Indonesia

InterPeace, an NGO chaired by former Finnish President Ahtisaari, opens its first office in the Indonesian province. Beginning next year and for four years, it will undertake reconstruction and peace-building projects.

Bomb threat made against Christian radio in Jakarta. More than 18,000 police officers will be deployed to protect places of worship across the Indonesian capital. Tensions are running high in Poso.

According to unofficial results, Irwandi Yusuf has won the local elections. Jakarta says it is not worried and extends a conciliatory hand.

Thirty years and one tsunami later, the Indonesian province chooses its own local government. No major incidents are reported as more than 2.6 million voters go to the polls.

According to the World Bank, more than 100 million Indonesians are surviving on less than two US dollars a day. This means many children must forgo primary education.

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Durian shook the region around Mount Mayon: so far, 469 people are either dead or missing, buried under an enormous flow of mud, rocks and ashes. These latest casualties push up the high death toll of natural disasters in the Philippines in recent years.

Ten days before local elections are to take place, the former rebel group GAM is showing cracks with local former rebels set to go against the leadership in exile. Segments of the population are threatening a boycott of the election because no candidate has addressed the issue of justice for the conflict's victims.

Hard-hitting claims have been levelled at the government agency that manages rehabilitation funds for Aceh and Nias: executives get dizzying wages while field projects are abandoned half-way through for "lack of money".

Subur Sugiyarto provided the most dangerous terrorist in South-East Asia with a hiding place for two months. Judges also found him guilty "of exploiting Islamic teachings for a political agenda".

The families of the victims met the three terrorists accused of the murders and accepted their apologies. The Indonesian authorities described it as a historic moment, saying they hoped it would serve to bring peace to Poso.

This was confirmed by political parties and the government despite protests by minorities. Christian and Muslim representatives have denounced what they perceive as the political intention to use faith to gain mileage without considering the risk of fuelling division.