellation of the March 1 fuel price hikes not only miss the who

Every time the government raises domestic fuel prices closer to their real economic cost, businesspeople always raise a rumpus, urging the government to deal firmly with the old problem

Azas Tigor Nainggolan, Jakarta – On March 1 the government raised the prices of most fuel products despite many protests from the community.