Specialty media have recently reported that China "has sought to take better advantage of the strategic value" of East Timor, "especially bearing in mind the prevalent regional and inte

The Singapore Embassy in Jakarta on Monday clarified that, contrary to recent reports, the Singaporean government had already signed an extradition treaty with Indonesia and that this t

Tom Allard, Jakarta, and Richard Willingham – The live cattle trade to Indonesia will be dramatically restricted under a plan being considered by the Australian and Indonesian governmen

Linda YulismanJ, Jakarta – Indonesia's trade surplus fell further in April as imports reached an all-time high during April thanks to the appreciation of the rupiah against the US dolla

Constitutional Court Chief Justice Mahfud M.D.

Tom Allard in Tangerang, Banten – The ban on sending Australian cattle to just 11 Indonesian abattoirs is bound to fail and a far stricter regime is required to lift standards of animal

Canberra – Australia suspended live cattle exports to 11 Indonesian abattoirs on Tuesday and announced a review into the A$320 million ($342 million) trade after graphic footage was bro

Barry Wain – Government officials, analysts and academics continue to debate the merits of admitting Timor Leste this year to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, seemingly unawa

Megawati Wijaya, Singapore – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will weigh this week in Jakarta whether to bring East Timor, also known as Timor Leste, into the 10-membe

Lynn Lee – Indonesia is backing Timor Leste's bid to join Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) because excluding it would be "economically unnatural" and "politically destabil

Brian Padden – Indonesia's unreserved support for East Timor's membership to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations reinforces the growing ties between two countries that were on op

Francezka Nangoy – Beef may become increasingly scarce next month as the government rushes its efforts to reach self-sufficiency, the Indonesian Meat Importers Association said on Tuesd

Mustaqim Adamrah, Jakarta – The government has said that Indonesia would support Timor Leste's full membership in ASEAN – despite opposition from other countries.

Jakarta, Indonesia – East Timor has applied for a membership in the Association of Southeast Asia Nations. Its application was submitted Friday by East Timor's foreign minister.

Tom Allard, Jakarta – It is a ubiquitous sight, and sound, across the cities and villages of Indonesia: the bakso vendor tapping a steady rhythm on a large steel pot, quite literally dr

Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono voiced support Thursday for East Timor's bid to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, his spokesman said.

Mark Dodd – East Timor's defence chief has blasted Australia for its tardy response in helping the half-island state develop a patrol boat fleet to tackle people-smuggling.

East Timor is seeking to become the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono conveyed his government's full support for Timor Leste's intention to join the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year, l

Singapore – East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta said Wednesday it would be symbolic if his fledgling country gained ASEAN membership next year when former occupier Indonesia takes ove

Armando Siahaan, Jakarta – Israel and Taiwan on Monday became the only two countries with no diplomatic links with Indonesia, after the government and House of Representatives agreed on

Nivell Rayda, Jakarta – A court in The Hague on Tuesday rejected a motion filed by the South Maluku Republic seeking the arrest of former Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda dur

Anita Rachman & Mark Moloney, Jakarta – It has become the handshake seen and discussed around the world.

Jakarta – The Indonesian media and blogosphere continued on Thursday a campaign of condemnation against a conservative Muslim minister Tifatul Sembiring who expressed embarrassment abou

Mark Moloney, Jakarta – Ridiculing Indonesian Communications Minister Tifatul Sembiring has gone global with international television and online news portals taking turns to poke fun at

Tifatul Sembiring, the controversial and conservative minister of Communications and Information Technology, has found himself at the center of a media and Twitter maelstrom for shaking

Anita Rachman, Jakarta – For Deni Gustianto, 23, taking part in Tuesday's rally to protest the visit of US President Barack Obama was a no-brainer.

Jakarta – Several moments before the arrival of US President Barack Obama in Jakarta on the afternoon of Wednesday November 10, thousands of workers held a protest action demanding the

Tom Allard, Jakarta – The US President, Barack Obama, has praised Indonesia's transition from dictatorship to democracy and identified it as a "critical leader" in the region and on the

Jakarta, Indonesia – A conservative Muslim government minister admits he shook hands with first lady Michelle Obama in welcoming her to Indonesia but says it wasn't his choice.

Moksa Hutasoit, Jakarta – At least 30 people from the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) demonstrated in Jakarta on Tuesday November 9 demanding that the PT Freeport Indonesia mine in Papua

Alie Usman, Jakarta – Scores of Papuan students from the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) have again protested against the visit by US President Barrack Obama who is scheduled to arrive th

Jayapura – Three activists were arrested for staging a demonstration demanding to meet visiting US President Barrack Obama to convey their aspirations.

Jakarta – Indonesia and Australia will start negotiating a new economic partnership agreement aimed at liberalizing bilateral trade and boosting investment, the leaders of the two count

Jakarta – With 3,000 candidates vying for just 164 positions at the Indonesian Ministry of Trade, answering as many of the questions on the recruitment test correctly was always going t

Jayapura – US ambassador to Indonesia Scot Marciel reiterated his country's full support for Papua as part of the integrated nation of the Republic of Indonesia and for the implementati

Serious concerns have been raised in the United States about the treatment of West Papuans under Indonesian rule.

Shaun Tandon, Washington – The United States and Indonesia have pledged to expand co-operation to a global scale, saying they can play supporting roles on hot-button issues from the rol

Indonesia has welcomed Kevin Rudd's appointment as Australia's new foreign minister, saying the bilateral relationship will benefit from his knowledge and experience of the Asia-Pacific

Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – Condemnation greeted the President's "feeble" speech on mounting tensions between Indonesia and Malaysia, while a major party in the ruling coalition dropped pl

Peter Alford – Australia remains East Timor's key strategic partner, says its Foreign Minister, Zacarias da Costa.

Simon Roughneen, Bangkok – Burma Foreign Minister Nyan Win concluded a three-day goodwill visit to Timor Leste on Sunday, after being met by protestors at Dili's international airport o

East Timor has taken exception to comments by Prime Minister Julia Gillard on the development of a gas field in the Timor Sea.

Dili – Human rights activists clashed with police in East Timor on Friday as they protested the visit of Myanmar's foreign minister and demanded the release of Myanmar opposition leader

Dili – East Timor's president said Friday his country is seeking to improve relations with Myanmar, including commercial ties.

Dili – East Timorese Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao on Friday welcomed new Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and thanked ousted leader Kevin Rudd for his "steadfast support".

A military operation is taking place in the Puncak Jaya region of West Papua.

Jakarta – A leader of the Free Papua movement, Nicolas Jouwe, has become an Indonesian citizen after living in exile in the Netherlands for 50 years.

Armando Siahaan – A violent tribal conflict between two groups in Kwamki Lama, a village in Mimika district in Papua, erupted again on Thursday, leaving three police officers injured a

An Australian Parliamentary delegation is visiting Indonesia (from 11 to 16 April) as part of regular official exchanges to strengthen links and engagement between the two parliaments.