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Indonesia

US to resume ties with Indonesia’s special forces

JAKARTA, Indonesia – The United States will cautiously resume cooperation with Indonesia’s special forces while still pursuing reforms in the commando unit more than a decade after ties were severed over its alleged human rights abuses, officials said Thursday.
Both countries stressed that the Indonesian military had improved its human rights record, [...]

Read More » No commentJuly 23, 2010

US to resume ties with Indonesia’s special forces

JAKARTA, Indonesia – The United States announced Thursday it will resume cooperation with Indonesia’s special forces after ties were severed more than a decade ago over human rights abuses allegedly committed by the commando unit.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates made the announcement after meeting with Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono [...]

Read More » No commentJuly 22, 2010

Eight to be charged over Indonesia sex videos

JAKARTA (AFP) – Indonesian police said on Monday they would charge eight suspects over a celebrity sex video scandal that has gripped the mainly Muslim nation and fuelled calls for Internet controls.
Chief detective Ito Sumardi refused to name the suspects but said they did not include models and television personalities Luna [...]

Read More » No commentJuly 5, 2010

Indonesian Islamists eye proselytizing Christians

BEKASI, Indonesia – A banner with a picture of a young, bespectacled Christian man is draped in front of a mosque, a fiery noose around his neck and the words, “This man deserves the death penalty!”
Churches are shut down. And an Islamic youth militia held its first day of training.
Though the [...]

Read More » No commentJuly 4, 2010

Saudi acquitted of terrorism charges in Indonesia

JAKARTA, Indonesia – A retired Saudi Arabian teacher was acquitted Monday of charges he helped finance last year’s attacks on two luxury hotels in the capital that left seven dead and wounded more than 50.
A panel of judges at the South Jakarta District Court, however, sentenced Al Khelaiw Ali Abdullah to 18 [...]

Read More » No commentJune 29, 2010

Indonesia’s deradicalization program under fire

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Not long ago, Abdullah Sunata was a poster child for Indonesia’s efforts to persuade jailed terrorists to give up their violent ways. He was given furloughs to attend lawn parties and police helped pay for mounting hospital bills when his wife gave birth.
But immediately after his release on good [...]

Read More » No commentJune 25, 2010

Indonesia’s anti-terror campaign under fire

JAKARTA, Indonesia – The anti-terror squad hurtled from a white van on a bustling street as their quarry — three terror suspects — stepped out of a taxi.
They shoved one to the ground and when he tried to shake free, shot him in the head. Another died from a bullet to the [...]

Read More » No commentJune 17, 2010

Quakes kill three in Indonesia

MANOKWARI, Indonesia (AFP) – Three people were killed and hundreds of homes damaged Wednesday when a series of strong earthquakes hit eastern Indonesia, triggering a tsunami warning and widespread panic.
Two victims were crushed when their homes collapsed on Yapen island, close to the epicentre of the most powerful 7.1-magnitude quake off the [...]

Read More » No commentJune 17, 2010

Quake kills two in Indonesia

MANOKWARI, Indonesia (AFP) – A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake killed at least two people and damaged scores of homes in eastern Indonesia on Wednesday, triggering a tsunami warning and widespread panic.
The victims were believed to have been crushed under their collapsed homes on Yapen island, close to the epicentre off the northern [...]

Read More » No commentJune 16, 2010

South China Sea Piracy on the rise: watchdog

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) – A global maritime watchdog Wednesday warned of increasing pirate attacks in the south of the South China Sea following six incidents in as many days in waters off Indonesia.
Noel Choong, head of the International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) piracy monitoring centre said the latest attack brought to 14 [...]

Read More » No commentJune 16, 2010