INDONESIA A NEWS

Has failed to introduce enough security to prevent more terrorist attacks and remains the region's prime target, according to General I Made Mangku Pastika, the island's former police chief, who captured the Bali bombers. After launching his campaign to become Bali's first directly elected governor, General Pastika vowed to upgrade security throughout the island to international standards, but also called on Australians to defy terrorists by continuing to visit."The terrorists still consider Bali is the best place to do their activity and send a message to the world," he saidHighly respected in Bali and across Indonesia, General Pastika is almost certain to win next month's poll. Victory would give him powers equivalent to a state premier under Indonesia's decentralised political system.His comments are likely to ease pressure on Australia to lift its warning against travel to Indonesia, which remains the biggest irritant in the Australia-Indonesia relatio...

THE former head of the Indonesian military's special forces and deputy head of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) has been arrested for the murder of the country's leading human rights activist. Major-General Muchdi Purwopranjono surrendered to police in Jakarta last night and was charged with the premeditated murder of Munir Thalib. The poisoning of Mr Munir on a flight to Amsterdam in 2004 has been Indonesia's most controversial crime, with allegations the murder was sanctioned at the highest level, dogging President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.Mr Munir angered Indonesia's military and intelligence elite by exposing widespread corruption and human rights abuses in the provinces of Aceh and Papua. At the time of the murder, Muchdi was the deputy director of BIN, responsible for covert operations.Police spokesman Abubakar Nataprawira said Muchdi, now retired, was being held in police custody.He revealed a warrant had been issued for his arrest several days ago, but th...

The assault against a peaceful rally on June 1 raises the question about the ease with which a group of protesters attacked another group, even when both protests were lawfully held near the centers of state authority at the National Monument (Monas), Jakarta. So, where was the state before it took action two days later? Had it been unwilling or unable to prevent the violence? Whether committed by a religious militia, a mafia or neo-feudal local leaders, non-state violence reflects the prevailing realities of state and society. Years ago, I discussed the phenomenon of mafia violence in early 20th century Sicily, Italy, with a good friend, the late historian Dr. Onghokham. The acts of violence committed by individual Mafioso were systemic despite the fact that they were dispersed and seemingly disconnected. Insightful as he was, Onghokham replied that this was very similar to early 19th century Java where the Dutch were neither capable of understanding nor controlling non-state violenc...

The torture scars on the body of 23-year-old Julius Meage are stark reminders of a grim past.While much of Indonesia has moved on to become a vibrant democracy, the province of Papua in the far east of the archipelago has been left behind. Suharto, Indonesia's former strongman president, stepped down 10 years ago, but the legacy of his often harsh rule continues to be felt here. In June last year, Meage, a resident of the small town of Wamena in the highlands of Papua, was locked up in the house of a local military officer after being accused of stealing the equivalent of $30."They pulled out my nails and started to burn my body with a candle. My genitals and tongue were severely burned," he says. These claims have never been officially investigated, but are nevertheless fuelling many Papuan's desire for independence. Human rights activists like Theo Hesegem have been pressing authorities to have the soldiers arrested, although so far to no avail."We have no weap...

Asia's youngest and on several measures poorest country, East Timor has ambitious new plans to establish itself as the region's next big energy exporter. Industry analysts estimate the untapped off-shore Greater Sunrise gas field holds over 8.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 300 million barrels of light crude oil. Though most of the field lies in disputed waters, a full one-fifth of the field is open for drilling by East Timor and Australia in a so-called Joint Development Area. How those energy resources are converted into revenues and applied towards development will likely make or break the island nation's economic and perhaps political future. The Greater Sunrise field is shared by East Timor and neighboring Australia and could over its life generate tens of billions of dollars of revenues for Timor's national coffers. Alfredo Pires, East Timor's secretary of state for natural resources, expressed his hopes in an exclusive interview with Asia Times Onli...