Mathias Hariyadi

Police confirms charges against Antasari Azhar. Romantic involvement of victim and murderer with the same woman is said to be the reason for the crime. The owner of the Jakarta Merdeka newspaper and a former police chief in the capital are said to be also involved in the death of businessman Nazruddin Zulkarnaen.

Antazari Azhar is accused of having murdered his friend over an affair. The victim had passed important information on to him about the corruption cases. Also arrested, the owner of the daily Merdeka, Azhar’s sponsor.

Christians in Depok have been trying to build a church for many years. When they were granted a building permit they decided to postpone construction so as not to irk local Muslims. But for the local Christians synod the decision to rescind the permit is “illegal” because the mayor, whom some say has extremist views, cannot revoke it.

Parliamentary elections were set for tomorrow. After weeks of protests Election Commission in East Nusa Tenggara delays poll till 14 April. Province’s Muslims show solidarity to Christians. Radical Muslims oppose postponement.

There is an expansion of Islamic-inspired parties promoting the institution of Sharia. The young are less and less drawn by the nationalist ideology based on the secular pillars of Pancasila. The Christians are less than 10% of the population, and fear further marginalization.

The search for the missing continues. More than 300 homes have been swept away by a wave of 21 million cubic meters of water; 1,500 people have been left homeless. The local administration and the government are blaming each other.

The intelligence services are on high alert for the publication of a book containing the writings of Amrozi, Ali Gufron, and Imam Samudra. This could encourage young Indonesians to jihad. New extremist leaders are emerging in the country, praising the holy war against the West and Christians.

Exports are collapsing (-36% in January), and unemployment is on the rise from already high levels. With no better prospects, the unemployed are reinventing small businesses, like food carts. The government is financing projects to foster microbusiness. These also include handmade cigarettes.

He is being accused by two former militants of Jemaah Islamiah, sentenced to life in prison for their involvement in attacks on churches in 2000. The country is facing the problem of where he should be sent: his return home would strengthen the fundamentalist wing of the country, which considers him a "hero" because of his years in Guantanamo.

The new chief of police has issued a "nonbinding" order for all women in uniform. Police officers are also asked to pray five times a day. The headquarters in Java has approved the norm, and says that the agents are "free" to decide whether to follow it.

Government forecasts maximum 4 per cent growth. Exports decline, pushing up unemployment. In August 2008 almost 10 million people were jobless, a number bound to rise. Finance minister calls for urgent measures to check currency depreciation.

Closer relations between the two countries are possible. For experts, Obama administration is expressing new interest in Asia and a different relationship with Muslim countries. Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim country.