Shinta Shinaga, Jakarta – Although indistinct and only in the background, [former President] Suharto is appearing in a television advertisement by the National Functional Party of Concern (PKPB).

Fedhly Averouss Bey, Jakarta – The names of six popular presidential candidates have been included in a list of rotten politicians by the University (UI) of Indonesia Student Executive Council (BEM).

Yuswardi A. Suud, Banda Aceh – The Aceh emergency military command (PDMD) will prohibit foreign observers from monitoring the elections in locations which are categorised as hot spots (black zones) – areas classified as being a significant security risk.

Jakarta – In order get a message across to the public who will soon be under a new administration, around 20 children between 7 and 12 years of age from Cijeruk, Tapos and the Bogor Regency, participated in a demonstration commemorating International Women’s Day 2004 in Jakarta on Monday March 8.

Jakarta, Kompas – General elections in Aceh will be held under a state of marshal law and hundreds of foreign observers will monitor the elections in Aceh.

Jafar G. Bua, Palu – International Women’s Day was also commemorated in Palu. Interestingly, women in Palu protested against the marriage law and the issue of polygamy.

Danang Sangga Buwana, Jakarta – Monday March 8 is International Women’s Day (IWD), and a number of groups from the pro-democracy movement held actions to commemorate the day.

Budi Hartadi, Surabaya – International Women’s Day (IWD) was also commemorated in Surabaya, East Java. Around 100 students from the Poor People’s Front for Struggle demonstrated in front of the governor’s offices at the Grahadi State Building on Jalan Gubernur Suryo on Monday March 8.

Bagus Kurniawan, Yogyakarta – In commemorating International Women’s day which fell on Monday March 8, women from a number of different groups in Yogyakarta accused the political parties participating in the elections of not fighting for the rights of women. They also rejected discrimination and violence against women in Aceh and West Papua.

Triyono Wahyu Sudibyo, Semarang – Scores of women’s activists have demanded that the quota of women representatives in the National Election Commissions list of legislative candidates be raised to 50 per cent. They consider that the current 30 per cent quota has not been effective.