Saturday, May 31, 2008
51 Parties Pass Verification Tests to 2009 Elections
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Some 51 political parties have passed verification tests to join next year’s general election, General Election Commission (KPU) chairman Hafiz Anshari said here on Saturday.

Indonesia, Australia Strengthens Education Partnership
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer is pleased to open The University of Melbourne Open Day in Jakarta on Saturday, May 31, an embassy media release said.

Amien Rais to Use Intuition in Facing 2009 Presidential Election
Bandarlampung (ANTARA News) - Former Presidential Candidate Amien Rais said he himself had to use his intuition in taking a decision on whether he would run for presidency or not in next year’s general elections.

Friday, May 30, 2008
State Enterprises’ Overseas Investments Reach US$ 2.2 Billion per Year
Jakarta - Indonesian state-owned enterprises have invested some 2.2 billion US dollars abroad each year, the Indonesian Agency for Outbound Investment Development (InaGoInvest) said in Jakarta on Thursday.

Government to Open Bidding on Oil, Gas Blocks
The government will hold a bidding round for 25 new oil and gas blocks next month and expects to offer 25 more in October, said an official at the closing of the 32nd Indonesia Petroleum Association convention on Thursday.

Economy to Weather Fuel Price Hikes: IMF
The economy will remain stable throughout the year with strong investment and exports set to compensate for a slight dip in private consumption despite increases in fuel prices, the International Monetary Fund says.

BI in Principle Agrees on Bank Niaga, Bank Lippo Merger
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Bank Indonesia (the central bank/BI) has issued an in-principle permit to Bank Niaga and Bank Lippo to merge their businesses.

WB Warns Jakarta of Tidal Floods
Tidal flooding will hit northern parts of Jakarta next week as the sea level will rise by up to 1.21 meters, World Bank infrastructure division head Hongjoo Hahm says.

RI First Lady Awarded UN Environment Award
First Lady Kristiani Herrawati Bambang Yudhoyono was awarded a United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) award for her efforts in encouraging Indonesian women to plant 1 million trees simultaneously across the country.

Indonesia Sends Medical Team to China’s Gansu Province
Beijing (ANTARA News) - A 20-strong Indonesian medical team was on Thursday sent to Lanzhao in China`s Gansu province to help local people injured in earthquakes that hit the region recently, an Indonesian embassy official said.

Thursday, May 29, 2008
Indonesia Deplores Extension of Aung San Suu Kyi`s House Arrest
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda deplores the Myanmar’s military junta’s decision to extend the house arrest of their country’s pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, a foreign ministry spokesman said.

Indonesia to Save US$2 Millions if it Quits OPEC
Jakarta (ANTARA nEWS) - Indonesia wILL be able to save US$2 million as of 2009 if it quits the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), a minister said.

Indonesia Fuel Price Hike Necessary to Curb Poverty, Says Minister
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government's decision to hike the price of fuel by around 30 percent last week was necessary to tackle poverty and inflation, a minister said Thursday.

The PKB's Unfinished Business: Changing the Nation
The National Awakening Party (PKB) was recently shaken by an internal dispute after chairman of the party's executive body, Muhaimin Iskandar, was dismissed from his position, first in a vote at the party's leadership meeting and then at its extraordinary congress. The PKB faction led by Muhaimin also held an extraordinary congress maintaining his leadership. Secretary-general of the other PKB faction, Zannuba "Yenny" Arifah Chafsoh Rahman Wahid, accompanied by newly appointed chairman Ali Masykur Musa and a number of party executives, met with The Jakarta Post on Tuesday to discuss the party's situation and its preparations for next year's general elections.

Policy to Put TNI Out of Business is on the Way
A policy to guide the government in taking over military businesses will be completed by September, according to the national team responsible for the report.

Kalla Stands a Slim Chance in 2009 General Election: Survey
The odds that Vice President Jusuf Kalla will be elected president or vice president at next year's general election are slim, a research survey says.

SBY Spokesman Denies Possible Increase in the Number of Poor People
Presidential spokesman Andi Malarangeng on Thursday refuted a survey that states the number of low-income residents will significantly increase as a result of the recent domestic fuel prices increase.

Aceh Inviting Investors to Develop its Geothermal Potentials
Banda Aceh (ANTARA News) - The Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) provincial administration is inviting investors to develop geothermal energy in Sabang and Aceh Besar districts to overcome an energy crisis in the province, a local energy affairs official said.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Western Timor Sea Holds Large Gas Deposit: Survey
The western part of the Timor Sea in East Nusa Tenggara province holds a huge gas deposit of up to 10 trillion cubic feet (TCF), an activist for Timor issues said Wednesday.

U.S. Army, TNI, West Sumatra to Hold Tsunami Response Drill
The West Sumatra provincial administration will hold a tsunami response drill in cooperation with the U.S. Army and the Indonesian Military (TNI), an official said Wednesday.

Study Finds Indonesia ‘Mud Volcano’ Collapsing
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - An Indonesian "mud volcano" that has oozed sludge for two years is collapsing under its own weight, worsening an environmental disaster that has displaced thousands, a study said Wednesday.

Let Muslims Solve Ahmadiyah: Minister
JAKARTA: Religious Affairs Minister Muhammad Maftuh Basyuni has called on non-Muslims to stay out of the issue of Jamaah Ahmadiyah in order not to complicate the matter further.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008
U.S. Embassy: Security Climate in Indonesia no Longer Warrants Travel Warning
Jakarta - The U.S. Department of State has lifted its Travel Warning for Indonesia after determining the security climate in the country no longer warrants such a warning, according to information on the website of the US embassy in Jakarta.

President: Investment Must not Harm Nation’s Long-term Interests
Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said investment in Indonesia should not merely prioritize short- term interests that could harm the nation's long-term interests.

RI Offers Investment Projects in Regions
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono kicked off an Indonesian investment forum on Monday, seeking billions of dollars in foreign direct investment (FDI) to the country's regions to spur economic growth and job creation.

Fuel Protests Won't Affect SBY Popularity, Say Observers
The quick disbursement of cash aid to lower income families has tempered protests after the government raised fuel prices, helping President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono avoid political fallout from the controversial decision, observers say.

Monday, May 26, 2008
RI Seeks More Representative UNSC
Indonesia's Ambassador to the United Nations, Marty Natalegawa, got his first glimpse of the UN Security Council (UNSC) when Indonesia was elected as a non-permanent member for 1996-1997. At the time he was working at the country's permanent mission to the UN in New York. On the sidelines of a meeting of the UN decolonization body in his hometown of Bandung, West Java, recently, Marty sat down with The Jakarta Post's Tony Hotland to share his views on how the UN Security Council has changed in the last decade.

RI Economy More Resilient than Expected, Says IMF
The International Monetary Fund says Indonesia's economy has performed above expectations in weathering pressure from soaring global oil prices and a weakening U.S. economy.

RI Welcomes Suleiman’s Election as Lebanon’s New President
Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has welcomed General Michel Suleiman's election as Lebanon's new president on Sunday and hopes stability and security in the Middle-Eastern country will improve significantly, his spokesman said.

President: Leadership is About Making Right Decisions in Difficult Situations
Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said leadership was not about finding easy ways out but about taking right decisions in difficult situations.

Friday, May 23, 2008
Government Announces Fuel Oil Price Increase
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro announced here Friday evening an increase in fuel oil prices starting on midnight today.

Indonesia Morally Obliged to Assist Myanmar: Monk Activists
As one of the world’s largest democracies, Indonesia should step up its role in alleviating Myanmar’s humanitarian crisis, Myanmar activists told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

Minister Reminds WHA of Promise to Create Fair Virus Sharing Mechanism
London - Indonesian Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari reminded the 61st World Health Assembly (WHA) of the promise made at the 60th WHA and IGM-PIP )Inter-Governmental Meeting on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness) last year in Geneva that there would be a fair, transparent and equitable mechanism to share the virus and benefits.

Disputed Cash Aid Scheme Set to Roll
The President is set to raise fuel prices after being assured a cash transfer program has been arranged to offset the policy's impacts on low-income families, several ministers say.

Senior Government Officials Told to Tighten Belts
No more first class flights and four-star hotel services for upper echelon employees of the Finance Ministry, says a ministry official.

Government Awards 5 Oil and Gas Blocks to Bid Winners
The government Friday awarded five oil and gas blocks, including the highly potential Kasuri Block in Papua, to five winning bidders.

Duration of High Inflation Due to Fuel Price Hikes Can be Cut: BI
Jakarta - Senior Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia (BI, the central bank) Miranda S. Goeltom said she strongly believed the expected high inflation rate due to the increase in fuel oil prices can last for a shorter period than that in 2005.

Thursday, May 22, 2008
Europe Admires Democratic Dynamism in Indonesia
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - House Speaker Agung Laksono said Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom was one of the European leaders who admired the democratic dynamism in Indonesia.

IRIF 2008 to Offer 200 Projects Worth US$19 Billion
Jakarta - The Indonesian Regional Investment Forum (IRIF) will offer some 200 projects worth US$19 billion to foreign investors in the oil and gas, mining, agribusiness, infrastructure and tourism sectors, a spokesman said.

New Indonesian Central Bank Governor Budiono Sworn In
Jakarta (ANTARA News/Thomson Financial) - Outgoing Indonesian senior economic minister Budiono was sworn in Thursday by the Supreme Court as the new central bank governor.

Yudhoyono, Jusuf Kalla Risk Their Political Careers by Raising Fuel Prices
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Communications and Informatics Minister Muhammad Nuh said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla have risked their political careers for the sake of the people by increasing fuel oil prices.

Indonesian Consumer Inflation Heading to Above 10 Percent in May - Government
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia's annual inflation rate is seen heading to above 10 percent in May after prices of goods such as rice increased ahead of the government's plan to raise prices of subsidized fuel products, a government official said on Thursday.

Government Holds to Planned Fuel Price Increases
Despite protests nationwide, the government will continue with its plan to increase fuel prices by an average 28.7 percent, a ministry official says.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Reform Agenda not Implemented Smoothly in Past Four Years: Amien Rais
Yogyakarta (ANTARA News) - Former People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) chairman Amien Rais said the agenda of the reform movement launched 10 years ago to strengthen the state and nation in the social, economic, political, legal, educational fields, had during the past four years not been implemented smoothly.

Monday, May 19, 2008
Government Urged Special Audits on Foreign Debt Management
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A non-governmental organization urged the government to conduct special audits on the management of Indonesia’s foreign debt in order to ascertain its effectiveness from the viewpoint of the government as its user and the creditors` responsibility.

RI to Send Full Medical Team and Logistical Aid to China
Head of the health ministry's crisis management center, Rustam S. Pakaya, said Monday Indonesia would send a 62-member medical and military team to help quake victims in Shincuan province, China.

People's Consultative Speaker does not Support Government's Plan to Raise Fuel Oil Prices
The speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Hidayat Nurwahid, said he did not support the government's plan to raise fuel oil prices because it would burden most of the people.

Indonesian Investment Chief Defends Temasek Ruling
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia's investment agency chief on Monday rejected suggestions that a court ruling against Singapore's Temasek Holdings for alleged breach of anti-monopoly laws would deter foreign investors.

KPK to Closely Monitor Cash Aid Distribution
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said Monday it would closely monitor the disbursement of the Rp 14.1 trillion (US$1.55 billion) direct cash aid to 19.1 million low income households.

Saturday, May 17, 2008
RI to Hold National Interfaith Meeting
In commemorating the 100th anniversary of National Awakening Day, Indonesia’s five major religious councils will organize a major meeting to draft recommendations on efforts to strengthen national unity.

Foreign Minister: Olympics and Tibet are not Intertwined
The 2008 Olympics and the Tibetan affair should be seen as two separate issues, the government said.

House, Government at Odds on Fuel Price Hike
Leaders of several major factions in the House of Representatives will confirm their opposition to the government's plan to increase fuel prices during a consultation meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Study Finds Widening Salary Gap in Indonesia
The gap in salaries between managers and clerics in Indonesia widened last year from 2006 in part because of a shortage in talent amid the country's growing economy, a global study says.

Friday, May 16, 2008
RI Competitiveness Ranking Moves Up
Indonesia has improved its position three notches up to 51st in the latest world competitiveness rankings, but remains far below other emerging economies in Southeast Asia.

Interfaith Leaders Should Fight 'Common Enemies'
Violence in the name of religion, poverty, injustice and corruption is the "common enemy" that should be fought to build global peace, the Asian Conference on Religions for Peace (ACRP) was told Thursday.

Economy Grows 6.28% in First Quarter
The economy grew by 6.28 percent in the first quarter of 2008 from the same period last year on robust growth in investment, exports and spending, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said Thursday.

Indonesian Democracy "Messy" 10 years After Suharto: Minister
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Ten years since the end of the Suharto dictatorship, Indonesian democracy remains a "noisy, messy and pesky" affair as it struggles to live up to expectations, the defense minister said Thursday.

Newmont Pays Rp41 billion in Q1 Royalties to Government
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT) has paid the Indonesian government Rp41 billion in quarter I (January-March 2008) royalties, PT NNT spokesman Kasan Mulyono said in his press statement here on Friday.

Thursday, May 15, 2008
Indonesian Government told to Play Effective Role in Helping Palestine
Depok, West Java (ANTARA News) - KH Hasyim Muzadi, leader of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU, Indonesia`s largest Muslims organization) has urged the government to step up its role in helping the Palestinian people who are now in dire needs of urgent international supports.

Gus Dur Satisfied About His US Visit
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Former president Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) said here Wednesday he was satisfied about his recent visit to the United States because he was able to convince US policy-makers about the need to promote interfaith dialogs.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008
RI’s First Lady Gets UN Award for Promoting Tree Planting Movement
New York (ANTARA News) - Indonesian First Lady Ani Yudhoyono got an award from the United Nations for promoting the planting of millions of trees in Indonesia as part of the Billion Tree Planting Campaign spearheaded by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Agro-forestry Center (ICRAF).

Government Goes All Out for Visit Indonesia Year
What do the Balinese do with deceased royals? How can you see a flower show without splashing out for a flight to Pasadena, California? Where can you test your athletic endurance in a triathlon?

Timor Sea Gas Block a 'Huge' Find
The Masela Timor Sea gas block in East Nusa Tenggara has potential reserves of 10 trillion cubic feet (tcf), the country's second's biggest after the Tangguh block in Papua, an official says.

Government Urged to Seek Share in Foreign Oil Companies` Windfall Profits
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government should ask for a share in the windfall profits multinational oil companies operating in Indonesia have gained from the continuing world crude price spiral, a national oil and gas industry spokesman said.

Security at Malacca Strait Much Better Now : TNI Chief
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Malacca Strait has become increasingly secure since the launching of joint patrols by the three littoral countries, namely Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia (Malsindo) in one of the world’s busiest sea lanes in July 2004, Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief General Djoko Santoso said.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008
RI Oil Production may Exceed 1 Million BPD at Year End
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia’s oil production could exceed one million barrels per day (bpd) at the end of this year, Head of the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulating Body (BP Migas), R Priyono, said.

U.S. Naval Ship Arrives in Jakarta on Goodwill Mission
The U.S. Seventh Fleet's command ship USS Blue Ridge arrived at Jakarta's Tanjung Priok Port on Monday on a goodwill mission and to boost U.S. and Indonesia defense relations.

ASEAN Sending Emergency Rapid Assessment Team to Myanmar
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is set to send an emergency rapid assessment team (ERAT) to cyclone-devastated Myanmar to assist the local government in overcoming the impact of the natural disaster.

Energy Company to Set Up Energy Conserve Teams
State power firm PT PLN has set up an energy conservation team to supervise and support the energy conservation efforts of individual buildings and houses.

Wrong response aggravates Asia food crisis: ADB Report
Manila (ANTARA News) - Asia's response to tightening global grain supplies has aggravated food price inflation and uncertainty, according to an Asian Development Bank report released here Friday.

Monday, May 12, 2008
SBY to Issue New Economic Package
The administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is slated to issue its last package of economic policies later this month to help expedite private investment and spur economic growth ahead of next year's elections.

Gus Dur Ready to Run for President in 2009
New York (ANTARA News) - Former president Abdurrahman Wahid, who is more popularly known as Gus Dur, said here on Sunday he was ready to run for president in the 2009 general election.

G-8 Labor Meeting Discusses Work-life Balance, Economic Disparity
Niigata, Japan (ANTARA News/Kyodo) - Senior labor officials from the Group of Eight nations began their second day of meetings on Monday in Niigata with the focus on issues such as ways to realize a better work-life balance and redress economic and regional disparities.

Yudhoyono Calls on Students to Remain Independent, Objective
Surabaya (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called on university students to remain independent and objective in conveying their aspirations to the government.

Aceh-Nias BRR to hand Assets Worth Rp500 billion to Nias District Government
Medan, W Java (ANTARA News) - The Aceh and Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (BRR) and eight donor agencies will hand reconstruction assets worth Rp500.367 billion to the Nias and South Nias district administrations in North Sumatra province and four central government institutions.

Saturday, May 10, 2008
Army’s preparedness for 2008 joint exercise reaches 90%
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Army Chief of Staff General Agustadi Sasongko Purnomo said that the preparedness of the Army for the military joint exercise code-named Yudha Siaga 2008, has reached 90 percent.

Friday, May 9, 2008
RI Calls on Myanmar to Focus on Disaster's Aftermath
Jakarta - The Indonesian government called on Myanmar which had plans to hold a referendum on Saturday but was hit by a cyclone last weekend, to focus on the handling of the disaster, a foreign ministry spokesman said.

Government Plans Scrapping Subsidies for Wealthy Households
The government plans to scrap electricity subsidies for middle and upper-income households to ease pressure on the state budget.

Indonesia Meets UN Ambassadors to Discuss Rome Meeting
New York - The Indonesian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Marty Natalegawa, held a meeting with ambassadors of other countries to the United Nations here on Wednesday.

Gates Offers Free Software to Indonesian Students
Microsoft founder Bill Gates said on Thursday he would help Indonesian students obtain free software and inexpensive personal computers to gain greater access to the Internet.

ArcelorMittal Offers $10B to RI
Largest steel maker ArcelorMittal has raised its investment cap for new operations in Indonesia to US$10 billion from $3 billion in a bid to outstrip other competitors in acquiring shares in state-owned Krakatau Steel, an official said.

Indonesia Losing US$16B per year by Natural Resources Theft
Magelang, Central Java (ANTARA) - Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said Indonesia’s natural resources which were stolen each year reached a total value of US$16 billion.

President Calls for Greater Joint Efforts to Fight Malaria
Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on all parties in the country to strive jointly to lower the incidence of malaria and the malaria-caused mortality rate.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Discourse: Indonesia Confident of Palestinian State: Minister
On Thursday, Israel celebrates its 60th anniversary while the prospect of a Palestinian state remains as uncertain as ever. The Jakarta Post's Tony Hotland interviewed Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda on Indonesia's role in a peace process Monday in Jakarta. Following are excerpts from the interview.

Fuel Price Hikes May Cause Unemployment Rate to Grow 16.92 pct per Year
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government’s plan to raise fuel oil prices by about 30 percent, if realized, may cause the unemployment rate in the country to grow by 16.92 percent a year, a research institute said.

Ahmadiyah 'Not Persecuted' by Government
The government has yet to announce a decision regarding a ban on the religious sect Ahmadiyah but said Wednesday it was working to protect the group from continued attacks.

Yudhoyono Sees no Political Blow in Raising Fuel Prices
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Wednesday he preferred to risk unpopularity by raising fuel prices than to leave the country's economy in jeopardy.

President Encourages People to Reduce Use of Cash Money
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono encouraged the people to make optimum use of information technology (IT) in banking and payment systems so as to reduce the use of cash money.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Insight: RI's Foreign Policy and the Meaning of ASEAN
It is an accepted wisdom that in international relations every nation pursues its own national interest. This notion is based on state sovereignty, the basis of relations between states since the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648.

Still the One: SBY the Favorite for Next Poll
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is still the most popular candidate for next year's presidential election, despite public dissatisfaction with his administration's economic record, a survey has found.

RI Offers $1m in Aid for Myanmar
Indonesia has joined the international community by donating aid worth US$1 million to Myanmar after a cyclone that swept through the country last weekend left more than 15,000 dead.

Peace Process in Aceh Encouraging: Finnish Ex-President
Banda Aceh - The peace process in Aceh based on the agreement signed by the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Helsinki almost three years ago is already running in a good and encouraging way, former Finnish President Martti Ahtasaari said here on Monday.

Indonesia Considers Quitting OPEC
Indonesia is considering temporarily quitting the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) amid a steady decline in the country's oil production, the President said Tuesday.

Reintegration of Former GAM Members into Society Remains Difficult: Ahtasaari
Banda Aceh (ANTARA News) - Although the peace process in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) province based on the Helsinki peace agreement between the government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) is generally running well, the reintegration of former GAM members into the local civilian society is not happening as smoothly as expected, former Aceh peace facilitator Martti Ahtasaari said.

Government Plans 'Limited' Increase in Fuel Prices
As burgeoning fuel subsidies overshadow the sustainability of the state budget, the government announced plans Monday to raise fuel prices to a level deemed 'affordable' by the public.

House Defense Commission Urges Government to Develop Defense Industry
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Member of the Defense Commission of the House of Representatives of the Democrats Party faction Marcus Silano, on behalf his colleagues, urged the government to constantly develop the defense industry.

Domestic Inflation Estimated to be Down in Second Quarter of 2008
Jakarta - President Director of PT Danareksa Investment Management Priyo Santoso has estimated that the country's inflation rate, which currently tended to increase, would be down in the 2008 second quarter thanks to improving US economic indicators.

Monday, May 5, 2008
Indonesia to Cut Fuel Subsidies to Balance Budget
Indonesia will soon raise fuel prices by up to 30 percent to avoid a budget blowout amid the soaring cost of oil on the global market, the government said Monday.

Chamber Asks BI not to Raise Key Rate
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) has expressed hope Bank Indonesia (the central bank/BI) will not raise its key rate this month although the on-month inflation rate in April was 0.57 percent and the on-year inflation rate 8.96 percent.

RI, Malaysia to Accelerate Implementation of Government Leaders` Commitments
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirajuda and his new Malaysian counterpart, Datuk Seri Utama Rais Yatim, have agreed to speed up the implementation of commitments made by the two countries` leaders at their consultative meeting in Malaysia early this year.

Religious Strife Erodes RI Image, Say Experts
Recent issues of domestic religious freedom have damaged Indonesia's global reputation as a nation of religious tolerance, experts say.

Indonesian Terror Suspect Paraded in front of Cameras as Sign of War on Terrorism Success
Indonesia paraded a suspected militant with links to Asia's most wanted man in front of the media Monday in an apparent attempt to trumpet the country's successes in the war on terrorism.

Friday, May 2, 2008
Asian Interfaith Leaders to Meet in Jakarta
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Interfaith leaders from Asian countries will meet in Jakarta on May 14 - 17, 2008 to discuss main issues that will be brought to the Asian Conference on Religions for Peace (ACRP), the organizers said.

Aceh More Peaceful, US Envoy Says
Banda Aceh (ANTARA News) - Conditions in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) province have begun to become more peaceful now, almost three years after the government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) signed their peace agreement in Helsinki, Finland, US Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron R Hume said here on Friday.

Soaring Inflation May Shave Growth
Consumer prices rose to a 19-month high in April, sending jitters over possible sluggish growth in the economy as the central bank is left with less room to cut interest rates to spur economic activities.

Government Denies Plan to Raise Fuel Prices
State Minister for National Development Planning Paskah Suzetta has denied media reports the government is planning to raise fuel prices in June.

Mily, Anti-graft Body to Cooperate in Fighting Corruption
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Headquarters of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have agreed to cooperate in cracking down on corruption in the country.

Government Can’t Drop Ahmadiyah Ban: VP
Despite mounting pressure, the government cannot simply cancel a joint ministerial decree to outlaw the “heretic” Islamic sect Jamaah Ahmadiyah, the Vice President said Friday.

Government to Buy Copyrights on 250 School Text-book Titles
Bogor (ANTARA News) - The government will in 2008 buy the copyrights on 250 text-book titles recommended in elementary and high-school education packages from their writers and publishers in order to make the books available to students at lower prices, National Education Minister Bambang Sudibyo said.

Thursday, May 1, 2008
President Asks Entire People to Economize on Energy Consumption
Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked all government officials and the people to economize on their energy consumption in facing soaring world crude prices which burdens the state budget.

Indonesia Stresses on Every Country’s Rights to Develop Nuclear Energy
London (ANTARA News) - Indonesia has highlighted the rights of every country to develop nuclear energy, but expressed their high concern over a slow process of the nuclear disarmament by countries which have modernized their nuclear fleet.

NAM Calls for Nuclear Disarmament
London (ANTARA News) - Indonesia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) called for the disarmament of nuclear weapons as the only guaranty to prevent the danger posed by nuclear weapons to the survival of human beings.