Andi Saputra, Jakarta – Despite the drizzle, scores of domestic workers (PRT) remained indifferent to the falling rain and continued washing their bosses’ clothing. After being washed, it was then dried and ironed.

Jakarta – The political events of 1965 are estimated to have cost the lives of millions of people. Those accused of being members or sympathisers of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) were forcibly disappeared, incarcerated and jailed without judicial process. Many women also became victims.

Jakarta – A joint report by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial) and the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has found that the number of human rights violations have risen post-reformasi – the political reform process that began in 1998.

Indonesia’s much touted image of pluralism and religious tolerance – enshrined in the country’s coat-of-arms by the words Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) – has been left in tatters following Sunday’s fatal attack on an Ahmadiyah congregation in Cikeusik, Banten, the latest in a series vicious assaults on members of the Ahmadiy

Man: They say to be involved in politics you have to be like a rat, sniff things out first, then bite!

Kid: That’s right dad! It’s also what’s called a political rat! – a play on the word politikus: politik (politics) + tikus (rat) = politician.

Mahfiroh, Jakarta – Women’s activists including the Women’s Legal Aid Foundation (LBH APIK) and the Free Women National Network (JRPM) are supporting television host Luna Maya as a victims of the distribution of a private video containing sex scenes.

Jakarta – The government should be more serious about controlling the rising rate of inflation. If the situation continues, people’s purchasing power, especially fixed-income labor groups, will continue to decline and impact on national consumption levels.

1st Man: Be patient, I’m sure the extreme weather will soon pass...

2nd Man: What about extreme corruption and the judicial mafia, when will they pass?

Sleman – The first year and 100 days of the second term of the administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and Vice President Boediono was marked by a student protest in the Sleman regency of Yogyakarta Special Province on Friday January 28.

Man: We don’t get wage rises so we don’t feel the lack... nature provides an overflow of garbage!

Headline reads: Regional heads, 28 out of 33 provinces involved in corruption.

Yogyakarta – The special autonomy that has been in effect in Papua since 2001 is not working in accordance the hopes of the indigenous people there. There are still many infringements and even human rights violations.

Yogyakarta – Scores of demonstrators from the Student Struggle Center for National Liberation (Pembebasan) held an action in front of the Gajah Mada University traffic circle on Friday January 28 demanding that the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and Vice President Boediono resign because they have become loyal servants of

Yogyakarta – A group of Papuans in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta from the Anti-Colonial Movement (Ganja) held a protest action in the Jl. Malioboro area on Thursday January 27. During the action, they called to the Home Affairs Minister to fulfill the 11 recommendations made by the Papuan People’s Council (MRP).

Jerry Omona, Jayapura – Thousands of Papuan occupied the Papua People’s Council (MRP) offices in the provincial capital of Jayapura on Wednesday January 26 demanding that the government cancel the election of council members scheduled to take place on January 31.

Politician: Who says I’m lying

Rouge tax official Gayus Tambunan (right): I’m not lying...

Headline reads: Critics, lying to the public

Jakarta – The US Central Intelligence Agency very much dominated the initial consolidation of the New Order regime of former President Suharto. US international relations historian from Princeton University, Bradley R Simpson, says that the succession of laws enacted by President Suharto was drafted with strong influence from the US.

Man: These days it’s not “many children, much fortune” (a famous Indonesian saying), but lots of corruption, lots of money.

Andi Saputra, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) says that human rights violations in Papua are still high. These violations represent a threat to civil freedoms and discriminate against the Papuan people’s identity.

Jayapura – Three members of the Indonesian military (TNI) who are appearing as defendants in a case of torture against civilians in Papua have confessed to being guilty of their actions.

Fitraya Ramadhanny, Jakarta – The United States government iused the social networking media in Indonesia, from blogs, Facebook to Twitter, to spread its influence. Additional funds requested by the US Embassy in Jakarta reached US$100,000 or 900 million rupiah.