Wicak Hidayat, Jakarta – The Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), an organisation banned in Indonesia, has again resurfaced. This time on Facebook.

Andi Saputra, Jakarta – In response to the recent banning of five books and moves by Justice and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar to examine 20 more for possible banning, 83 intellectuals and pro-democracy activists have rejected the banning of books by the government.

Anwar Khumaini, Jakarta – Newly appointed Deputy Minister of Defence Lieutenant General Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has already once been refused entry into the United States. He does not however feel there will be any difficulties in performing his duties in the superpower country.

Jakarta – A coalition of non-government organisations (NGOs) have expressed their opposition to the appointment of Lieutenant General Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin as Deputy Minister of Defense saying that he was involved in many cases of gross human rights crimes when he was an active member of the Indonesian military (TNI).

Jakarta – A existence of a human rights court and ad hoc human rights judges needs to be reexamined. Moreover ad hoc human rights judges are seen as excessive and consideration needs to be given to whether such ad hoc judges are in line with international justice.

Wisdom cannot be measured by how long one has lived...

Muhammad Taufiqqurahman, Jakarta – The Solidarity Action Committee for Munir (Kasum) sees 2009 as a year of gloom that failed to provide any clarity in the ongoing investigation of Munir’s murder.

Mega Putra Ratya, Jakarta – A number of protest actions will colour Jakarta today with at least nine demonstrations expected to inundate various parts of the capital. Watch out for traffic jams!

Nala Edwin, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) is urging the government to investigate the beating of Buchtar Tabuni, a prisoner at the Abepura jail near the Papuan provincial capital of Jayapura. The beating triggered a riot at the jail on November 26.

Jakarta – The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) no longer has any grounds to postpone submitting a judicial review on the release of former National Intelligence Agency (BIN) deputy chief Muchdi Purwopranjono in the murder case of human rights activists Munir.

While the rich and powerful trample over the legal system with impunity, the poor and those seeking redress for injustice, domestic violence and human rights abuses face a maze of corruption, legal discrimination and bureaucratic hurdles.

Anwar Khumaini, Jakarta – The wife of the late human rights defender Munir, has lamented the application of the law in Indonesia, saying the state only prosecutes the poor.

Carpet reads: Corruption, poverty, judicial mafia, bribery, education, healthcare, unemployment, migrant workers, natural disasters, Lapindo, human rights, Bank Century.

Boxes read ‘Bureaucratic reform’, ‘Law enforcement and human Rights, ‘Corruption’.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s inaugural speech on Tuesday triggered a round of criticism from experts and civil society groups with most highlighting the needs for him to realise his promises.

Bagus Kurniawan, Yogyakarta – Hundreds of students from various groups in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta held an action opposing the inauguration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and Vice President Boediono on October 20. The protest was marked by the burning of T-shirts with pictures of Yudhoyono and Boediono.

Didi Syafirdi, Jakarta – Only half a day after being inaugurated as the president and vice president for 2009-2014, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Boediono are being urged to solve five key problems in the first 100 days of the new administration.

Documents read: Law enforcement, human rights, eradicate corruption.

Background: House of Representatives building.

The new batch of legislators will literally be given the red-carpet treatment when they arrive for their official inauguration on October 1, which will reportedly cost the tax payers a whopping US$4.7 million.

Shohib Masykur, Jakarta – The coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), Usman Hamid, took time out on Wednesday to wish President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) a happy birthday.

Novia Chandra Dewi, Jakarta – Coinciding with five years since the death of Munir, some 300 people demonstrated at the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) demanding that investigation into the murder of the human rights activists be completed.

Ari Saputra, Jakarta – Thousands of balloons were released into the air on Monday September 7. The coloured balloons with pictures of Munir symbolised five years since the death of the human rights activists.