PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT TO PAY SECOND VISIT TO JAKARTA By Fardah

Jakarta, May 27, 2010 (ANTARA) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will pay a working visit to Jakarta on May 28-29, 2010 or about three years after his first state visit here in October 2007.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Tuesday, apart from bilateral issues, he and Abbas would also discuss a new chapter in the peace process between Palestine and Israel.

In a statement shortly before leaving for Oslo, Norway, the President said Indonesia would remain consistent in its support for the cause of an independent state of Palestine.

Anas, SBY, democracy the winners in Democrat Party`s congress by Fardah

     Jakarta, May 24, 2010 (ANTARA News) - It turns out that the results of the Democrat Party`s just-ended Second Congress are victories for Susilo Bambang Yudhoyonon (SBY), and Anas Urbaningrum.
       And more than that, it was also a victory for the Democrat Party, the younger generation and democracy within the party in particular, according to some people.

TO USE OR NOT TO USE E-VOTING SYSTEM IN 2014 POLLS By Fardah

Jakarta, May 20, 2010 (ANTARA) - Using the electronic voting (e-voting) system in the general elections in 2014 has lately become a public discourse in Indonesia.

Some officials have expressed pessimism and others optimism the e-voting system can be applied in this archipelagic country with a population of around 230 million.

Among the pessimists was Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi who believed that the Indonesian public were not ready for electronic voting (e-voting) in the presidential and legislative elections in 2014.

Two of Democrat party`s best cadres vying for top seat by Fardah

     Jakarta, May 16, 2010 (ANTARA News) - The relatively new but very popular Democrat Party (PD) is going to hold a national congress to elect a new leader, with at least two of its best cadres, Andi Mallarangeng and Anas Urbaningrum, vying for the position.
    Another candidate for the party`s top job is Marzukie Alie, currently the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The party`s congress will take place in Bandung (West Java), May 21-23, 2010.

GOVT FINALLY TO MEDIATE GREENPEACE-PT SMART DISPUTE By Fardah

Jakarta, May 11, 2010 (ANTARA) - After seemingly preferring to remain a silent spectator of the ongoing dispute over the issue of forests being converted into oil palm plantations between Greenpeace and PT Sinar Mas Agro Resources & Technology Tbk (PT SMART), the government now finally intends to mediate.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Bayu Krisnamurthi unannounced on Friday (May 7) his office was ready to facilitate a meeting between Greenpeace and PT SMART to clarify their respective stances on the matter.

INDONESIA TO EMBRACE INT'L BIODIVERSITY DAY, YEAR By Fardah

Jakarta, May 5, 2010 (ANTARA) - Indonesia has been acknowledged by scientists as one of the world`s mega centers of biodiversity for her abundant flora and fauna species and a wide range of natural habitats.

Having a population of around 235 million, Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world, located between two oceans, the Pacific and the Indian, and bridging two continents, Asia and Australia.

The country consists of more than 17,000 islands, including five main islands - Java, Kalimantan (Borneo), Papua, Sumatera and Sulawesi, which host the world`s third largest forest area after Brazil and Zaire.