SP/Carlos Paath – Youth of all religions and ethnicities gathered in Manado on Saturday ahead of Youth Pledge Day, which marks its 84th anniversary today.

Bagus BT Saragih and Margareth S.

Yatna Pelangi – Marking Indonesia's 67th anniversary of independence, members of the transsexual, gay and lesbian community held an Independence Day commemoration in Ndalem Notoprajan i

Jakarta – The Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (FITRA) has criticized the State Palace for its lavish spending on the Independence Day celebrations scheduled for Friday.

Yuli Tri Suwarni and Andi Hajramurni, Bandung/Makassar – The commemoration of Indonesia's 66th Independence Day on Wednesday was solemnly marked with various activities, ranging from se

Anita Rachman – Judging from the many seats left empty at the House of Representatives on Tuesday, not all lawmakers thought the plenary session to hear the president's state-of-the-nat

Jakarta – The presidential palace distributed Papua-themed souvenirs during the ceremony to commemorate Indonesia's 66th Independence Day on the palace's front lawn.

Arientha Primanita – Not all 66th Independence Day celebrations went as smoothly as the official event at the State Palace on Wednesday.

Dion Bisara & Anita Rachman – Lawmakers have accused the Indonesian president of being blind to today's reality especially in relation to issues of corruption and poverty.

Candra Malik & Nurfika Osman, Jakarta – East Java's deputy governor Syaifullah Yusuf expressed disappointment over the government's decision not to include the late President Abdurr

Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono bestowed the title of national hero and other honors on several deceased freedom fighters, artists and cultural activists who made significa

Jakarta – The Ministry of Social Affairs has denied that it has decided to declare former President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid a national hero.

Jakarta – Indonesia observed its 65th Independence Day solemnly on Tuesday marked with flag hoisting ceremonies, particularly at government offices, throughout the country.

Kinanti Pinta Karana – Despite the safety perils of traveling long distances on motorbikes, many people returning to their hometowns from Indonesia's big cities this weekend for the an

Fadli, Batam – The Riau Islands chapter of the Indonesia Ulema Council (MUI) has asked regencies and municipalities in the province to totally close entertainment centers, such as pubs,

Agnes Winarti, Jakarta – Those offering "laundry by the kilo" services are beaming over the plight of Jakartans inundated with dirty clothes and abandoned by their maids during Lebaran,

Presi Mandari, Jakarta – With their daughter perched at the front of the motorbike and their son squashed between them, Purwanto and his wife set off from Jakarta for the 15-hour overni

Jakarta – The global Buy Nothing Day event was marked again in the capital Sunday, with a number of young Jakartans playing leading roles in organizing it.

Medan/Bandung – With the end of the long holidays, Indonesia's cities are returning to normal. That means traffic, smog, and big queues for public services.

Dili – East Timorese celebrated a peaceful Christmas on Sunday as church and political leaders called on them to reject violence which earlier this year forced 15 percent of the populat

Slamet Susanto, Bantul – With Idul Fitri less than two weeks away and no money on hand, Yogyakarta earthquake victim Girah only has one option: pawning his old bicycle.

As ceremonies marked the National Police's 60th anniversary Saturday, Papuans observed the moment uniquely, holding a bakar batu, or "burning the stone" thanksgiving ritual.

Jakarta/Semarang/Medan/Surabaya/Jayapura/Cirebon – Student protests and record-breaking attempts highlighted the 60th anniversary of the nation's independence on Wednesday with the Neth

John Aglionby, Matang Peusangan – The several thousand people gathering in glorious sunshine on the main road in Matang Peusangan to celebrate Indonesia's independence day last Sunday w

Jakarta – Ethnic Chinese in Indonesia marked the start of the Lunar New Year amid new-found freedom to celebrate their most important festival but an activist said discrimination still

Robert Go, Jakarta – Less than four weeks after she became Indonesia's leader, Ms Megawati Sukarnoputri presided over an emotional Independence Day ceremony in front of what was the Dut

[The following is the state-of-the-nation address delivered by President Megawati Soekarnoputri before the House of Representatives on August 16, 2001 ahead of Independence Day.]

Vaudine England, Jakarta – Ramadan in Indonesia is a time for heightened tempers on the subject of sin, and this year it could mean a month of unemployment for everyone in the entertain

Jakarta – People across the country, including those in troubled areas, marked the 55th Independence Day on Thursday with solemn ceremonies and traditional games.

Iin Yumiyanti/Swastika & Lyndal Meehanm, Jakarta – As commemorations to mark the 55th anniversary of the declaration of independence on 17 August approach, groups of local people in

Dili, Tim Johnson – Timorese Tuesday celebrated East Timor's first free anniversary of Indonesia's invasion of the former Portuguese colony on December 7, 1975.

Jakarta – Independence Day was quiet in Dili, the capital of East Timor, where people preferred to attend the anniversary of the separatist group Falintil.

Slobodan Lekic, Jakarta – Indonesia's independence day was marred today by clashes between pro-democracy protesters and riot police in Jakarta, the strafing of East Timor's separatist m

Jakarta – Some 25,000 police will be deployed in the Indonesian capital to keep order during the Moslem Eid-el-Fitr holiday next week, a report said Thursday.

Jakarta – Violence marred New Year celebrations in at least four towns in the Indonesian province of West Java which saw looting and vandalism while revellers threw fireworks at passing

Jeremy Wagstaff, Jakarta – In his first Independence Day speech as president, B.J.