Jakarta – The national banking industry appears to be controlled by foreign interests. The proportion of foreign ownership has steadily risen to almost half of the total capacity of the banking industry.

Laurencius Simanjuntak, Jakarta – In the lead up to the 2009 general elections many legislative candidates are using advertisements in the mass media to campaign for themselves. Some however are only being polished up by the media without informing the public about what they have done for the nation and state.

Laurencius Simanjuntak, Jakarta – It appears that fasting is not deterring some people from taking to the streets to voice their protests. The evidence being that four demonstrations will take place in Jakarta on the first day of the Ramadan fasting month.

Hadi Santoso, Jakarta – The retreat of key cadres to other parties has left the Labour Party overwhelmed in its attempts to compose a list of legislative candidates.

Ramadhian Fadillah, Jakarta – ExxonMobil is to be taken to court for allegedly supporting human rights violations by the Indonesian military (TNI) in Aceh.

E. Mei/Amelia. R, Jakarta – At least four protest actions will strike the capital city today and motorists are advised to be on the lookout for areas that could potentially become congested.

Riky Ferdinanto, Jakarta – There have been many incidences of violence against journalists over the last year. “The perpetrators of violence have generally been [the participants of] mass actions”, said Eko Maryadi, the coordinator of the Alliance of Independent Journalist’s (AJI) advocacy division.

Marcellus Hernowo – As well as celebrities and family members of core political party leaders, the provisional list of legislative candidates that will take part in the 2009 general elections also contains a number of 1998 student movement activists.

Didi Syafirdi, Jakarta – Around 20 West Papuans from the United West Papua Popular Struggle Front (Pepera) held an action at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout in Central Jakarta on Friday August 22.

Abdi Purmono, Pasuruan – The sentences handed down by the III-12 Surabaya Military Court against 13 marines who were charged over the shooting of Alastlogo village residents in the Lekok sub-district of Pasuruan, East Java, has deeply disappointed local people.

Sofian, Jakarta – Around 10 protest actions will enliven the atmosphere of Jakarta today, Thursday August 14.

Based on information from the Metro Jaya regional police Traffic Management Centre, the first action will take place at 8am at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout on Jl. MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta.

Muh Syaifullah, Yogyakarta – The Yogyakarta District Attorney General’s Office has seized 213 books titled The Annihilation of Ethnic Melanesians: Breaking the Silence on the History of Violence in West Papua, published by PT Galang Press.

During the era of Suharto’s New Order regime, People’s Democratic Party (PRD) activists were very popular. The socialist based organisation was known as a group of young people who resisted Suharto. During the era of reformasi however, they have been unable to find a place for themselves and remain unpopular.

Fery Firmansyah, Jakarta – Six protest actions are scheduled to inundate the main streets of the capital today, Thursday August 7. In order not to be caught in traffic, road users are advised to avoid sections of road that will be used by protesters.

Laurencius Simanjuntak, Jakarta – Actions by residents articulating their aspirations will compliment the hustle and bustle of Jakarta and nearby Tangerang today, Tuesday August 5.

According to data from the Metro Jaya regional police Traffic Management Centre, five protest actions will be held in Jakarta and one in Tangerang.

Jakarta – The Star Reform Party or PBR has signed a Minimum Commitment with the Indonesian Poor People’s Union (SRMI), which will be used to bind the PBR into struggling for the people’s interests if they win the 2009 general elections.

Djoko Tjiptono, Jakarta – Scores of student from the Student Action Front for Reform and Democracy (Famred) have again taken to the streets to demand the government nationalise foreign-owned oil and gas companies.

Jakarta – The chairperson of the National Liberation Party of Unity’s (Papernas) advisory board, Dita Indah Sari, has decided to run as a legislative candidate under the Islamic based Star Reform Party (PBR).

Laurencius Simanjuntak, Jakarta – Around 70 housewives went to the Star Reform Party (PBR) offices on Jl. Abdullah Syafei in Tebet, South Jakarta today to challenge PBR general chairperson Burzah Zarnubi to sign a social contract supporting the poor.

Laurencius Simanjuntak, Jakarta – It appears that the phenomena of ‘changing cloths’ is becoming commonplace in the lead up to the 2009 general elections.