House slammed over mudflow disaster decision

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Human rights and anti-corruption activists lashed out at the House of Representatives on Tuesday for failing to make the government and Lapindo Brantas Inc. properly compensate victims of the mudflow in Sidoarjo, East Java.

NGOs call for government transparency in new bill

Erwida Maulia, The Jakarta Post, JakartaThe government has been accused of inconsistency in its promotion of public transparency in its administration.

ASEAN receives U.S. assistance for integration process

Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

USAID is providing the ASEAN Secretariat with up to US$150 million for programs that help facilitate the integration of 10 ASEAN countries into a single community by 2015.

Newmont told to repay debts

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Following a deadlock in negotiations last Friday, the government told PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara on Monday to pay its debt in order to scrap liabilities on shares.

Students protest chronic power failures in North Sumatra

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan

University students in Medan on Monday rallied at the North Sumatra legislative council to protest against frequent blackouts in the province. The blackouts occur three times every day, each one lasting for up to four hours.

Riau haze blamed for rise in health woes

Rizal Harahap, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru

The Riau Health Office announced Monday 1,547 people were suffering from a number of afflictions from the haze caused by forest fires in the province over the past two weeks.