Mojokerto – Scores of activists from the Independent Indonesian National Front for Labour Struggle (FNBPI-Independent) held a protest action and distributed leaflets in front of the Mojokerto municipal government offices in East Java on Tuesday June 15.

Kid: After the reality shows on TV, the gang fights, the Century uproar, then terrorism, what’s next dad?

Man: Why do you care so much? What’s important is scratching out a living! Get it?

Elvan Dany Sutrisno, Jakarta – Twenty ‘black pearls’ formed an orderly line in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) Gelding Nusantara Building on October 20 demanding that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono fulfill his promise to improve the welfare of their country.

Jakarta – The National Statistics Agency (BPS) has announced that in comparison with the second quarter of 2008, in nominal terms the average wage of industrial workers in the third quarter of 2008 has declined by 8.74 percent. In real terms, the wages of industrial workers over the same period have declined by as much as 11.30 percent.

Top: Queuing for alms...

Bottom: Queuing for bribes!

21 women were killed on September 17 in a stampede during the distribution of alms to a crowd in Pasuruan. Scores of former and current lawmakers meanwhile have been linked with a massive bribery scandal involving the deliberation of a bill on the central bank.

Writing on wreath of flowers: Pasuruan Tragedy.

Basket on right: 20,000 rupiah note.

Jakarta – Indonesian people appear to be getting even richer. In the midst of a difficult situation it is precisely the wallets of a small handful of Indonesian’s that have become fatter.

Khairina – The narrow lane in Rawa Terate, Pulo Gadung, East Jakarta, was dirty and suffocating that afternoon. Less than half-a-meter wide, the lane was filled with housewives sitting around and gossiping, young children crying and a small herd of goats.

Jakarta, Kompas – Increases in the inflation rate is putting increasing pressure on workers’ real wages. Because of this therefore, the government must, as soon as possible, realise intervention programs that can indirectly improve workers’ welfare, such as the construction affordable housing for workers.

Yogyakarta – Street actions demanding a reduction in the price of basic commodities are commonplace. But the action held by the Poor Politic-Indonesian Student League for Democracy (LMND-PRM) at the post office intersection in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on the afternoon of Thursday February 14 was more interesting then usual.