Jakarta – Young politicians are demanding a greater role for themselves in political parties to better represent their younger constituents.

Fabio Scarpello – The Reverend Socrates Sofyan Yoman is a soft-spoken man.

The Cultural Institute of the Papua People's Council or MRP in Indonesia says it fully supports the formation of Papua's first local political party, the Papua People's Awakening Party.

Max Lane – On April 9, East Timor will hold its second presidential election, which will be followed by parliamentary elections.

The central government has issued Government Regulation Number 20/2007 on Local Political Parties in Aceh. The decision was announced at the State Palace yesterday.

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – The House of Representatives has approved a bill to overhaul the elections system, requiring the government to establish a new general elections commission

Prodita Sabarini, Jakarta – Political parties are revealing undemocratic tendencies in choosing their candidates for governor of Jakarta, with elites ending up having the final say, an

Dili – A fugitive East Timor rebel leader, who has eluded a manhunt by crack Australian troops, is at the centre of fears that unrest could mar the country's landmark presidential elect

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Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – A midtern survey on Indonesian voters' political preferences has signaled the possible return to center stage of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggl

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Political parties are at odds over new political bills proposed by the government ahead of the 2009 general elections, with minority parties warning of pol

Dili – Street violence and worries about renegade soldiers are disrupting preparations for next month's elections in East Timor – polls seen as crucial to the tiny nation's future – an

Peter Boyle – On March 4, hundreds of armed right-wing militia, calling themselves the Indonesian Anti-Communist Front (FAKI), attacked the East Java regional conference of the National

Rod McGuirk, Dili – East Timorese election authorities said Saturday that all eight candidates had been approved to contest this divided nation's presidential polls next month.

Banda Aceh – While waiting to officially declare the party, the Acehnese People's Party (PRA) – the first local political party in Aceh – is currently in process of establishing a party

Banda Aceh – Aguswandi BR and Thamrin Ananda have been elected by acclaim as the general chairperson and secretary general of the Acehnese People's Party for the next five year period.

Banda Aceh – Around 75 participants attending a conference of the Preparatory Committee for the Acehnese People's Party (KP-PRA) are being treated at the Zainoel Abidin Public Hospital

Nani Afrida, Banda Aceh – While a presidential decree on local political parties is still being worked out, Aceh's first-ever local party is being born this week.

Banda Aceh – The chairperson of the Preparatory Committee for the Acehnese People's Party (KP-PRA) is urging the government to immediately ratify the Draft Government Regulation on Loca

Jakarta – Scholars and analysts agreed during a discussion Friday that legislators and government officials needed to stop working solely for party interests and focus more on the needs

Radzie, Banda Aceh – The Preparatory Committee for the Acehnese People's Party (Komite Persiapan Partai Rakyat Aceh, KP-PRA) will hold its first congress between February 27 and March 2

Hamish McDonald – When nominations close at the end of this month for East Timor's April 9 presidential election, expect to see the start of a process aimed at shaking up the foundation

Jambi – Local police are investigating the disappearance of 69 poll booths that were being stored at Jelutung Sports Hall in Jambi city.

Jakarta – Political observers have suggested that the country needs direct and open general elections that allow people to choose their own candidates.

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Jakartans have seen floods before – the last major inundation was in 2002 – but they were surprised by the vast area of the city that was covered by water

M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta – The government is drafting a regulation that would likely shackle local political parties in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.

Mark Dodd and Nigel Wilson – East Timor's ruling Fretilin Party has threatened to withdraw from parliamentary elections unless they are held before the end of May, following confirmatio

Dili – An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 East Timorese have rallied to the governing party, Fretilin, at the country's second city, Baucau, about 122 kilometres east of Dili.

East Timor Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta said he would not run for the presidency later this year unless there were no other candidates.

Max Lane, Jakarta – Despite right-wing intimidation, the founding congress of the National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) successfully concluded on January 20.

Peter Boyle, Yogyakarta – Intimidation by armed right-wing thugs and police harassment failed to disperse the January 18-20 founding congress of Indonesia's new National Liberation Part

Max Lane, Jakarta – Around 200 pick-up trucks and cars comprised the long snake of a protest caravan making its way along Jakarta's main thoroughfare, Jalan Thamrin, after a rally outsi

Jakarta – While the next general elections are just two years away, political parties are still yet to agree on the minimum electoral threshold.

Yogyakarta – The founding congress of the National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) that took place on 18-20 January in Kaliurang, Yogyakarta, Central Java, succeeded in reaching a

Bagus Kurniawan, Sleman – The National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) Congress has been unable to start because the national police have failed to issue a permit.

Bagus Kurniawan, Sleman – The National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) plans to sue the national police for obstructing the issuance of a permit for their congress.

Bagus Kurniawan, Yogyakarta – The Yogyakarta Anti-Communist Front (FAKI) has made good their threat to 'attack en masse' the National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) Congress sayin

A rally was held in Jakarta earlier this week to denounce the administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Bagus Kurniawan, Yogyakarta – Confronted by the threat of being broken up by the Anti-Communist Front (FAKI), the Congress of the National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) is truly

Mustaqim Adamrah and Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Newly formed Hanura Party has warned major political parties against blocking minority parties from contesting the 2009 general electi

Bagus Kurniawan, Yogyakarta – Threats and intimidation still find fertile ground in Indonesia.

Max Lane, Jakarta – Almost nine years since the fall of the dictator Suharto, one word continues to dominate discussions of the widespread social discontent in Indonesia: "fragmentation

Mark Dodd – East Timorese President Xanana Gusmao will not recontest presidential elections scheduled for April but is expected to run for parliament.

Jakarta – The National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) has proposed five figures that would be suitable to be nominated as presidential candidates in the 2009 elections.

Jakarta – Indonesia's transition toward democratic consolidation lacks key reforming elements required for success, said chairman of the Institute for Review of Democracy and Welfare, F

Wasti Atmodjo, Sanur – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) concluded its congress here Tuesday by releasing a final evaluation of the government's performance.

Jakarta – The Islamic Reform Star Party officially dismissed House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Zaenal Ma'arif for polygamy Monday evening.

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Denpasar – The number of political parties running candidates in the 2009 general election should be slashed so as not to confuse voters, a politician said Sunday.

Endy M. Bayuni, Jakarta – The people of Aceh have spoken.