A Vietnamese woman accused of assassinating the North Korean leader's half-brother was freed from prison Friday, ending legal proceedings stemming from the killing despite criticism that the real culprits never faced justice.

After a lengthy trial, Doan Thi Huong pleaded guilty last month to a lesser charge of "causing injury" over the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/murder-at-the-airport-the-brazen-attack-on-kim-jong-nam-207113">2017 assassination of Kim Jong Nam</a>, making her the only person convicted for a murder that made headlines around the world.

Weeks earlier, Indonesian Siti Aisyah -- the only other person to face trial over the killing carried out with a banned nerve agent at Kuala Lumpur airport -- was released and flew home after her murder charge was withdrawn.&nbsp;

The pair always denied having committed murder, arguing that they were pawns in a plan hatched by North Korean agents who fled Malaysia after the killing.

South Korea accused Pyongyang of plotting the assassination.

Huong, who received a jail term of several years, which was cut due to sentence remissions, was freed from a prison outside the Malaysian capital at about 7:20 am (2320 GMT Thursday), her lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik told AFP.&nbsp;

Journalists waiting outside the jail saw a van and a car with tinted windows race past, and a court official at the scene also confirmed Huong had been released.

Speaking ahead of her release, Hisyam had said she was "definitely looking forward to going home".

The 30-year-old former hair salon worker was expected to head to an immigration office in the administrative capital Putrajaya to sort out documentation, before flying to Vietnam in the evening.

'True killers escaped justice'

While there is a relief for the women -- who said they believed they were taking part in a TV show prank -- those behind the plot are unlikely to ever face justice.

"The assassins have not been brought to justice," said Hisyam, adding the women's legal teams consistently argued their North Korean handlers were the real murderers.&nbsp;

The pair were arrested after they were captured on airport CCTV cameras walking up behind Kim, the estranged half-brother of Kim Jong Un, as he waited for a flight, and one was seen clasping her hands over his face.

Kim, heir apparent to the North's leadership until he was exiled from his homeland, died in agony shortly afterwards, his face smeared with poison.

Aisyah and Huong were put on trial for murder in October 2017 and faced death by hanging if convicted.&nbsp;

The defence stage of the case was due to start in March, but in a shock move, prosecutors announced they were withdrawing the murder charge against Aisyah, 27, and she flew back to Jakarta.

Her release followed intense diplomatic pressure from Indonesia, including from President Joko Widodo.

Vietnam then stepped up pressure for Huong's murder charge to be dropped. Their initial request was refused, but at the start of April prosecutors offered her a reduced charge, paving the way for her release.&nbsp;

The assassination sparked a furious row between North Korea and Malaysia, previously one of nuclear-armed Pyongyang's few allies, and prompted both countries to expel each other's ambassadors.

Ties have improved in recent times however with Malaysia saying it plans to re-open its embassy in Pyongyang, which was closed shortly after the murder.

A Vietnamese woman accused of assassinating the North Korean leader's half-brother was freed from prison Friday, ending legal proceedings stemming from the killing despite criticism that the real culprits never faced justice.

A Vietnamese woman accused of assassinating the North Korean leader's half-brother was freed from prison Friday, ending legal proceedings stemming from the killing despite criticism that the real culprits never faced justice. After a lengthy trial, Doan Thi Huong pleaded guilty last month to a lesser charge of "causing injury" over the 2017 assassination of Kim Jong Nam, making her the only person convicted for a murder that made headlines around the world. Weeks earlier, Indonesian Siti Aisyah -- the only other person to face trial over the killing carried out with a banned nerve agent at Kuala Lumpur airport -- was released and flew home after her murder charge was withdrawn. The pair always denied having committed murder, arguing that they were pawns in a plan hatched by North Korean agents who fled Malaysia after the killing. South Korea accused Pyongyang of plotting the assassination. Huong, who received a jail term of several years, which was cut due to sentence remissions, was freed from a prison outside the Malaysian capital at about 7:20 am (2320 GMT Thursday), her lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik told AFP. Journalists waiting outside the jail saw a van and a car with tinted windows race past, and a court official at the scene also confirmed Huong had been released. Speaking ahead of her release, Hisyam had said she was "definitely looking forward to going home". The 30-year-old former hair salon worker was expected to head to an immigration office in the administrative capital Putrajaya to sort out documentation, before flying to Vietnam in the evening. 'True killers escaped justice' While there is a relief for the women -- who said they believed they were taking part in a TV show prank -- those behind the plot are unlikely to ever face justice. "The assassins have not been brought to justice," said Hisyam, adding the women's legal teams consistently argued their North Korean handlers were the real murderers. The pair were arrested after they were captured on airport CCTV cameras walking up behind Kim, the estranged half-brother of Kim Jong Un, as he waited for a flight, and one was seen clasping her hands over his face. Kim, heir apparent to the North's leadership until he was exiled from his homeland, died in agony shortly afterwards, his face smeared with poison. Aisyah and Huong were put on trial for murder in October 2017 and faced death by hanging if convicted. The defence stage of the case was due to start in March, but in a shock move, prosecutors announced they were withdrawing the murder charge against Aisyah, 27, and she flew back to Jakarta. Her release followed intense diplomatic pressure from Indonesia, including from President Joko Widodo. Vietnam then stepped up pressure for Huong's murder charge to be dropped. Their initial request was refused, but at the start of April prosecutors offered her a reduced charge, paving the way for her release. The assassination sparked a furious row between North Korea and Malaysia, previously one of nuclear-armed Pyongyang's few allies, and prompted both countries to expel each other's ambassadors. Ties have improved in recent times however with Malaysia saying it plans to re-open its embassy in Pyongyang, which was closed shortly after the murder.

Last jailed Kim Jong Nam assassination suspect Doan Thi Huong freed

Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday approved a long-term plan for the government to abandon overcrowded, sinking and polluted Jakarta and build a new capital.

Indonesia plans to move capital from Jakarta

Indonesian President Joko Widodo said he is considering to reshuffle the cabinet before swearing-in for a second five-year term in October, a local newspaper published on Monday.

During an interview, Widodo hinted that he would not insist on choosing technocrats over politicians.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joko-widodo-claims-victory-in-indonesian-presidential-elections-211561">Widodo claimed victory</a> based on unofficial results in a televised press conference in Jakarta. Though official results are not due until May 22.

Widodo had reshuffled his cabinet several times during his first term. His cabinet is a mixture of technocrats and politicians from parties in his ruling coalition.

The president will continue the economic reforms which he started in his first term with a focus on tackling sagging foreign investment, the troubled education system and restrictive labour rules, news agency Reuters reported.

Widodo’s main rival, former military general Prabowo Subianto made a public speech claiming his own victory.

The president urged his supporters to wait for the official results, set to be declared in May.

(With inputs from agencies)

Indonesian President Joko Widodo said he is considering to reshuffle the cabinet before swearing-in for a second five-year term in October, a local newspaper published on Monday.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo said he is considering to reshuffle the cabinet before swearing-in for a second five-year term in October, a local newspaper published on Monday. During an interview, Widodo hinted that he would not insist on choosing technocrats over politicians. Widodo claimed victory based on unofficial results in a televised press conference in Jakarta. Though official results are not due until May 22. Widodo had reshuffled his cabinet several times during his first term. His cabinet is a mixture of technocrats and politicians from parties in his ruling coalition. The president will continue the economic reforms which he started in his first term with a focus on tackling sagging foreign investment, the troubled education system and restrictive labour rules, news agency Reuters reported. Widodo’s main rival, former military general Prabowo Subianto made a public speech claiming his own victory. The president urged his supporters to wait for the official results, set to be declared in May. (With inputs from agencies)

Indonesia President Joko Widodo says may reshuffle cabinet before second term

Indonesia's president has decided to move the capital of the world's fourth most populous country away from the crowded main island of Java, but has yet to finalise a new location, the planning minister said on Monday.

President Joko Widodo's decision comes less than two weeks after private pollsters said he had won an April 17 presidential election, although official results are not due until May 22. His challenger, Prabowo Subianto, has also claimed victory.

"The president chose to relocate the capital city to the outside of Java, an important decision," Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro told a news conference after a cabinet meeting.

Brodjonegoro said the administration had yet to pick a new location but was looking at the eastern side of the sprawling archipelago.

At the opening of his cabinet meeting, Widodo stressed the need for new thinking about the future.

"We want to think in a visionary way for the progress of this country and moving the capital requires thorough and detailed preparation," he said.

The current capital, Jakarta, is home to more than 10 million people, but around three times that many people live in the surrounding towns adding to the area's severe congestion.

Brodjonegoro put the annual economic loss due to traffic congestion in Jakarta at 100 trillion rupiah ($7.04 billion).

The low-lying capital is also prone to flooding and is sinking due to over-extraction of groundwater.

In making his decision, Widodo had also taken into account the fact that nearly 60 per cent of Indonesia's 260 million people live in Java and economic activities were concentrated there, Brodjonegoro said.

During the recent election campaign, Widodo promised to spread economic development more evenly outside Java.

The planning minister did not estimate the cost of moving the capital but said the president had ordered the finance ministry to come up with a financing scheme that allowed participation of private investors.

He said moving the capital could take up to 10 years, citing examples such as Brazil and Kazakhstan.

One of the contenders for the new capital city is Palangkaraya in Central Kalimantan province on the island of Borneo, state news agency Antara reported this year.

Authorities there had prepared 300,000 hectares of land in case it is chosen as a new government hub, Antara said.

Indonesia's president has decided to move the capital of the world's fourth most populous country away from the crowded main island of Java, but has yet to finalise a new location, the planning minister said on Monday.

Indonesia's president has decided to move the capital of the world's fourth most populous country away from the crowded main island of Java, but has yet to finalise a new location, the planning minister said on Monday. President Joko Widodo's decision comes less than two weeks after private pollsters said he had won an April 17 presidential election, although official results are not due until May 22. His challenger, Prabowo Subianto, has also claimed victory. "The president chose to relocate the capital city to the outside of Java, an important decision," Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro told a news conference after a cabinet meeting. Brodjonegoro said the administration had yet to pick a new location but was looking at the eastern side of the sprawling archipelago. At the opening of his cabinet meeting, Widodo stressed the need for new thinking about the future. "We want to think in a visionary way for the progress of this country and moving the capital requires thorough and detailed preparation," he said. The current capital, Jakarta, is home to more than 10 million people, but around three times that many people live in the surrounding towns adding to the area's severe congestion. Brodjonegoro put the annual economic loss due to traffic congestion in Jakarta at 100 trillion rupiah ($7.04 billion). The low-lying capital is also prone to flooding and is sinking due to over-extraction of groundwater. In making his decision, Widodo had also taken into account the fact that nearly 60 per cent of Indonesia's 260 million people live in Java and economic activities were concentrated there, Brodjonegoro said. During the recent election campaign, Widodo promised to spread economic development more evenly outside Java. The planning minister did not estimate the cost of moving the capital but said the president had ordered the finance ministry to come up with a financing scheme that allowed participation of private investors. He said moving the capital could take up to 10 years, citing examples such as Brazil and Kazakhstan. One of the contenders for the new capital city is Palangkaraya in Central Kalimantan province on the island of Borneo, state news agency Antara reported this year. Authorities there had prepared 300,000 hectares of land in case it is chosen as a new government hub, Antara said.

Indonesia plans to move capital city out of crowded Java island

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/voting-underway-in-indonesia-what-makes-the-poll-so-complex-211065">Indonesia</a>'s ruling coalition, which backs President Joko Widodo, is on course to win more than half the votes in an election for the national parliament, based on a count of more than 60 per cent of ballots cast on Wednesday, two pollsters said.

Indonesia held simultaneous <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesias-election-what-you-need-to-know-211100">presidential and parliamentary elections</a> on Wednesday.

Widodo, running against former general Prabowo Subianto after a six-month campaign, appears to be on course to win the race to lead the world's third-largest democracy, securing a second term, "quick count" results from private pollsters show.

Prabowo, as he is known in Indonesia, has disputed those findings and said internal polls show he is set for a win.

A quick count of a sample of votes by pollsters Kompas and Indo Barometers show the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), of which Widodo is a member, is likely to win 20.48 per cent of the votes for the national parliament.

PDI-P leads Widodo's 10-party coalition which now controls the lower house, which is the main parliamentary chamber.

However, both pollsters find that Prabowo's Greater Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) is on track to become parliament's second largest party, with 13 per cent of the vote.

"PDI-P will take first, with better results than 2014, as expected, riding on Jokowi's coat tails," said Achmad Sukarsono, an Indonesia analyst at Control Risks, using the president's nickname.

"Gerindra will also enjoy a coat tail effect and is very likely to replace Golkar as the second party, which has suffered from corruption scandals."

Kompas and Indo Barometer are two of more than 40 pollsters accredited by the General Elections Commission to conduct unofficial quick counts.

In previous elections, the counts from reputable companies proved to be accurate.

Islamic parties also appeared to have done well. The moderate National Awakening Party (PKB), which is part of the Jokowi coalition, is on track to get 9 per cent of the vote. The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), which is aligned with Prabowo, also had about 9 per cent of the vote, according to the quick counts.

The smaller National Mandate party, which is part of Prabowo's coalition, had less than 7 per cent of the vote.

The poll followed a campaign dominated by economic issues but also marked by the growing influence of conservative Islam in the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation.

Official results will be announced by the election commission on May 22.

There are 575 seats in the lower house of the national parliament up for grabs and 136 in the upper house.

Indonesia's ruling coalition, which backs President Joko Widodo, is on course to win more than half the votes in an election for the national parliament, based on a count of more than 60 per cent of ballots cast on Wednesday, two pollsters said.

Indonesia's ruling coalition, which backs President Joko Widodo, is on course to win more than half the votes in an election for the national parliament, based on a count of more than 60 per cent of ballots cast on Wednesday, two pollsters said. Indonesia held simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections on Wednesday. Widodo, running against former general Prabowo Subianto after a six-month campaign, appears to be on course to win the race to lead the world's third-largest democracy, securing a second term, "quick count" results from private pollsters show. Prabowo, as he is known in Indonesia, has disputed those findings and said internal polls show he is set for a win. A quick count of a sample of votes by pollsters Kompas and Indo Barometers show the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), of which Widodo is a member, is likely to win 20.48 per cent of the votes for the national parliament. PDI-P leads Widodo's 10-party coalition which now controls the lower house, which is the main parliamentary chamber. However, both pollsters find that Prabowo's Greater Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) is on track to become parliament's second largest party, with 13 per cent of the vote. "PDI-P will take first, with better results than 2014, as expected, riding on Jokowi's coat tails," said Achmad Sukarsono, an Indonesia analyst at Control Risks, using the president's nickname. "Gerindra will also enjoy a coat tail effect and is very likely to replace Golkar as the second party, which has suffered from corruption scandals." Kompas and Indo Barometer are two of more than 40 pollsters accredited by the General Elections Commission to conduct unofficial quick counts. In previous elections, the counts from reputable companies proved to be accurate. Islamic parties also appeared to have done well. The moderate National Awakening Party (PKB), which is part of the Jokowi coalition, is on track to get 9 per cent of the vote. The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), which is aligned with Prabowo, also had about 9 per cent of the vote, according to the quick counts. The smaller National Mandate party, which is part of Prabowo's coalition, had less than 7 per cent of the vote. The poll followed a campaign dominated by economic issues but also marked by the growing influence of conservative Islam in the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation. Official results will be announced by the election commission on May 22. There are 575 seats in the lower house of the national parliament up for grabs and 136 in the upper house.

President Joko Widodo's ruling coalition on course to victory in Indonesia

The incumbent president of Indonesia on Thursday declared victory in the national elections held a day earlier amid opposition allegations of electoral fraud.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/post-poll-indonesia-police-chief-warns-against-mass-demonstrations-211499">Joko Widodo</a> claimed victory based on unofficial results in a televised press conference in Jakarta.

He said initial vote counts were a scientific method of calculating the results and they had been 99 per cent accurate in earlier elections.

The president urged his supporters to wait for the official results, set to be declared in May.

He told journalists that he had received congratulatory messages on his reelection from around 20 world leaders.

Widodo’s main rival, former military general Prabowo Subianto made a public speech claiming his own victory.

Seemingly targeting his conservative Muslim support base, Prabowo ended with three shouts of "Allah o Akbar" (Allah is great), significant in the country with the world's largest Muslim population.&nbsp;

The former general said he had evidence that there had been attempts of electoral fraud in villages and cities across Indonesia.

Unofficial projections by pollsters showed that Widodo had received 54 per cent of the votes while Prabowo had secured 45 per cent support.

The Election Commission (KPU) said the elections were held without major problems, and analysts have largely agreed, citing the difficulty of carrying out electoral fraud to an extent that could alter results, due to the presence of observers and the supervisory methods in place.&nbsp;

Both leaders appealed for calm in their speeches, although the former general had alleged irregularities in the electoral rolls during the campaign and threatened to go to the courts or mobilize "people's power" unless the issue is resolved.

Earlier on Thursday, Security Affairs Minister Wiranto had warned of strict action to counter any threats to democracy after the elections, adding that armed forces would arrest and "neutralize" those who indulged in actions that disturbed the peace and national security.

The president, popularly known as Jokowi, said in a TV interview that he had sent a member of his team to urge Prabowo and his running mate — entrepreneur Sandiago Uno — to help in pacifying the atmosphere.

More than 192 million Indonesians were eligible to vote in the third biggest democracy in the world, where the presidential and legislative elections were held simultaneously for the first time, with around 20,000 candidates in the fray.&nbsp;

The incumbent president of Indonesia on Thursday declared victory in the national elections held a day earlier amid opposition allegations of electoral fraud. Joko Widodo claimed victory based on unofficial results in a televised press conference in Jakarta.

The incumbent president of Indonesia on Thursday declared victory in the national elections held a day earlier amid opposition allegations of electoral fraud. Joko Widodo claimed victory based on unofficial results in a televised press conference in Jakarta. He said initial vote counts were a scientific method of calculating the results and they had been 99 per cent accurate in earlier elections. The president urged his supporters to wait for the official results, set to be declared in May. He told journalists that he had received congratulatory messages on his reelection from around 20 world leaders. Widodo’s main rival, former military general Prabowo Subianto made a public speech claiming his own victory. Seemingly targeting his conservative Muslim support base, Prabowo ended with three shouts of "Allah o Akbar" (Allah is great), significant in the country with the world's largest Muslim population. The former general said he had evidence that there had been attempts of electoral fraud in villages and cities across Indonesia. Unofficial projections by pollsters showed that Widodo had received 54 per cent of the votes while Prabowo had secured 45 per cent support. The Election Commission (KPU) said the elections were held without major problems, and analysts have largely agreed, citing the difficulty of carrying out electoral fraud to an extent that could alter results, due to the presence of observers and the supervisory methods in place. Both leaders appealed for calm in their speeches, although the former general had alleged irregularities in the electoral rolls during the campaign and threatened to go to the courts or mobilize "people's power" unless the issue is resolved. Earlier on Thursday, Security Affairs Minister Wiranto had warned of strict action to counter any threats to democracy after the elections, adding that armed forces would arrest and "neutralize" those who indulged in actions that disturbed the peace and national security. The president, popularly known as Jokowi, said in a TV interview that he had sent a member of his team to urge Prabowo and his running mate — entrepreneur Sandiago Uno — to help in pacifying the atmosphere. More than 192 million Indonesians were eligible to vote in the third biggest democracy in the world, where the presidential and legislative elections were held simultaneously for the first time, with around 20,000 candidates in the fray.

Joko Widodo claims victory in Indonesian presidential elections

As Joko Widodo heads for a second term in office, here is a look at all you need to know about the World's biggest direct presidential election.

Indonesia presidential elections: Joko Widodo extends lead

President Joko Widodo of Indonesia led by a comfortable margin in unofficial returns in his re-election bid on Wednesday, as he appeared to fend off a challenge by a four-time presidential candidate.

Joko Widodo looks set for comfortable victory in Indonesia presidential elections

Indonesians began voting in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-gravitas-indonesia-prepares-for-april-17th-polls-211011">world's biggest single-day election</a> on Wednesday as polling stations opened across the sprawling equatorial archipelago following a six-month campaign to choose a new president and parliament.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesias-election-the-people-issues-and-preparations-210870">eight-hour vote across a country</a> that stretches more than 5,000 km (3,000 miles) from its western to eastern tips is both a Herculean logistical feat and testimony to the resilience of democracy two decades after authoritarianism was defeated.

President Joko Widodo, a furniture businessman who entered politics 14 years ago as a small-city mayor, is seeking re-election against former general Prabowo Subianto, whom he narrowly defeated in the last election, in 2014.

The economy dominated the hard-fought campaign, though the rise of political Islam loomed over the contest in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country.

Most opinion polls give Widodo a double-digit lead, but the opposition says the race is much closer and Prabowo told a news conference late on Tuesday that he expected to win with 63 per cent of the vote.

Voting began first in the far-flung eastern province of Papua, which is two hours ahead of Jakarta, the capital.

Ballot papers were delivered with security escorts to remote regions of the country by plane, speedboat, canoe and horseback. Two speedboats have been deployed as mobile polling stations for residents on the Thousand Islands chain north of Jakarta.

A tornado in East Java late on Tuesday destroyed two village polling stations and cut power to two others, forcing the authorities to move voting to safer areas, the domestic news agency Antara reported.

More than 10,000 people have volunteered to crowd-source election results posted at polling stations in a real-time bid to thwart attempts at fraud.

However, the opposition has already alleged voter list irregularities that could affect millions and has vowed legal or "people power" action if its concerns are ignored.

Several videos appeared online last week apparently showing thousands of voting papers stuffed in bags at a warehouse in neighbouring Malaysia, with many apparently already marked.

The country's election supervisory board has recommended a re-vote for Indonesians in Malaysia and in Australia, where several hundred registered voters were still standing in line after the polls closed there on Saturday. A decision will be taken by the elections commission.

"Even though there have been obstacles and anomalies, I believe, at the end of it, we cannot contain the will of the people," Prabowo said on the eve of the vote.

An unexpected win for the challenger could trigger a brief sell-off in financial markets that have priced in a Widodo victory, analysts say.

"Should Prabowo win, this would literally be the end of opinion polling in Indonesia ... and a major, major upset," said Marcus Mietzner, associate professor at Australian National University. "The question is what the margin of victory will be," he said, predicting Widodo's re-election.

A win for Widodo with 52-55 per cent of the vote would be the "sweet spot" said a senior government official close to the president, adding that this would spur him to continue and even accelerate economic reforms.

'GAME OF THRONES'

Poll-related hashtags trended on Twitter in Indonesia during a three-day quiet period in the run-up to voting day.

Social media users compared the presidential race to the HBO series "Game of Thrones" - with one online meme showing Widodo sitting on its coveted Iron Throne.

Widodo touted his record on deregulation and improving infrastructure, calling it a first step to tackling inequality and poverty in Southeast Asia's biggest economy.

A moderate Muslim from central Java, Widodo had to burnish his Islamic credentials after smear campaigns and hoax stories accused him of being anti-Islam, a communist or too close to China, all politically damaging in Indonesia. He picked Islamic cleric Ma'ruf Amin, 76, as his running mate.

Prabowo, a former special forces commander who has links to some hardline Islamist groups, and his running mate, business entrepreneur Sandiaga Uno, say they will boost the economy by slashing taxes and focussing on infrastructure.

QUICK COUNTS

Nearly 350,000 police and soldiers will join 1.6 million paramilitary officers stationed across the country of 17,000 islands to safeguard the vote.

More than 192 million people are eligible to cast ballots in national and regional legislative elections being contested by more than 245,000 candidates.

Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. (2200 GMT on Tuesday) in the east and will close at 1 p.m. (0600 GMT) in the west.

Voters will have five paper ballots for president, vice president, and national and regional legislative candidates.

Unofficial "quick counts", based on samples from polling stations, will be released hours after voting ends. The winning presidential candidate could be known by late on Wednesday.

Official results will be announced in May. Any disputes can be taken to the Constitutional Court where a nine-judge panel will have 14 days to rule on them.

 
&nbsp;

Indonesians began voting in the world's biggest single-day election on Wednesday as polling stations opened across the sprawling equatorial archipelago following a six-month campaign to choose a new president and parliament.

Indonesians began voting in the world's biggest single-day election on Wednesday as polling stations opened across the sprawling equatorial archipelago following a six-month campaign to choose a new president and parliament. The eight-hour vote across a country that stretches more than 5,000 km (3,000 miles) from its western to eastern tips is both a Herculean logistical feat and testimony to the resilience of democracy two decades after authoritarianism was defeated. President Joko Widodo, a furniture businessman who entered politics 14 years ago as a small-city mayor, is seeking re-election against former general Prabowo Subianto, whom he narrowly defeated in the last election, in 2014. The economy dominated the hard-fought campaign, though the rise of political Islam loomed over the contest in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country. Most opinion polls give Widodo a double-digit lead, but the opposition says the race is much closer and Prabowo told a news conference late on Tuesday that he expected to win with 63 per cent of the vote. Voting began first in the far-flung eastern province of Papua, which is two hours ahead of Jakarta, the capital. Ballot papers were delivered with security escorts to remote regions of the country by plane, speedboat, canoe and horseback. Two speedboats have been deployed as mobile polling stations for residents on the Thousand Islands chain north of Jakarta. A tornado in East Java late on Tuesday destroyed two village polling stations and cut power to two others, forcing the authorities to move voting to safer areas, the domestic news agency Antara reported. More than 10,000 people have volunteered to crowd-source election results posted at polling stations in a real-time bid to thwart attempts at fraud. However, the opposition has already alleged voter list irregularities that could affect millions and has vowed legal or "people power" action if its concerns are ignored. Several videos appeared online last week apparently showing thousands of voting papers stuffed in bags at a warehouse in neighbouring Malaysia, with many apparently already marked. The country's election supervisory board has recommended a re-vote for Indonesians in Malaysia and in Australia, where several hundred registered voters were still standing in line after the polls closed there on Saturday. A decision will be taken by the elections commission. "Even though there have been obstacles and anomalies, I believe, at the end of it, we cannot contain the will of the people," Prabowo said on the eve of the vote. An unexpected win for the challenger could trigger a brief sell-off in financial markets that have priced in a Widodo victory, analysts say. "Should Prabowo win, this would literally be the end of opinion polling in Indonesia ... and a major, major upset," said Marcus Mietzner, associate professor at Australian National University. "The question is what the margin of victory will be," he said, predicting Widodo's re-election. A win for Widodo with 52-55 per cent of the vote would be the "sweet spot" said a senior government official close to the president, adding that this would spur him to continue and even accelerate economic reforms. 'GAME OF THRONES' Poll-related hashtags trended on Twitter in Indonesia during a three-day quiet period in the run-up to voting day. Social media users compared the presidential race to the HBO series "Game of Thrones" - with one online meme showing Widodo sitting on its coveted Iron Throne. Widodo touted his record on deregulation and improving infrastructure, calling it a first step to tackling inequality and poverty in Southeast Asia's biggest economy. A moderate Muslim from central Java, Widodo had to burnish his Islamic credentials after smear campaigns and hoax stories accused him of being anti-Islam, a communist or too close to China, all politically damaging in Indonesia. He picked Islamic cleric Ma'ruf Amin, 76, as his running mate. Prabowo, a former special forces commander who has links to some hardline Islamist groups, and his running mate, business entrepreneur Sandiaga Uno, say they will boost the economy by slashing taxes and focussing on infrastructure. QUICK COUNTS Nearly 350,000 police and soldiers will join 1.6 million paramilitary officers stationed across the country of 17,000 islands to safeguard the vote. More than 192 million people are eligible to cast ballots in national and regional legislative elections being contested by more than 245,000 candidates. Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. (2200 GMT on Tuesday) in the east and will close at 1 p.m. (0600 GMT) in the west. Voters will have five paper ballots for president, vice president, and national and regional legislative candidates. Unofficial "quick counts", based on samples from polling stations, will be released hours after voting ends. The winning presidential candidate could be known by late on Wednesday. Official results will be announced in May. Any disputes can be taken to the Constitutional Court where a nine-judge panel will have 14 days to rule on them.

In world's biggest one-day election, Indonesia votes for its president

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/lenders-reject-jet-airways-request-for-rs-400-crore-emergency-funding-sources-211192">Lenders reject Jet Airways funding request, flights grounded: Sources</a>

Cash-strapped Jet Airways which had requested for Rs 400 crore funding from banks as a form of "emergency liquidity support" has been rejected, PTI sources said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/firmly-oppose-forcing-new-resolution-through-unsc-on-masood-azhar-china-211140">Firmly oppose forcing new resolution through UNSC on Masood Azhar: China</a>

China on Wednesday dismissed reports that it had been served an ultimatum until April 23 by the US, UK and France to lift its "technical hold" on designating Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist but claimed that the vexed issue is moving towards settlement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/madras-high-court-upholds-election-commissions-decision-to-cancel-vellore-lok-sabha-polls-211196">Madras High Court upholds EC decision to cancel Vellore Lok Sabha polls</a>

Madras High Court today upheld the decision of Election Commission of India to cancel the election to Vellore Lok Sabha constituency.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joko-widodo-leading-in-early-count-in-indonesia-pollsters-211136">Joko Widodo leading in early count in Indonesia: Pollsters</a>

Indonesia's Joko Widodo was on track to be re-elected leader of the world's third-biggest democracy with pollsters giving him a wide lead over rival Prabowo Subianto, a firebrand ex-general, hours after voting closed Wednesday across the 17,000-island archipelago.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-name-preliminary-world-cup-squad-jofra-archer-left-out-211187">IPL 2019 hero Jofra Archer left out as England name preliminary World Cup squad</a>

England have not picked uncapped all-rounder Jofra Archer in a preliminary 15-man World Cup squad but have named him in squads for the warm-up games against Pakistan and Ireland.

 
&nbsp;

Lenders reject Jet Airways funding request, flights grounded: Sources Cash-strapped Jet Airways which had requested for Rs 400 crore funding from banks as a form of "emergency liquidity support" has been rejected, PTI sources said.

Lenders reject Jet Airways funding request, flights grounded: Sources Cash-strapped Jet Airways which had requested for Rs 400 crore funding from banks as a form of "emergency liquidity support" has been rejected, PTI sources said. Firmly oppose forcing new resolution through UNSC on Masood Azhar: China China on Wednesday dismissed reports that it had been served an ultimatum until April 23 by the US, UK and France to lift its "technical hold" on designating Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist but claimed that the vexed issue is moving towards settlement. Madras High Court upholds EC decision to cancel Vellore Lok Sabha polls Madras High Court today upheld the decision of Election Commission of India to cancel the election to Vellore Lok Sabha constituency. Joko Widodo leading in early count in Indonesia: Pollsters Indonesia's Joko Widodo was on track to be re-elected leader of the world's third-biggest democracy with pollsters giving him a wide lead over rival Prabowo Subianto, a firebrand ex-general, hours after voting closed Wednesday across the 17,000-island archipelago. IPL 2019 hero Jofra Archer left out as England name preliminary World Cup squad England have not picked uncapped all-rounder Jofra Archer in a preliminary 15-man World Cup squad but have named him in squads for the warm-up games against Pakistan and Ireland.

News brief: Big stories of the day

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joko-widodo-leading-in-early-count-in-indonesia-pollsters-211136">Indonesians voted on Wednesday in a one-day election</a> billed as one of the most complex in the world. Our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal spoke to Indonesian envoy to India Sidharto Suryodipuro on the Indonesian elections, the Indian polls among other things. The envoy said, his country can learn from the Indian experience on the electronic voting machine (EVM) and lauded the democratic process in both the countries.&nbsp;

WION: What can Indians learn from the Indonesian election process and what can Indonesians learn from the Indian elections?

Sidharto Suryodipuro: Learning, it's a two-way street. We need to have a conversation between our election commissions. It will be a good idea to start that. From the Indonesian side, we can learn a lot from our Indian friends about the EVM because behind India's voting machine there is a long history. It's a long process of gaining political consensus for the adoption of the EVMs and the process has not ended. Now you have paper trail added. Indonesia can benefit from the Indian experience on this.

WION: What are the similarities between the Indian and the Indonesian elections?

Suryodipuro: Similarities are in terms of diversity and scale of both the countries. India has a larger population than Indonesia. Indonesia had 810,000 polling booths. My guess is, in every round of elections in India there will be about as many numbers of polling booths. Both have very diverse and complex processes. It shows both our democracies are robust, people have the confidence in democracy and voting process and another thing - our election cycle is the same (previously in 2014 and now), and this helps in strengthening the bilateral relations because it creates stability in relations for the next 5 years.

WION: How big is the process of elections in Indonesia?

Suryodipuro: On April 17, a total of 193 million Indonesians went to the polling booth. They are electing the President and the Vice president. They will be voting for 575 members of the lower house. This is out of candidates of 16 political parties. There will be local voting at the provincial level. So in all, 20,000 seats will be up for votes.

WION: How did Indonesians in India vote?

Suryodipuro: There are 2 million Indonesians living overseas. They are covered by 133 Indonesian missions worldwide. So in India, we have votings in the embassy in New Delhi and the Consulate in Mumbai. In all, we have 198 Indonesian citizens come to the embassy and vote and 91 that voted by mail. We are going through the counting. These are ballot papers and not electronic voting machines, they are being counted manually.

Indonesians voted on Wednesday in a one-day election billed as one of the most complex in the world. Our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal spoke to Indonesian envoy to India Sidharto Suryodipuro on the Indonesian elections, the Indian polls among other things.

Indonesians voted on Wednesday in a one-day election billed as one of the most complex in the world. Our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal spoke to Indonesian envoy to India Sidharto Suryodipuro on the Indonesian elections, the Indian polls among other things. The envoy said, his country can learn from the Indian experience on the electronic voting machine (EVM) and lauded the democratic process in both the countries. WION: What can Indians learn from the Indonesian election process and what can Indonesians learn from the Indian elections? Sidharto Suryodipuro: Learning, it's a two-way street. We need to have a conversation between our election commissions. It will be a good idea to start that. From the Indonesian side, we can learn a lot from our Indian friends about the EVM because behind India's voting machine there is a long history. It's a long process of gaining political consensus for the adoption of the EVMs and the process has not ended. Now you have paper trail added. Indonesia can benefit from the Indian experience on this. WION: What are the similarities between the Indian and the Indonesian elections? Suryodipuro: Similarities are in terms of diversity and scale of both the countries. India has a larger population than Indonesia. Indonesia had 810,000 polling booths. My guess is, in every round of elections in India there will be about as many numbers of polling booths. Both have very diverse and complex processes. It shows both our democracies are robust, people have the confidence in democracy and voting process and another thing - our election cycle is the same (previously in 2014 and now), and this helps in strengthening the bilateral relations because it creates stability in relations for the next 5 years. WION: How big is the process of elections in Indonesia? Suryodipuro: On April 17, a total of 193 million Indonesians went to the polling booth. They are electing the President and the Vice president. They will be voting for 575 members of the lower house. This is out of candidates of 16 political parties. There will be local voting at the provincial level. So in all, 20,000 seats will be up for votes. WION: How did Indonesians in India vote? Suryodipuro: There are 2 million Indonesians living overseas. They are covered by 133 Indonesian missions worldwide. So in India, we have votings in the embassy in New Delhi and the Consulate in Mumbai. In all, we have 198 Indonesian citizens come to the embassy and vote and 91 that voted by mail. We are going through the counting. These are ballot papers and not electronic voting machines, they are being counted manually.

Can learn a lot from Indian experience on electronic voting machines: Indonesian envoy

Indonesia's Joko Widodo was on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/polls-close-in-indonesias-giant-one-day-election-211089">track to be re-elected leader </a>of the world's third-biggest democracy with pollsters giving him a wide lead over rival Prabowo Subianto, a firebrand ex-general, hours after voting closed Wednesday across the 17,000-island archipelago.

While official results are not due until next month, a series of so-called "quick counts" by pollsters showed Widodo holding a strong lead with around 55 per cent of the vote to Subianto's 44 per cent.&nbsp;

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_Wx1TdnX4IQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The vote officially ended at 1:00 pm (0600 GMT) in Sumatra, although some of the 800,000 polling stations across the volcano-dotted nation remained open late due to delays and long queues.

From the jungles of Borneo to the slums of Jakarta, Wednesday saw millions of Indonesians cast their ballots in one of the world's biggest exercises in democracy.

Horses, elephants, motorbikes, boats and planes were pressed into service to get ballot boxes out across the vast country that is home to hundreds of ethnic groups and languages.&nbsp;

More than 190 million voters were asked to choose between the incumbent Widodo, lauded for his infrastructure driven economic push, and his fiery nationalist rival, who has strong ties to the country's three-decade Suharto dictatorship.

The call to prayer had rang out as voting began at first light in restive Papua province in the east.

Almost 90 per cent of the population of the 4,800 kilometre-long (3,000 mile) country are Muslim.

The campaign was punctuated by bitter mudslinging and a slew of fake news online -- much directed at the presidential contenders.

Leading in pre-vote polls, President Joko Widodo, 57, pointed to his ambitious drive to build much-needed roads, airports and other infrastructure across Southeast Asia's largest economy.

But Widodo, a political outsider with an everyman personality when he swept to victory in 2014, has seen his rights record criticised owing to an uptick in discriminatory attacks on religious and other minorities, including a small LGBT community, as Islamic hardliners become more vocal in public life.

His choice of conservative cleric Ma'ruf Amin as his running mate also raised fears about the future of Indonesia's reputation for moderate Islam.

Echoing US President Donald Trump, Subianto vowed to put "Indonesia first" by reviewing billions of dollars in Chinese investment.

His long-held presidential ambitions, however, have been dogged by a chequered past and strong ties to the Suharto dictatorship, which collapsed two decades ago and opened the door for what is now the world's third-biggest democracy.

He ordered the abduction of democracy activists as the authoritarian regime collapsed in 1998, and was accused of committing atrocities in East Timor.

Subianto -- who has moved to soften his image with an Instagram account featuring his cat Bobby -- has warned he would challenge the results if he lost this year.

He narrowly lost to Widodo in the 2014 polls.

A record 245,000 candidates ran for public office, from the presidency and parliamentary seats to local positions -- the first time all were held on the same day.

In Palu, which was devastated by a quake-tsunami six months ago, one woman who lost her 10-year-old daughter and her home in the disaster voiced hope that the poll could help bring some relief.

"Hopefully the president or the new legislative candidate will help people like us still living in evacuation shelters," said Laila, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

"All this time we've been living on handouts from volunteers."

Thousands of survivors are still living in makeshift tents in the affected region of the island of Sulawesi.

In mountain-ringed Bandung city, flooding didn't stop people from wading through knee-deep water to cast a ballot, or turning up at polling stations on inflated tyre inner tubes.

About two million military and civil protection force members were deployed to ensure the vote went smoothly, including in mountainous Papua where rebels have been fighting for decades to split from Indonesia.

Papua election officials dressed in traditional headgear and grass skirts, as others strapped on superhero costumes to entertain voters in other parts of the country of 260 million.&nbsp;

"This only happens once in five years, so we have to exercise our (voting) rights," I Gusti Ketut Sudarsa, 65, said from holiday hotspot Bali.

"This will determine the path of our nation."

Indonesia's Joko Widodo was on track to be re-elected leader of the world's third-biggest democracy with pollsters giving him a wide lead over rival Prabowo Subianto, a firebrand ex-general, hours after voting closed Wednesday across the 17,000-island archipelago.

Indonesia's Joko Widodo was on track to be re-elected leader of the world's third-biggest democracy with pollsters giving him a wide lead over rival Prabowo Subianto, a firebrand ex-general, hours after voting closed Wednesday across the 17,000-island archipelago. While official results are not due until next month, a series of so-called "quick counts" by pollsters showed Widodo holding a strong lead with around 55 per cent of the vote to Subianto's 44 per cent. The vote officially ended at 1:00 pm (0600 GMT) in Sumatra, although some of the 800,000 polling stations across the volcano-dotted nation remained open late due to delays and long queues. From the jungles of Borneo to the slums of Jakarta, Wednesday saw millions of Indonesians cast their ballots in one of the world's biggest exercises in democracy. Horses, elephants, motorbikes, boats and planes were pressed into service to get ballot boxes out across the vast country that is home to hundreds of ethnic groups and languages. More than 190 million voters were asked to choose between the incumbent Widodo, lauded for his infrastructure driven economic push, and his fiery nationalist rival, who has strong ties to the country's three-decade Suharto dictatorship. The call to prayer had rang out as voting began at first light in restive Papua province in the east. Almost 90 per cent of the population of the 4,800 kilometre-long (3,000 mile) country are Muslim. The campaign was punctuated by bitter mudslinging and a slew of fake news online -- much directed at the presidential contenders. Leading in pre-vote polls, President Joko Widodo, 57, pointed to his ambitious drive to build much-needed roads, airports and other infrastructure across Southeast Asia's largest economy. But Widodo, a political outsider with an everyman personality when he swept to victory in 2014, has seen his rights record criticised owing to an uptick in discriminatory attacks on religious and other minorities, including a small LGBT community, as Islamic hardliners become more vocal in public life. His choice of conservative cleric Ma'ruf Amin as his running mate also raised fears about the future of Indonesia's reputation for moderate Islam. Echoing US President Donald Trump, Subianto vowed to put "Indonesia first" by reviewing billions of dollars in Chinese investment. His long-held presidential ambitions, however, have been dogged by a chequered past and strong ties to the Suharto dictatorship, which collapsed two decades ago and opened the door for what is now the world's third-biggest democracy. He ordered the abduction of democracy activists as the authoritarian regime collapsed in 1998, and was accused of committing atrocities in East Timor. Subianto -- who has moved to soften his image with an Instagram account featuring his cat Bobby -- has warned he would challenge the results if he lost this year. He narrowly lost to Widodo in the 2014 polls. A record 245,000 candidates ran for public office, from the presidency and parliamentary seats to local positions -- the first time all were held on the same day. In Palu, which was devastated by a quake-tsunami six months ago, one woman who lost her 10-year-old daughter and her home in the disaster voiced hope that the poll could help bring some relief. "Hopefully the president or the new legislative candidate will help people like us still living in evacuation shelters," said Laila, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. "All this time we've been living on handouts from volunteers." Thousands of survivors are still living in makeshift tents in the affected region of the island of Sulawesi. In mountain-ringed Bandung city, flooding didn't stop people from wading through knee-deep water to cast a ballot, or turning up at polling stations on inflated tyre inner tubes. About two million military and civil protection force members were deployed to ensure the vote went smoothly, including in mountainous Papua where rebels have been fighting for decades to split from Indonesia. Papua election officials dressed in traditional headgear and grass skirts, as others strapped on superhero costumes to entertain voters in other parts of the country of 260 million. "This only happens once in five years, so we have to exercise our (voting) rights," I Gusti Ketut Sudarsa, 65, said from holiday hotspot Bali. "This will determine the path of our nation."

Joko Widodo leading in early count in Indonesia: Pollsters

More than 192 million Indonesians are eligible to <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesians-to-vote-in-worlds-biggest-single-day-election-210259&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwid1pn7ndThAhXCknAKHSZtB7IQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw2LqS-cysSwraSn3-gqgzAH">vote</a> in presidential and parliamentary elections on Wednesday after campaigns focused on the economy, but with political Islam looming large over the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation.

President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/192-million-voters-245-000-candidates-indonesia-to-vote-in-worlds-biggest-single-day-election-on-april-17-210463">Joko Widodo</a>, a former furniture salesman who launched his political career as a small-city mayor, is standing for re-election in a contest with ex-general Prabowo Subianto, whom he narrowly defeated in 2014.

As conservative Islam gains traction, politicians including Widodo have taken pains to appear more Islamic. The worry for investors is that the appeal for conservative votes will translate into populist policy.

Most opinion polls give Widodo a double-digit lead but the opposition has disputed survey findings. Some recent surveys have shown Prabowo catching up.

The opposition has also said it has uncovered data irregularities affecting millions on the electoral rolls and has vowed to take legal action or use "people power" if its complaints are not resolved.

The election is a huge logistical operation in the world's third-largest democracy with 245,000 candidates vying for votes in what is described as the world's biggest single-day election.

Nearly 350,000 police and military personnel, in addition to 1.6 million paramilitary officers, will fan out across the archipelago of 17,000 islands to safeguard the vote.

Polling stations will open at 7 am (2200 GMT on Tuesday) in the east and close at 1 pm (0600 GMT) in the west.

Unofficial "quick counts" will be released hours after polling ends and the winning presidential candidate is expected to be apparent by late Wednesday.

The General Election Commission is expected to announce an official result in May.

The 'new face' in politics, Widodo seeks a second term

When Widodo was elected five years ago he offered a break from the military and political elite that had clung to power since the fall of strongman ruler Suharto in 1998.

Now, Widodo, 57, is running on his own record for a second term.

With his easy smile and signature "blusukan", or impromptu walkabouts, he came to power on a wave of support for a clean, can-do image he cultivated as a small-city mayor, and then as governor of the capital, Jakarta.

Still, during his political rise, Widodo, a moderate Muslim from the city of Solo in Java island, has had to fend off smear campaigns suggesting he was anti-Islam, a communist or in debt to China. On Sunday, he made a pilgrimage to Islam's holiest site, Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

As president, Widodo was saddled with expectations he could fix a host of problems, from human rights abuses to pervasive graft. Jokowi, as he is popularly known, also inherited an economy coming off a commodities boom, and faced an obstructive parliament.

He stitched together a majority in parliament and while unable to hit an economic growth target of 7 per cent, led a push to build ports, roads and airports.

The challenger, former special forces commander

Challenger Prabowo Subianto, 67, has long harboured ambitions for the top job and has cultivated a strongman image and ties with hardline Islamist groups in the hope of boosting his chances.

In the last election, in 2014, Prabowo, the head of the Great Indonesia Movement party, came within 6 percentage points of beating Widodo.

A former special forces commander, Prabowo comes from an elite political family. His father was one of Indonesia's most prominent economists, serving in the cabinets of both presidents Sukarno and Suharto. The latter was his father-in-law.

Prabowo has fired up his rallies with warnings the country is at the mercy of unspecified foreign powers and on the verge of fragmentation.

Clawing back voter support in Muslim heartland

Since taking office, Widodo has made efforts to bring religious parties into his coalition and to secure the backing of the conservative voters he failed to win over in 2014.

His decision to pick Islamic cleric Ma'ruf Amin, 76, as his running mate was part of a strategy to enhance his ticket's appeal among conservatives but it disappointed some of his moderate and progressive supporters, who say the president is pandering to conservatives and fear the erosion of Indonesia's reputation for religious tolerance and pluralism.

Widodo's aides say the mobilisation of grassroots support and canvassing of thousands of Islamic schools in conservative provinces is crucial to prevent a repeat of 2014 when the opposition attacks cost him votes.

Disgruntled rural voters weigh options

Economic growth has hovered at about 5 per cent over Widodo's first term, but there has been a drop in real income for its nearly 40 million farmers, who account for a third of the labour force.

Widodo has sought to tame inflation with a cap on prices of staples such as rice and shallots and to import more food. He remains popular in many rural areas though some farmers are considering the opposition even though Widodo has led an infrastructure drive that has improved access to markets.

Prabowo has said some of Widodo's infrastructure projects have failed to help ordinary people.

The front line of the social media election battle

This election has been fought out over social media as never before. So-called buzzer teams have proliferated, named for the buzz they aim to create, to spread propaganda on behalf of both Widodo and Prabowo, sometimes with fake accounts.

Under Indonesia's broad internet defamation law, creating and spreading fake news is illegal, but holding social media accounts in false names is not unless a real person is being impersonated. Both campaign teams deny using buzzers or spreading fake news.

Misinformation is rampant on Facebook, which counts Indonesia as its third-largest market globally with an estimated 130 million accounts, as well as on its Instagram and WhatsApp affiliates and rival service Twitter.

The companies say they are working with the government and fighting false content.

Pushing the envelope in Indonesia's money politics

Indonesia has some of the worst money politics in Southeast Asia, according to researchers. Handouts of cash and gifts, anti-graft advocates and politicians say, lead to rampant corruption as successful candidates recoup election expenses, and more, once elected.

Envelopes, usually stuffed with cash ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 rupiah ($1.42 to $7.08), are commonly doled out to voters. Though small amounts, the overall cost can be huge over a six-month campaign.

The going rate for a serious run for one of 560 seats in the national legislature is about 10 billion rupiahs, or $708,000, according to the former deputy chief of the Corruption Eradication Commission.

Those aged between 17-35 account for over one-third of Indonesia's 193 million voters. Both Widodo and Prabowo ramped up efforts to appeal to them, deploying everything from holograms, campaign messaging in comic strips, and breakdancing.

Palm oil central to energy self-sufficiency pledges

Both candidates have pledged to achieve energy self-sufficiency by boosting the use of bioenergy, particularly from palm oil. Indonesia opposes a European Union plan to curb the use of palm oil over deforestation concerns.

More than 192 million Indonesians are eligible to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections on Wednesday after campaigns focused on the economy, but with political Islam looming large over the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation.

More than 192 million Indonesians are eligible to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections on Wednesday after campaigns focused on the economy, but with political Islam looming large over the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation. President Joko Widodo, a former furniture salesman who launched his political career as a small-city mayor, is standing for re-election in a contest with ex-general Prabowo Subianto, whom he narrowly defeated in 2014. As conservative Islam gains traction, politicians including Widodo have taken pains to appear more Islamic. The worry for investors is that the appeal for conservative votes will translate into populist policy. Most opinion polls give Widodo a double-digit lead but the opposition has disputed survey findings. Some recent surveys have shown Prabowo catching up. The opposition has also said it has uncovered data irregularities affecting millions on the electoral rolls and has vowed to take legal action or use "people power" if its complaints are not resolved. The election is a huge logistical operation in the world's third-largest democracy with 245,000 candidates vying for votes in what is described as the world's biggest single-day election. Nearly 350,000 police and military personnel, in addition to 1.6 million paramilitary officers, will fan out across the archipelago of 17,000 islands to safeguard the vote. Polling stations will open at 7 am (2200 GMT on Tuesday) in the east and close at 1 pm (0600 GMT) in the west. Unofficial "quick counts" will be released hours after polling ends and the winning presidential candidate is expected to be apparent by late Wednesday. The General Election Commission is expected to announce an official result in May. The 'new face' in politics, Widodo seeks a second term When Widodo was elected five years ago he offered a break from the military and political elite that had clung to power since the fall of strongman ruler Suharto in 1998. Now, Widodo, 57, is running on his own record for a second term. With his easy smile and signature "blusukan", or impromptu walkabouts, he came to power on a wave of support for a clean, can-do image he cultivated as a small-city mayor, and then as governor of the capital, Jakarta. Still, during his political rise, Widodo, a moderate Muslim from the city of Solo in Java island, has had to fend off smear campaigns suggesting he was anti-Islam, a communist or in debt to China. On Sunday, he made a pilgrimage to Islam's holiest site, Mecca in Saudi Arabia. As president, Widodo was saddled with expectations he could fix a host of problems, from human rights abuses to pervasive graft. Jokowi, as he is popularly known, also inherited an economy coming off a commodities boom, and faced an obstructive parliament. He stitched together a majority in parliament and while unable to hit an economic growth target of 7 per cent, led a push to build ports, roads and airports. The challenger, former special forces commander Challenger Prabowo Subianto, 67, has long harboured ambitions for the top job and has cultivated a strongman image and ties with hardline Islamist groups in the hope of boosting his chances. In the last election, in 2014, Prabowo, the head of the Great Indonesia Movement party, came within 6 percentage points of beating Widodo. A former special forces commander, Prabowo comes from an elite political family. His father was one of Indonesia's most prominent economists, serving in the cabinets of both presidents Sukarno and Suharto. The latter was his father-in-law. Prabowo has fired up his rallies with warnings the country is at the mercy of unspecified foreign powers and on the verge of fragmentation. Clawing back voter support in Muslim heartland Since taking office, Widodo has made efforts to bring religious parties into his coalition and to secure the backing of the conservative voters he failed to win over in 2014. His decision to pick Islamic cleric Ma'ruf Amin, 76, as his running mate was part of a strategy to enhance his ticket's appeal among conservatives but it disappointed some of his moderate and progressive supporters, who say the president is pandering to conservatives and fear the erosion of Indonesia's reputation for religious tolerance and pluralism. Widodo's aides say the mobilisation of grassroots support and canvassing of thousands of Islamic schools in conservative provinces is crucial to prevent a repeat of 2014 when the opposition attacks cost him votes. Disgruntled rural voters weigh options Economic growth has hovered at about 5 per cent over Widodo's first term, but there has been a drop in real income for its nearly 40 million farmers, who account for a third of the labour force. Widodo has sought to tame inflation with a cap on prices of staples such as rice and shallots and to import more food. He remains popular in many rural areas though some farmers are considering the opposition even though Widodo has led an infrastructure drive that has improved access to markets. Prabowo has said some of Widodo's infrastructure projects have failed to help ordinary people. The front line of the social media election battle This election has been fought out over social media as never before. So-called buzzer teams have proliferated, named for the buzz they aim to create, to spread propaganda on behalf of both Widodo and Prabowo, sometimes with fake accounts. Under Indonesia's broad internet defamation law, creating and spreading fake news is illegal, but holding social media accounts in false names is not unless a real person is being impersonated. Both campaign teams deny using buzzers or spreading fake news. Misinformation is rampant on Facebook, which counts Indonesia as its third-largest market globally with an estimated 130 million accounts, as well as on its Instagram and WhatsApp affiliates and rival service Twitter. The companies say they are working with the government and fighting false content. Pushing the envelope in Indonesia's money politics Indonesia has some of the worst money politics in Southeast Asia, according to researchers. Handouts of cash and gifts, anti-graft advocates and politicians say, lead to rampant corruption as successful candidates recoup election expenses, and more, once elected. Envelopes, usually stuffed with cash ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 rupiah ($1.42 to $7.08), are commonly doled out to voters. Though small amounts, the overall cost can be huge over a six-month campaign. The going rate for a serious run for one of 560 seats in the national legislature is about 10 billion rupiahs, or $708,000, according to the former deputy chief of the Corruption Eradication Commission. Those aged between 17-35 account for over one-third of Indonesia's 193 million voters. Both Widodo and Prabowo ramped up efforts to appeal to them, deploying everything from holograms, campaign messaging in comic strips, and breakdancing. Palm oil central to energy self-sufficiency pledges Both candidates have pledged to achieve energy self-sufficiency by boosting the use of bioenergy, particularly from palm oil. Indonesia opposes a European Union plan to curb the use of palm oil over deforestation concerns.

Indonesia's election: The people, issues and preparations

Tens of millions of Indonesians will vote in presidential and parliamentary <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesians-to-vote-in-worlds-biggest-single-day-election-210259&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjExKrzotHhAhULMo8KHa_HDHYQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw36Vtlpp0m2PRPV_wBB8dM6">elections</a> this week after campaigns focused on the economy, but with political Islam looming ever larger in the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation.

President <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/videos/indonesia-presidential-election-prabowo-subianto-vs-joko-widodo-209329&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjExKrzotHhAhULMo8KHa_HDHYQFggHMAE&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw1mpgOl_VBgeV8CYn51Uflk">Joko Widodo</a>, a former furniture salesman who launched his political career as a small-city mayor, is standing for re-election in a contest with ex-general Prabowo Subianto, whom he narrowly defeated in 2014.

Most opinion polls give Widodo a double-digit lead but the opposition has disputed survey findings. It has also said it has uncovered data irregularities affecting millions on the electoral rolls and has vowed to take legal action or use "people power" if its complaints are not resolved.

Some analysts say an unexpected win for the challenger would probably cause a brief slump in Indonesian markets, while a very close race could elevate the risk of a disputed vote.

"In a scenario in which Widodo wins by an unexpectedly narrow margin, large and prolonged protests in Jakarta would elevate tensions and pressure the currency," Kevin O'Rourke, a political analyst and author of Reformasi Weekly, said in the Indonesia-focused newsletter last week.

While most polls have put the president ahead, they could not be taken for granted, a senior government official said.

"Absolutely everybody is flying blind because we don't know how far the opinion polls can be respected," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Widodo ended his six-month campaign with a mass rally at Jakarta's main stadium at the weekend, where festive crowds overflowed into a surrounding park and streets.

Running ran out on stage in sneakers, to the cheers of the crowd after an hours-long concert by local bands, he struck an optimistic tone for the future of the world's third-largest democracy.

That was a stark contrast to his opponent, who has repeatedly warned Indonesia is on the verge of collapse.

Prabowo, as he is usually known, held a similarly big rally the previous weekend where supporters, many dressed in Islamic robes, held a mass prayer before a fiery speech about how Indonesia was being pillaged by foreigners and the elite.

QUICK COUNTS

Widodo has touted a record infrastructure drive and deregulation as major successes during his tenure, calling it a first step to tackle inequality and poverty in Southeast Asia's biggest economy.

In a televised weekend debate, Widodo and his running mate, Islamic cleric Ma'ruf Amin, said their opponents, neither of whom has served in public office for more than a few months, did not understand managing macrolevel economics.

Widodo, a moderate Muslim from central Java, has had to burnish his Islamic credentials after smear campaigns and hoax stories accused him of being anti-Islam, a communist or too close to China, all politically damaging in Indonesia.

Prabowo, who has close links to some hardline Islamist groups, and his running mate, business tycoon Sandiaga Uno, have pledged to boost the economy by slashing taxes as much as 8 percentage points and focus on key infrastructure projects.

Nearly 500,000 police and military will fan out across the vast archipelago to safeguard the vote. In Jakarta, the capital, officers will guard polling station to deter voter intimidation or clashes, national police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said.

More than 192 million will also vote in national and regional legislative elections, being contested by more than 245,000 candidates, in what is being described as the world's biggest single-day election.

Overseas voting is already underway, with thousands lining up outside Indonesian missions in Singapore and Australia.

On Wednesday (April 17), polling stations will open at 7 am&nbsp;(2200 GMT Tuesday) in eastern Indonesia and close at 1 pm (0600 GMT) on the western side of the country.

Voters will manually punch five separate paper ballots for president and vice president, and legislative candidates.

Unofficial "quick counts", based on vote samples from polling stations, will be released hours after polling ends and the winning presidential candidate is expected to be apparent by late Wednesday.

The General Election Commission is expected to announce an official result in May.

Candidates have 72 hours after the official result to complain to the Constitutional Court. A nine-judge panel has 14 days to reach a decision, which cannot be appealed.&nbsp;

Tens of millions of Indonesians will vote in presidential and parliamentary elections this week after campaigns focused on the economy, but with political Islam looming ever larger in the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation.

Tens of millions of Indonesians will vote in presidential and parliamentary elections this week after campaigns focused on the economy, but with political Islam looming ever larger in the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation. President Joko Widodo, a former furniture salesman who launched his political career as a small-city mayor, is standing for re-election in a contest with ex-general Prabowo Subianto, whom he narrowly defeated in 2014. Most opinion polls give Widodo a double-digit lead but the opposition has disputed survey findings. It has also said it has uncovered data irregularities affecting millions on the electoral rolls and has vowed to take legal action or use "people power" if its complaints are not resolved. Some analysts say an unexpected win for the challenger would probably cause a brief slump in Indonesian markets, while a very close race could elevate the risk of a disputed vote. "In a scenario in which Widodo wins by an unexpectedly narrow margin, large and prolonged protests in Jakarta would elevate tensions and pressure the currency," Kevin O'Rourke, a political analyst and author of Reformasi Weekly, said in the Indonesia-focused newsletter last week. While most polls have put the president ahead, they could not be taken for granted, a senior government official said. "Absolutely everybody is flying blind because we don't know how far the opinion polls can be respected," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Widodo ended his six-month campaign with a mass rally at Jakarta's main stadium at the weekend, where festive crowds overflowed into a surrounding park and streets. Running ran out on stage in sneakers, to the cheers of the crowd after an hours-long concert by local bands, he struck an optimistic tone for the future of the world's third-largest democracy. That was a stark contrast to his opponent, who has repeatedly warned Indonesia is on the verge of collapse. Prabowo, as he is usually known, held a similarly big rally the previous weekend where supporters, many dressed in Islamic robes, held a mass prayer before a fiery speech about how Indonesia was being pillaged by foreigners and the elite. QUICK COUNTS Widodo has touted a record infrastructure drive and deregulation as major successes during his tenure, calling it a first step to tackle inequality and poverty in Southeast Asia's biggest economy. In a televised weekend debate, Widodo and his running mate, Islamic cleric Ma'ruf Amin, said their opponents, neither of whom has served in public office for more than a few months, did not understand managing macrolevel economics. Widodo, a moderate Muslim from central Java, has had to burnish his Islamic credentials after smear campaigns and hoax stories accused him of being anti-Islam, a communist or too close to China, all politically damaging in Indonesia. Prabowo, who has close links to some hardline Islamist groups, and his running mate, business tycoon Sandiaga Uno, have pledged to boost the economy by slashing taxes as much as 8 percentage points and focus on key infrastructure projects. Nearly 500,000 police and military will fan out across the vast archipelago to safeguard the vote. In Jakarta, the capital, officers will guard polling station to deter voter intimidation or clashes, national police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said. More than 192 million will also vote in national and regional legislative elections, being contested by more than 245,000 candidates, in what is being described as the world's biggest single-day election. Overseas voting is already underway, with thousands lining up outside Indonesian missions in Singapore and Australia. On Wednesday (April 17), polling stations will open at 7 am (2200 GMT Tuesday) in eastern Indonesia and close at 1 pm (0600 GMT) on the western side of the country. Voters will manually punch five separate paper ballots for president and vice president, and legislative candidates. Unofficial "quick counts", based on vote samples from polling stations, will be released hours after polling ends and the winning presidential candidate is expected to be apparent by late Wednesday. The General Election Commission is expected to announce an official result in May. Candidates have 72 hours after the official result to complain to the Constitutional Court. A nine-judge panel has 14 days to reach a decision, which cannot be appealed.

192 million voters, 245, 000 candidates: Indonesia to vote in world's biggest single-day election on April 17

Concerts and mass prayers bring lengthy election campaign to close in Indonesia

Two months ago, Indonesian farmer Tama harvested several tonnes of shallots from a small plot of land he had rented in the village of Grinting in central Java.

In several ways, Tama had President Joko Widodo to thank for his crop.

The Village Fund programme, launched by Widodo, paid to turn a dirt track between his house and the farm into a paved road. It also brought more electricity, powering lights that trap moths at night, cutting his spending on pesticides.

Tama's shallots were transported to the capital, Jakarta, 250 kilometres to the west, on a new toll road that was part of an infrastructure drive the president led.

But Widodo has also sought to control retail prices, leading to more food imports and a cap on the market price of staples such as rice and shallots, making it hard for farmers to sell at a profit.

So as Widodo seeks a second five-year term in this week's election, some farmers across the highly populated island of Java wonder whether he should get their vote.

Tama, 42, did not earn enough in February to repay a loan due on harvest day because shallot prices were so low.

"I go to my friends to borrow money, or work on anything I can find," said Tama, who - like many Indonesians - has only one name.

Although Widodo, more commonly known as Jokowi, is heading into the election with a comfortable polling lead over his challenger, retired general Prabowo Subianto, his opponents have seized on his agriculture policy to claim that some of the infrastructure projects don't help ordinary people.

Indonesia's economic growth has hovered at about 5 per cent over Widodo's first term, but there has been a drop in real income for the country's nearly 40 million farmers, who account for a third of the labour force.

"The government has chosen populist policies and they led to farmers' not getting full attention," said Josua Pardede, an economist at Jakarta-based Bank Permata.

Widodo's campaign did not respond to requests for comment. Sriyanto Saputro, a spokesman for Prabowo's campaign in Central Java, said internal surveys suggested he was leading in Brebes.

A road called 'Brexit'

Widodo's policies have calmed inflation, which is now about 2.5 per cent - its lowest in a decade - compared with about 8 per cent when he took office. That has underpinned steady growth in household spending, which represents more than half of Southeast Asia's largest economy.

Widodo's infrastructure ambitions have also helped reduce logistical costs that in 2013 were estimated by the World Bank at 24 per cent of GDP, among the highest in the region. Indonesia ranked 46th out of 160 countries on the bank's Logistics Performance Index last year, compared with 63rd in 2016.

Widodo's infrastructure push quickened before the election.

Late last year, he inaugurated the final section of a 944-km (587-mile) road linking the west and east coasts of Java, which includes the section between Jakarta and the shallot-producing Brebes area where Grinting village is.

That section made headlines in international media in 2016 when a three-day holiday traffic jam at one of its gates, Brebes Exit - which locals abbreviate to 'Brexit' - coincided with Britain's referendum to leave the European Union.

Before the Brexit Road was built, it would take truck drivers about eight hours to transport shallots from farm to market in Jakarta, negotiating potholes, regular flooding of the highway and flag-downs by people demanding random charges. Today, the same journey takes about four hours.

"We're grateful for all the infrastructure, but it's the price regulations that need fixing," said farmer Nanang Kusmari Gunawan, 31, complaining that shallot prices were low through most of last year.

Widodo's trade ministry capped retail prices for shallots at 32,000 rupiah ($2.26) per kilogramme in 2018 and suggested a reference farm-gate price of 15,000 rupiah per kg, but Gunawan said this was not enforced and farmers had to sell at 10,000 rupiah.

Some farmers in Central Java, traditionally a stronghold for Widodo's party, are so irked by the government's policies that they will vote for the opposition next week.

"A farmer's biggest enemy is imports," said Suwarno, 34, as he took a cigarette break next to his rows of shallots, adding that he believes Prabowo will stop food imports.

Prabowo was long the chairman of the Indonesian Farmers' Association, which advocate for farmers' rights, and is now promising to industrialise the industry if he becomes president.

Still, the Brebes vote may still largely belong to Widodo: a poll by Alvara Research Center, conducted in early April and published on Friday, suggested he was likely to get 66.5 per cent of votes in central and east Java, and Prabowo only 18.8 per cent.

Tama, despite his shallot struggles, still favours Widodo.

"I chose Jokowi last time. I don't think I will change," Tama said. "His programmes are extraordinary."

Two months ago, Indonesian farmer Tama harvested several tonnes of shallots from a small plot of land he had rented in the village of Grinting in central Java. In several ways, Tama had President Joko Widodo to thank for his crop.

Two months ago, Indonesian farmer Tama harvested several tonnes of shallots from a small plot of land he had rented in the village of Grinting in central Java. In several ways, Tama had President Joko Widodo to thank for his crop. The Village Fund programme, launched by Widodo, paid to turn a dirt track between his house and the farm into a paved road. It also brought more electricity, powering lights that trap moths at night, cutting his spending on pesticides. Tama's shallots were transported to the capital, Jakarta, 250 kilometres to the west, on a new toll road that was part of an infrastructure drive the president led. But Widodo has also sought to control retail prices, leading to more food imports and a cap on the market price of staples such as rice and shallots, making it hard for farmers to sell at a profit. So as Widodo seeks a second five-year term in this week's election, some farmers across the highly populated island of Java wonder whether he should get their vote. Tama, 42, did not earn enough in February to repay a loan due on harvest day because shallot prices were so low. "I go to my friends to borrow money, or work on anything I can find," said Tama, who - like many Indonesians - has only one name. Although Widodo, more commonly known as Jokowi, is heading into the election with a comfortable polling lead over his challenger, retired general Prabowo Subianto, his opponents have seized on his agriculture policy to claim that some of the infrastructure projects don't help ordinary people. Indonesia's economic growth has hovered at about 5 per cent over Widodo's first term, but there has been a drop in real income for the country's nearly 40 million farmers, who account for a third of the labour force. "The government has chosen populist policies and they led to farmers' not getting full attention," said Josua Pardede, an economist at Jakarta-based Bank Permata. Widodo's campaign did not respond to requests for comment. Sriyanto Saputro, a spokesman for Prabowo's campaign in Central Java, said internal surveys suggested he was leading in Brebes. A road called 'Brexit' Widodo's policies have calmed inflation, which is now about 2.5 per cent - its lowest in a decade - compared with about 8 per cent when he took office. That has underpinned steady growth in household spending, which represents more than half of Southeast Asia's largest economy. Widodo's infrastructure ambitions have also helped reduce logistical costs that in 2013 were estimated by the World Bank at 24 per cent of GDP, among the highest in the region. Indonesia ranked 46th out of 160 countries on the bank's Logistics Performance Index last year, compared with 63rd in 2016. Widodo's infrastructure push quickened before the election. Late last year, he inaugurated the final section of a 944-km (587-mile) road linking the west and east coasts of Java, which includes the section between Jakarta and the shallot-producing Brebes area where Grinting village is. That section made headlines in international media in 2016 when a three-day holiday traffic jam at one of its gates, Brebes Exit - which locals abbreviate to 'Brexit' - coincided with Britain's referendum to leave the European Union. Before the Brexit Road was built, it would take truck drivers about eight hours to transport shallots from farm to market in Jakarta, negotiating potholes, regular flooding of the highway and flag-downs by people demanding random charges. Today, the same journey takes about four hours. "We're grateful for all the infrastructure, but it's the price regulations that need fixing," said farmer Nanang Kusmari Gunawan, 31, complaining that shallot prices were low through most of last year. Widodo's trade ministry capped retail prices for shallots at 32,000 rupiah ($2.26) per kilogramme in 2018 and suggested a reference farm-gate price of 15,000 rupiah per kg, but Gunawan said this was not enforced and farmers had to sell at 10,000 rupiah. Some farmers in Central Java, traditionally a stronghold for Widodo's party, are so irked by the government's policies that they will vote for the opposition next week. "A farmer's biggest enemy is imports," said Suwarno, 34, as he took a cigarette break next to his rows of shallots, adding that he believes Prabowo will stop food imports. Prabowo was long the chairman of the Indonesian Farmers' Association, which advocate for farmers' rights, and is now promising to industrialise the industry if he becomes president. Still, the Brebes vote may still largely belong to Widodo: a poll by Alvara Research Center, conducted in early April and published on Friday, suggested he was likely to get 66.5 per cent of votes in central and east Java, and Prabowo only 18.8 per cent. Tama, despite his shallot struggles, still favours Widodo. "I chose Jokowi last time. I don't think I will change," Tama said. "His programmes are extraordinary."

As Indonesia's Widodo seeks a second term, rural voters have some doubts

Tens of millions of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-campaign-rallies-draw-tens-of-thousands-210159&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwij5Imgk8_hAhVh4HMBHUKUB10QFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw1uQ_y0n5O9Yqt1Hivhc4jE">Indonesians</a> will vote in presidential and parliamentary elections this week after campaigns focused on the economy, but with political Islam looming ever larger in the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation.

President Joko Widodo, a former furniture salesman who launched his political career as a small-city mayor, is standing for re-election in a contest with ex-general Prabowo Subianto, whom he narrowly defeated in 2014.

Most opinion polls give Widodo a double-digit lead but the opposition has disputed survey findings.

It has also said it has uncovered data irregularities affecting millions on the electoral rolls and has vowed to take legal action or use "people power" if its complaints are not resolved.

Some analysts say an unexpected win for the challenger would probably cause a brief slump in Indonesian markets, while a very close race could elevate the risk of a disputed vote.&nbsp;

"In a scenario in which Widodo wins by an unexpectedly narrow margin, large and prolonged protests in Jakarta would elevate tensions and pressure the currency," said Kevin O'Rourke in the Reformasi Weekly note on Indonesia published last week.

While most polls have put the president ahead, they could not be taken for granted, a senior government official said. "Absolutely everybody is flying blind because we don't know how far the opinion polls can be respected," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Widodo ended his six-month campaign with a mass rally at Jakarta's main stadium at the weekend, where festive crowds overflowed into a surrounding park and streets.

Running ran out on stage in sneakers, to the cheers of the crowd after an hours-long concert by local bands, he struck an optimistic tone for the future of the world's third-largest democracy.

That was a stark contrast to his opponent, who has repeatedly warned Indonesia is on the verge of collapse.

Prabowo, as he is usually known, held a similarly big rally the previous weekend where supporters, many dressed in Islamic robes, held a mass prayer before a fiery speech about how Indonesia was being pillaged by foreigners and the elite.

QUICK COUNTS Widodo has touted a record infrastructure drive and deregulation as major successes during his tenure, calling it a first step to tackle inequality and poverty in Southeast Asia's biggest economy.

In a televised weekend debate, Widodo and his running mate, Islamic cleric Ma'ruf Amin, said their opponents, neither of whom has served in public office for more than a few months, did not understand managing macrolevel economics.

Widodo, a moderate Muslim from central Java, has had to burnish his Islamic credentials after smear campaigns and hoax stories accused him of being anti-Islam, a communist or too close to China, all politically damaging in Indonesia.

Prabowo, who has close links to some hardline Islamist groups, and his running mate, business tycoon Sandiaga Uno, have pledged to boost the economy by slashing taxes as much as 8 percentage points and focus on key infrastructure projects.

Nearly 500,000 police and military will fan out across the vast archipelago to safeguard the vote.

In Jakarta, the capital, officers will guard polling station to deter voter intimidation or clashes, national police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said.

More than 192 million will also vote in national and regional legislative elections, being contested by more than 245,000 candidates, in what is being described as the world's biggest single-day election.

Overseas voting is already underway, with thousands lining up outside Indonesian missions in Singapore and Australia.

On Wednesday, polling stations will open at 7 a.m. (2200 GMT Tuesday) in eastern Indonesia and close at 1 p.m. (0600 GMT) on the western side of the country.

Voters will manually punch five separate paper ballots for president and vice president, and legislative candidates.

Unofficial "quick counts", based on vote samples from polling stations, will be released hours after polling ends and the winning presidential candidate is expected to be apparent by late Wednesday.

The General Election Commission is expected to announce an official result in May.

Candidates have 72 hours after the official result to complain to the Constitutional Court. A nine-judge panel has 14 days to reach a decision, which cannot be appealed.

Tens of millions of Indonesians will vote in presidential and parliamentary elections this week after campaigns focused on the economy, but with political Islam looming ever larger in the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation. President Joko Widodo, a former furniture salesman who launched his political career as a small-city mayor, is standing for re-election in a contest with ex-general Prabowo Subianto, whom he narrowly defeated in 2014. Most opinion polls give Widodo a double-digit lead but the opposition has disputed survey findings. It has also said it has uncovered data irregularities affecting millions on the electoral rolls and has vowed to take legal action or use "people power" if its complaints are not resolved. Some analysts say an unexpected win for the challenger would probably cause a brief slump in Indonesian markets, while a very close race could elevate the risk of a disputed vote. "In a scenario in which Widodo wins by an unexpectedly narrow margin, large and prolonged protests in Jakarta would elevate tensions and pressure the currency," said Kevin O'Rourke in the Reformasi Weekly note on Indonesia published last week. While most polls have put the president ahead, they could not be taken for granted, a senior government official said. "Absolutely everybody is flying blind because we don't know how far the opinion polls can be respected," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Widodo ended his six-month campaign with a mass rally at Jakarta's main stadium at the weekend, where festive crowds overflowed into a surrounding park and streets. Running ran out on stage in sneakers, to the cheers of the crowd after an hours-long concert by local bands, he struck an optimistic tone for the future of the world's third-largest democracy. That was a stark contrast to his opponent, who has repeatedly warned Indonesia is on the verge of collapse. Prabowo, as he is usually known, held a similarly big rally the previous weekend where supporters, many dressed in Islamic robes, held a mass prayer before a fiery speech about how Indonesia was being pillaged by foreigners and the elite. QUICK COUNTS Widodo has touted a record infrastructure drive and deregulation as major successes during his tenure, calling it a first step to tackle inequality and poverty in Southeast Asia's biggest economy. In a televised weekend debate, Widodo and his running mate, Islamic cleric Ma'ruf Amin, said their opponents, neither of whom has served in public office for more than a few months, did not understand managing macrolevel economics. Widodo, a moderate Muslim from central Java, has had to burnish his Islamic credentials after smear campaigns and hoax stories accused him of being anti-Islam, a communist or too close to China, all politically damaging in Indonesia. Prabowo, who has close links to some hardline Islamist groups, and his running mate, business tycoon Sandiaga Uno, have pledged to boost the economy by slashing taxes as much as 8 percentage points and focus on key infrastructure projects. Nearly 500,000 police and military will fan out across the vast archipelago to safeguard the vote. In Jakarta, the capital, officers will guard polling station to deter voter intimidation or clashes, national police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said. More than 192 million will also vote in national and regional legislative elections, being contested by more than 245,000 candidates, in what is being described as the world's biggest single-day election. Overseas voting is already underway, with thousands lining up outside Indonesian missions in Singapore and Australia. On Wednesday, polling stations will open at 7 a.m. (2200 GMT Tuesday) in eastern Indonesia and close at 1 p.m. (0600 GMT) on the western side of the country. Voters will manually punch five separate paper ballots for president and vice president, and legislative candidates. Unofficial "quick counts", based on vote samples from polling stations, will be released hours after polling ends and the winning presidential candidate is expected to be apparent by late Wednesday. The General Election Commission is expected to announce an official result in May. Candidates have 72 hours after the official result to complain to the Constitutional Court. A nine-judge panel has 14 days to reach a decision, which cannot be appealed.

Indonesians to vote in world's biggest single-day election

About 100,000 people filled Jakarta's main stadium Saturday for a huge rally in support of Indonesian president Joko Widodo, just days ahead of the biggest-ever elections in the world's number-three democracy.

Widodo is leading presidential challenger Prabowo Subianto, a former general, by double-digits in most opinion polls going into Wednesday's poll.&nbsp;

The two men held their final televised debate Saturday evening.

Earlier, the capital's already congested streets were jammed with colourful parades and peaceful demonstrations, bringing traffic to a standstill.

At the main stadium, Widodo supporters waved Indonesia's red-and-white flag as they sang and danced to performances by dozens of musicians.

The crowd cheered as the 57-year-old incumbent, popularly known as Jokowi, pledged his commitment to pluralism in the Muslim-majority country of more than 260 million.

"Our country is a big nation of different ethnicities, religions, traditions and cultures," he said.

Subianto held his last rally on Friday, which attracted tens of thousands.

His vice-presidential running-mate Sandiaga Uno, a wealthy financier reported to have spent $100 million on his campaign, held a big rally Saturday in Tangerang near Jakarta.

"God willing, with Prabowo and Sandi we will create a fair and prosperous Indonesia," Uno told the crowd.

Subianto's team has warned it would challenge the results over voter-list irregularities if he lost -- setting up a repeat of the pair's 2014 contest, which Widodo won despite an unsuccessful court challenge to his narrow victory.

Widodo campaigned on his infrastructure-driven bid to rev up Southeast Asia's largest economy, while Subianto pledged more defence spending and a review of foreign investment in the sprawling archipelago.

Food vendor Ali Suhardi, 55, said he would vote for the heavy metal music-loving Widodo, but across the city, Romlah was itching for a new leader.

"I want change that will make this country better," said the Subianto supporter, who goes by one name.

More than 190 million Indonesians will choose their next president, parliamentarians and thousands of local officials on April 17.

There are a record 245,000 candidates competing with some 800,000 polling stations across the country.

About 100,000 people filled Jakarta's main stadium Saturday for a huge rally in support of Indonesian president Joko Widodo, just days ahead of the biggest-ever elections in the world's number-three democracy.

About 100,000 people filled Jakarta's main stadium Saturday for a huge rally in support of Indonesian president Joko Widodo, just days ahead of the biggest-ever elections in the world's number-three democracy. Widodo is leading presidential challenger Prabowo Subianto, a former general, by double-digits in most opinion polls going into Wednesday's poll. The two men held their final televised debate Saturday evening. Earlier, the capital's already congested streets were jammed with colourful parades and peaceful demonstrations, bringing traffic to a standstill. At the main stadium, Widodo supporters waved Indonesia's red-and-white flag as they sang and danced to performances by dozens of musicians. The crowd cheered as the 57-year-old incumbent, popularly known as Jokowi, pledged his commitment to pluralism in the Muslim-majority country of more than 260 million. "Our country is a big nation of different ethnicities, religions, traditions and cultures," he said. Subianto held his last rally on Friday, which attracted tens of thousands. His vice-presidential running-mate Sandiaga Uno, a wealthy financier reported to have spent $100 million on his campaign, held a big rally Saturday in Tangerang near Jakarta. "God willing, with Prabowo and Sandi we will create a fair and prosperous Indonesia," Uno told the crowd. Subianto's team has warned it would challenge the results over voter-list irregularities if he lost -- setting up a repeat of the pair's 2014 contest, which Widodo won despite an unsuccessful court challenge to his narrow victory. Widodo campaigned on his infrastructure-driven bid to rev up Southeast Asia's largest economy, while Subianto pledged more defence spending and a review of foreign investment in the sprawling archipelago. Food vendor Ali Suhardi, 55, said he would vote for the heavy metal music-loving Widodo, but across the city, Romlah was itching for a new leader. "I want change that will make this country better," said the Subianto supporter, who goes by one name. More than 190 million Indonesians will choose their next president, parliamentarians and thousands of local officials on April 17. There are a record 245,000 candidates competing with some 800,000 polling stations across the country.

Indonesia campaign rallies draw tens of thousands

Life Size Hologram Of Indonesian President Joko Widodo Addresses Crowds In The Country As Widodo Takes A Leaf Out Of Indian PM Modi's Book. India's Prime Minister inspires Indonesia's President. Joko Widodo takes a leaf out of Modi's book, uses 3D technology to address voters, something that Modi did in 2014. Here's a report

Gravitas: Indian PM Modi inspires Indonesian President Joko Widodo

As World's third largest democracy Indonesia is all set to go to the polls on 17th April, Presidential candidates Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto are ready to encounter each other yet again to win the tough battle of 2019 election.

Indonesia presidential election: Prabowo Subianto vs Joko Widodo

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/rescuers-dig-through-rubble-for-survivors-after-indonesian-tsunami-kills-280-186101">Indonesian rescuers</a> on Tuesday used drones and sniffer dogs to search for survivors along the devastated west coast of Java hit by a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-tsunami-death-toll-climbs-to-222-over-800-injured-185999">series of tsunamis</a> that killed at least 373 people, warning more victims are expected to be uncovered as the search expands.

Thick ash clouds continued to spew from Anak Krakatau, a volcanic island where a crater collapse at high tide on Saturday sending tsunamis smashing into coastal areas on both sides of the Sunda Strait between the islands of Sumatra and Java.

At least 128 people remain missing. More than 1,400 people were injured, and thousands of residents had to move to higher ground, with a high-tide warning extended to Wednesday.

Rescuers used heavy machinery, sniffer dogs, and special cameras to detect and dig bodies out of mud and wreckage along a 100 km (60 miles) stretch of Java's west coast and officials said the search area would be expanded further south.

"There are several locations that we previously thought were not affected," said Yusuf Latif, spokesman for the national search and rescue agency.

"But now we are reaching more remote areas...and in fact, there are many victims there," he added.

The vast archipelago, which sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", has suffered its worst annual death toll from disasters in more than a decade.

Earthquakes flattened parts of the island of Lombok in July and August, and a double quake-and-tsunami killed more than 2,000 people on a remote part of Sulawesi island in September.

"At least 373 people have died, while 128 people are currently missing," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the disaster mitigation agency, said on Monday evening.

It took just 24 minutes after the landslide for waves to hit land, and there was no early warning for those living on the coast.

"Everything is destroyed''

Authorities and experts have warned of further high waves and advised residents to stay away from the shoreline.

"Since Anak Krakatau has been actively erupting for the past several months' additional tsunamis cannot be excluded," said Dr Prof Hermann Fritz, from the Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States.

Rescue efforts were hampered by heavy rainfall and low visibility. Military and volunteer rescue teams used drones to assess the extent of the damage. One team used sniffer dogs to search for survivors at the beach club where a tsunami washed away an outdoor stage where the Indonesian rock band Seventeen were performing at a party for about 200 guests.

Destruction was visible along much of the coastline where waves of up to two metres (six feet) crushed vehicles, lifted chunks of metal, felled trees, wooden beams and household items and deposited them on roads and rice fields.

Nurjana, 20, ran uphill after the tsunami hit. Her beachside snack stall was washed away.

"I opened the door straight away and saved myself. I jumped over the wall," she said. "Everything is destroyed."

Out in the strait, Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatau) was still erupting, belching white smoke and ash into the sky.

The meteorology agency said that an area of about 64 hectares, or 90 soccer pitches, of the volcanic island, had collapsed into the sea.

In 1883, the volcano then known as Krakatoa erupted in one of the biggest blasts in recorded history, killing more than 36,000 people in a series of the tsunami, and lowering the global surface temperature by one degree Celsius with its ash. Anak Krakatau is the island that emerged from the area in 1927 and has been growing ever since.

Saturday's high waves isolated hundreds of people on Sebesi island, about 12 km (seven miles) volcano.

"We are completely paralysed," Syamsiar, a village secretary on the island, told Metro TV, calling for food and medicine.

President Joko Widodo, who is running for re-election in April, told disaster agencies to install early warning systems, but experts said that, unlike tsunami caused by earthquakes, little could have been done in time to alert people that waves were coming.

Memories of 2004

"Tsunamis from volcanic flank collapse are generated right at the coast and often close to populations," said Eddie Dempsey, lecturer in structural geology at Britain's University of Hull.

"The interval between the volcanic collapse and the arrival of the waves is minimal."

The timing of the disaster over the Christmas season evoked memories of the Indian Ocean tsunami triggered by an earthquake on Dec. 26, 2004, which killed 226,000 people in 14 countries, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia.

Food, water, blankets, and medical aid has started arriving in the area.

District chief Atmadja Suhara said he was helping to care for 4,000 refugees, many of them homeless.

"Everybody is still in a state of panic," he said. "We often have disasters, but not as bad as this."

"God willing," he said, "we will rebuild."

Indonesian rescuers on Tuesday used drones and sniffer dogs to search for survivors along the devastated west coast of Java hit by a series of tsunamis that killed at least 373 people, warning more victims are expected to be uncovered as the search expands.

Indonesian rescuers on Tuesday used drones and sniffer dogs to search for survivors along the devastated west coast of Java hit by a series of tsunamis that killed at least 373 people, warning more victims are expected to be uncovered as the search expands. Thick ash clouds continued to spew from Anak Krakatau, a volcanic island where a crater collapse at high tide on Saturday sending tsunamis smashing into coastal areas on both sides of the Sunda Strait between the islands of Sumatra and Java. At least 128 people remain missing. More than 1,400 people were injured, and thousands of residents had to move to higher ground, with a high-tide warning extended to Wednesday. Rescuers used heavy machinery, sniffer dogs, and special cameras to detect and dig bodies out of mud and wreckage along a 100 km (60 miles) stretch of Java's west coast and officials said the search area would be expanded further south. "There are several locations that we previously thought were not affected," said Yusuf Latif, spokesman for the national search and rescue agency. "But now we are reaching more remote areas...and in fact, there are many victims there," he added. The vast archipelago, which sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", has suffered its worst annual death toll from disasters in more than a decade. Earthquakes flattened parts of the island of Lombok in July and August, and a double quake-and-tsunami killed more than 2,000 people on a remote part of Sulawesi island in September. "At least 373 people have died, while 128 people are currently missing," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the disaster mitigation agency, said on Monday evening. It took just 24 minutes after the landslide for waves to hit land, and there was no early warning for those living on the coast. "Everything is destroyed'' Authorities and experts have warned of further high waves and advised residents to stay away from the shoreline. "Since Anak Krakatau has been actively erupting for the past several months' additional tsunamis cannot be excluded," said Dr Prof Hermann Fritz, from the Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States. Rescue efforts were hampered by heavy rainfall and low visibility. Military and volunteer rescue teams used drones to assess the extent of the damage. One team used sniffer dogs to search for survivors at the beach club where a tsunami washed away an outdoor stage where the Indonesian rock band Seventeen were performing at a party for about 200 guests. Destruction was visible along much of the coastline where waves of up to two metres (six feet) crushed vehicles, lifted chunks of metal, felled trees, wooden beams and household items and deposited them on roads and rice fields. Nurjana, 20, ran uphill after the tsunami hit. Her beachside snack stall was washed away. "I opened the door straight away and saved myself. I jumped over the wall," she said. "Everything is destroyed." Out in the strait, Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatau) was still erupting, belching white smoke and ash into the sky. The meteorology agency said that an area of about 64 hectares, or 90 soccer pitches, of the volcanic island, had collapsed into the sea. In 1883, the volcano then known as Krakatoa erupted in one of the biggest blasts in recorded history, killing more than 36,000 people in a series of the tsunami, and lowering the global surface temperature by one degree Celsius with its ash. Anak Krakatau is the island that emerged from the area in 1927 and has been growing ever since. Saturday's high waves isolated hundreds of people on Sebesi island, about 12 km (seven miles) volcano. "We are completely paralysed," Syamsiar, a village secretary on the island, told Metro TV, calling for food and medicine. President Joko Widodo, who is running for re-election in April, told disaster agencies to install early warning systems, but experts said that, unlike tsunami caused by earthquakes, little could have been done in time to alert people that waves were coming. Memories of 2004 "Tsunamis from volcanic flank collapse are generated right at the coast and often close to populations," said Eddie Dempsey, lecturer in structural geology at Britain's University of Hull. "The interval between the volcanic collapse and the arrival of the waves is minimal." The timing of the disaster over the Christmas season evoked memories of the Indian Ocean tsunami triggered by an earthquake on Dec. 26, 2004, which killed 226,000 people in 14 countries, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia. Food, water, blankets, and medical aid has started arriving in the area. District chief Atmadja Suhara said he was helping to care for 4,000 refugees, many of them homeless. "Everybody is still in a state of panic," he said. "We often have disasters, but not as bad as this." "God willing," he said, "we will rebuild."

Indonesian rescuers use drones, sniffer dogs as tsunami death toll touches 373

The death toll from a tsunami that hit the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra after the Anak Krakatau volcano erupted rose to at least 280 on Monday, officials said, as rescuers using heavy machinery and their bare hands searched for more victims.

Hundreds more were injured when the tsunami struck, almost without warning, along the rim of the Sunda Strait late on Saturday. More than 3,000 coastal residents were forced to evacuate to higher ground, with a high-tide warning in place until Tuesday.

The vast archipelago, which sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", has suffered its worst annual death toll from disasters in more than a decade. Earthquakes flattened parts of the tourist island of Lombok in July and August, and a double quake-and-tsunami killed more than 2,000 people on Sulawesi island in September.

Search and rescue officials used their bare hands and some heavy machinery to clear the remains of buildings on Monday. Government and non-government aid trickled into Pandeglang, the worst-affected area on Java's west coast.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/factbox-indonesia-regularly-hit-by-quakes-and-tsunamis-185962">Indonesia's</a>&nbsp;disaster agency had put the death toll at 222 on Sunday, with about 850 injured and 28 people missing but raised it to 280 early on Monday. A disaster mitigation agency official in Banten province named Jhony told reporters most victims were Indonesian holidaymakers.

Dudi Dwiriadi, a district military commander, said personnel and volunteers had been briefed to sweep at least 100 km (60 miles) of coastline in search of victims.

The timing of the tsunami over the Christmas holiday season evoked memories of the Indian Ocean tsunami triggered by an earthquake on December 26, 2004, which killed 226,000 people in 14 countries, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia.

Roads Blocked

Some roads remained blocked by debris and traffic, with families streaming out of the area for fear of further tsunamis.

President Joko Widodo, who is running for re-election in April, was scheduled to visit the area later on Monday.

Television images showed when the tsunami hit the beach and residential areas in Pandeglang, dragging with it victims, debris, and large chunks of wood and metal.

Many coastal residents reported not seeing or feeling any warning signs, such as an earthquake, on Saturday night before waves of 2-3 metres (6-10 feet) washed ashore.

Yuni, a resident of Lampung in Sumatra, was watching television at home when she heard the water coming.

"I heard a rumbling sound and I thought it was the wind. After I opened the door, water came in quickly and dragged me out. When I saw outside, the sea was receding. I decided to run and go as the water came again for the second time," she said.

Roman, a resident of the area who operates tours to Anak Krakatau, said by text message the weather had been fine when the waves struck, although residents had become wary of the rumbling volcano.

He said many others had taken refuge in his elevated village of Tahura Carita, which is about 100 metres from the sea. Evacuees were relying on instant noodles, he said.

Heavy equipment was being moved in to help with rescue efforts, as well as water and sanitation equipment. The military said it was deploying troops to distribute aid and blankets, as well as sending in medics.

The western coast of Banten province in Java, Indonesia's most populated island, was also badly hit, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency.

At least 48 people were reported dead in Lampung in southern Sumatra, he said.

With the exact cause of the disaster still unknown, authorities were wary of the risk of a recurrence. Public works minister Basuki Hadimuljono said emergency operations would be carried out continuously but "would stop at the first sign of possible high tides".

'Washed Away'

Television footage showed how the tsunami washed away an outdoor stage where Indonesian rock band Seventeen was performing for hundreds of guests at an end-of-year party for state utility company PLN.

At least four band members and support crew were killed, lead singer Riefian "Ifan" Fajarsyah told followers in a tearful Instagram account. The band's drummer was among the missing.

Another 29 PLN employees and relatives were also killed.

Anak Krakatau, roughly halfway between Java and Sumatra, has been spewing ash and lava for months. It erupted again just after 9 p.m. on Saturday and the tsunami struck about 30 minutes later, according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

The tsunami was caused by an undersea landslide resulting from volcanic activity on Anak Krakatau and was exacerbated by abnormally high tides because of the full moon, Nugroho said.

Ben van der Pluijm, an earthquake geologist and professor at the University of Michigan, said the tsunami may have been caused by a partial collapse of Anak Krakatau.

"Instability of the slope of an active volcano can create a rock slide that moves a large volume of water, creating local tsunami waves that can be very powerful. This is like suddenly dropping a bag of sand in a tub filled with water," he said.

The eruption of Krakatau, previously known as Krakatoa, in 1883 killed more than 36,000 people in a series of tsunamis.

Anak Krakatau, which means child of Krakatau, is the island that emerged from the area once occupied by Krakatau, which was destroyed in 1883. It first appeared in 1927 and has been growing ever since.

The death toll from a tsunami that hit the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra after the Anak Krakatau volcano erupted rose to at least 280 on Monday, officials said, as rescuers using heavy machinery and their bare hands searched for more victims.

The death toll from a tsunami that hit the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra after the Anak Krakatau volcano erupted rose to at least 280 on Monday, officials said, as rescuers using heavy machinery and their bare hands searched for more victims. Hundreds more were injured when the tsunami struck, almost without warning, along the rim of the Sunda Strait late on Saturday. More than 3,000 coastal residents were forced to evacuate to higher ground, with a high-tide warning in place until Tuesday. The vast archipelago, which sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", has suffered its worst annual death toll from disasters in more than a decade. Earthquakes flattened parts of the tourist island of Lombok in July and August, and a double quake-and-tsunami killed more than 2,000 people on Sulawesi island in September. Search and rescue officials used their bare hands and some heavy machinery to clear the remains of buildings on Monday. Government and non-government aid trickled into Pandeglang, the worst-affected area on Java's west coast. Indonesia's disaster agency had put the death toll at 222 on Sunday, with about 850 injured and 28 people missing but raised it to 280 early on Monday. A disaster mitigation agency official in Banten province named Jhony told reporters most victims were Indonesian holidaymakers. Dudi Dwiriadi, a district military commander, said personnel and volunteers had been briefed to sweep at least 100 km (60 miles) of coastline in search of victims. The timing of the tsunami over the Christmas holiday season evoked memories of the Indian Ocean tsunami triggered by an earthquake on December 26, 2004, which killed 226,000 people in 14 countries, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia. Roads Blocked Some roads remained blocked by debris and traffic, with families streaming out of the area for fear of further tsunamis. President Joko Widodo, who is running for re-election in April, was scheduled to visit the area later on Monday. Television images showed when the tsunami hit the beach and residential areas in Pandeglang, dragging with it victims, debris, and large chunks of wood and metal. Many coastal residents reported not seeing or feeling any warning signs, such as an earthquake, on Saturday night before waves of 2-3 metres (6-10 feet) washed ashore. Yuni, a resident of Lampung in Sumatra, was watching television at home when she heard the water coming. "I heard a rumbling sound and I thought it was the wind. After I opened the door, water came in quickly and dragged me out. When I saw outside, the sea was receding. I decided to run and go as the water came again for the second time," she said. Roman, a resident of the area who operates tours to Anak Krakatau, said by text message the weather had been fine when the waves struck, although residents had become wary of the rumbling volcano. He said many others had taken refuge in his elevated village of Tahura Carita, which is about 100 metres from the sea. Evacuees were relying on instant noodles, he said. Heavy equipment was being moved in to help with rescue efforts, as well as water and sanitation equipment. The military said it was deploying troops to distribute aid and blankets, as well as sending in medics. The western coast of Banten province in Java, Indonesia's most populated island, was also badly hit, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency. At least 48 people were reported dead in Lampung in southern Sumatra, he said. With the exact cause of the disaster still unknown, authorities were wary of the risk of a recurrence. Public works minister Basuki Hadimuljono said emergency operations would be carried out continuously but "would stop at the first sign of possible high tides". 'Washed Away' Television footage showed how the tsunami washed away an outdoor stage where Indonesian rock band Seventeen was performing for hundreds of guests at an end-of-year party for state utility company PLN. At least four band members and support crew were killed, lead singer Riefian "Ifan" Fajarsyah told followers in a tearful Instagram account. The band's drummer was among the missing. Another 29 PLN employees and relatives were also killed. Anak Krakatau, roughly halfway between Java and Sumatra, has been spewing ash and lava for months. It erupted again just after 9 p.m. on Saturday and the tsunami struck about 30 minutes later, according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). The tsunami was caused by an undersea landslide resulting from volcanic activity on Anak Krakatau and was exacerbated by abnormally high tides because of the full moon, Nugroho said. Ben van der Pluijm, an earthquake geologist and professor at the University of Michigan, said the tsunami may have been caused by a partial collapse of Anak Krakatau. "Instability of the slope of an active volcano can create a rock slide that moves a large volume of water, creating local tsunami waves that can be very powerful. This is like suddenly dropping a bag of sand in a tub filled with water," he said. The eruption of Krakatau, previously known as Krakatoa, in 1883 killed more than 36,000 people in a series of tsunamis. Anak Krakatau, which means child of Krakatau, is the island that emerged from the area once occupied by Krakatau, which was destroyed in 1883. It first appeared in 1927 and has been growing ever since.

Rescuers dig through rubble looking for survivors after Indonesia tsunami kills 280

Around 100,000 people marched in Indonesia's capital Sunday to mark two years since a demonstration that led to the fall of Jakarta's Christian ex-governor, as presidential candidates seek to rally support ahead of next year's general election.

Former governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama was voted out of office and later jailed for two years for blasphemy following the 2016 protests, in a case seen as an example of rising religious intolerance in Muslim-majority Indonesia.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, has seen its reputation for pluralism eroded by a surge in attacks on minorities.

Analysts say identity politics and rising intolerance are likely to feature prominently along with the economy in campaigning for next April's general election across the sprawling Southeast Asian archipelago.

On Sunday, some 100,000 people joined the peaceful rally, with 23,000 officers securing the event, Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono told AFP.

The demonstrators many dressed in white and carrying Islamic flags gathered at the National Monument, where former general and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto spoke.

Subianto supported the rally that led to Purnama's ouster in December 2016, and analysts say Sunday's rally may have been politically motivated to boost his chance of winning the presidential elections set for April.

He will face President Joko Widodo, who has chosen conservative cleric Ma'ruf Amin as his vice presidential candidate, a move analysts think will bolster the president's Islamic credentials.

Widodo also supported the 2016 rally, known as "212 demonstrations" after the date when it was held -- the second of December.

 
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Around 100,000 people marched in Indonesia's capital Sunday to mark two years since a demonstration that led to the fall of Jakarta's Christian ex-governor, as presidential candidates seek to rally support ahead of next year's general election.

Around 100,000 people marched in Indonesia's capital Sunday to mark two years since a demonstration that led to the fall of Jakarta's Christian ex-governor, as presidential candidates seek to rally support ahead of next year's general election. Former governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama was voted out of office and later jailed for two years for blasphemy following the 2016 protests, in a case seen as an example of rising religious intolerance in Muslim-majority Indonesia. Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, has seen its reputation for pluralism eroded by a surge in attacks on minorities. Analysts say identity politics and rising intolerance are likely to feature prominently along with the economy in campaigning for next April's general election across the sprawling Southeast Asian archipelago. On Sunday, some 100,000 people joined the peaceful rally, with 23,000 officers securing the event, Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono told AFP. The demonstrators many dressed in white and carrying Islamic flags gathered at the National Monument, where former general and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto spoke. Subianto supported the rally that led to Purnama's ouster in December 2016, and analysts say Sunday's rally may have been politically motivated to boost his chance of winning the presidential elections set for April. He will face President Joko Widodo, who has chosen conservative cleric Ma'ruf Amin as his vice presidential candidate, a move analysts think will bolster the president's Islamic credentials. Widodo also supported the 2016 rally, known as "212 demonstrations" after the date when it was held -- the second of December.

Thousands of Islamists march in Jakarta ahead of elections

Indonesia has protested to Saudi Arabia over the execution of an Indonesian maid, convicted of murdering her employer who a workers' rights group said was trying to rape her at the time.

President Joko Widodo said he called Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, to lodge a protest and demand to know why Indonesia had not been informed about the execution of the woman, Tuti Tursilawati.

"We have called Saudi Arabia's foreign minister and conveyed our protest," Widodo was quoted as saying by the office of his cabinet secretary.

Tursilawati, who was working in the city of Ta'if, was found guilty of killing her employer in June 2011.

Indonesian advocacy group Migrant Care said in September that the mother of one had been defending herself from being raped.

The office of the cabinet secretary cited the Migrant Care assertion.

The Saudi ambassador to Indonesia had been summoned to discuss the matter, the president said.

The Saudi embassy in Jakarta did not answer calls seeking comment.

"The kingdom of Saudi Arabia has ignored principles of human rights, including a right for everyone to live," said Abidin Fikri, a member of Indonesia's parliament.

Indonesia, which is the world's biggest Muslim-majority country and generally enjoys good ties with Saudi Arabia, also has the death penalty for certain crimes.

Indonesia has asked Saudi Arabia several times to improve protection of its workers there, including this month when Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi met al-Jubeir in Jakarta.

Indonesia has protested to Saudi Arabia over the execution of an Indonesian maid, convicted of murdering her employer who a workers' rights group said was trying to rape her at the time.

Indonesia has protested to Saudi Arabia over the execution of an Indonesian maid, convicted of murdering her employer who a workers' rights group said was trying to rape her at the time. President Joko Widodo said he called Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, to lodge a protest and demand to know why Indonesia had not been informed about the execution of the woman, Tuti Tursilawati. "We have called Saudi Arabia's foreign minister and conveyed our protest," Widodo was quoted as saying by the office of his cabinet secretary. Tursilawati, who was working in the city of Ta'if, was found guilty of killing her employer in June 2011. Indonesian advocacy group Migrant Care said in September that the mother of one had been defending herself from being raped. The office of the cabinet secretary cited the Migrant Care assertion. The Saudi ambassador to Indonesia had been summoned to discuss the matter, the president said. The Saudi embassy in Jakarta did not answer calls seeking comment. "The kingdom of Saudi Arabia has ignored principles of human rights, including a right for everyone to live," said Abidin Fikri, a member of Indonesia's parliament. Indonesia, which is the world's biggest Muslim-majority country and generally enjoys good ties with Saudi Arabia, also has the death penalty for certain crimes. Indonesia has asked Saudi Arabia several times to improve protection of its workers there, including this month when Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi met al-Jubeir in Jakarta.

Indonesia protests to Saudi over execution of maid convicted of murder

Indonesian President Joko Widodo met with the relatives of passengers on board a crashed Indonesian aircraft late on Monday, as he ordered the search operation at sea to continue round the clock.

Lion Air flight JT610, an almost new Boeing 737 MAX 8, was carrying 189 people crashed into the sea as it tried to circle back to the capital, Jakarta, from where it had taken off minutes earlier. There were likely no survivors, officials said.

Authorities were focussing on an area about one nautical mile in radius based on debris found in the water. Floodlights were used to search through the night.

Body parts and debris found from the search area, about 15 km (9 miles) off the coast, were brought to Jakarta. The plane went down in waters about 30 metres to 35 metres (98 to 115 ft) deep.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo met with the relatives of passengers on board a crashed Indonesian aircraft late on Monday, as he ordered the search operation at sea to continue round the clock.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo met with the relatives of passengers on board a crashed Indonesian aircraft late on Monday, as he ordered the search operation at sea to continue round the clock. Lion Air flight JT610, an almost new Boeing 737 MAX 8, was carrying 189 people crashed into the sea as it tried to circle back to the capital, Jakarta, from where it had taken off minutes earlier. There were likely no survivors, officials said. Authorities were focussing on an area about one nautical mile in radius based on debris found in the water. Floodlights were used to search through the night. Body parts and debris found from the search area, about 15 km (9 miles) off the coast, were brought to Jakarta. The plane went down in waters about 30 metres to 35 metres (98 to 115 ft) deep.

Indonesian president meets plane crash families as search carries into night

Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Sunday visited Palu, a coastal city on Sulawesi island, hit by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake that triggered a tsunami with waves as high as six metres (20 feet) two days ago.

The toll from the quake and tsunami soared on Sunday to 832 confirmed dead, with authorities fearing it will rise as rescuers struggle to reach outlying communities cut off from communication and help.

In front of media and local community members, Widodo said the government will ensure improvement to damaged facilities, heavy equipment delivery, fuel supply and better communication, so that the rehabilitation and reconstruction stages can begin immediately.

Reports are filtering in from outlying areas like Donggala, a region of 300,000 people north of Palu and closer to the epicentre of the quake, as well as two other districts.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the toll could rise into the thousands.

There were also concerns over the whereabouts of hundreds of people who had been preparing for a beach festival when the 7.5-magnitude quake struck Friday, sparking a tsunami that ripped apart the city’s coastline.

A Facebook page was created by worried relatives who posted pictures of still-missing family members in the hopes of finding them alive.

Amid the levelled trees, overturned cars, concertinaed homes and flotsam tossed up to 50 metres inland, survivors and rescuers struggled to come to grips with the scale of the disaster.

Indonesia is one of the most disaster-prone nations on earth.

It lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where tectonic plates collide and many of the world’s volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur.

Earlier this year, a series of powerful quakes hit Lombok, killing more than 550 people on the holiday island and neighbouring Sumbawa.

Indonesia has been hit by a string of other deadly quakes including a devastating 9.1-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Sumatra in December 2004.

That Boxing Day quake triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 throughout the region, including 168,000 in Indonesia.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Sunday visited Palu, a coastal city on Sulawesi island, hit by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake that triggered a tsunami with waves as high as six metres (20 feet) two days ago.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Sunday visited Palu, a coastal city on Sulawesi island, hit by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake that triggered a tsunami with waves as high as six metres (20 feet) two days ago. The toll from the quake and tsunami soared on Sunday to 832 confirmed dead, with authorities fearing it will rise as rescuers struggle to reach outlying communities cut off from communication and help. In front of media and local community members, Widodo said the government will ensure improvement to damaged facilities, heavy equipment delivery, fuel supply and better communication, so that the rehabilitation and reconstruction stages can begin immediately. Reports are filtering in from outlying areas like Donggala, a region of 300,000 people north of Palu and closer to the epicentre of the quake, as well as two other districts. Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the toll could rise into the thousands. There were also concerns over the whereabouts of hundreds of people who had been preparing for a beach festival when the 7.5-magnitude quake struck Friday, sparking a tsunami that ripped apart the city’s coastline. A Facebook page was created by worried relatives who posted pictures of still-missing family members in the hopes of finding them alive. Amid the levelled trees, overturned cars, concertinaed homes and flotsam tossed up to 50 metres inland, survivors and rescuers struggled to come to grips with the scale of the disaster. Indonesia is one of the most disaster-prone nations on earth. It lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where tectonic plates collide and many of the world’s volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur. Earlier this year, a series of powerful quakes hit Lombok, killing more than 550 people on the holiday island and neighbouring Sumbawa. Indonesia has been hit by a string of other deadly quakes including a devastating 9.1-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Sumatra in December 2004. That Boxing Day quake triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 throughout the region, including 168,000 in Indonesia.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo visits worst hit areas of earthquake and tsunami

Campaigning for Indonesia's presidential election in April kicked off Sunday, pitting incumbent Joko Widodo against a former military general in the race to lead the world's third-biggest democracy.

Opinion polls show Widodo, whose down-to-earth style and ambitious infrastructure drive have made him popular with many Indonesians, well ahead of his main challenger Prabowo Subianto.&nbsp;

But his bid for a second term is facing headwinds over his economic record, with the rupiah currency sitting at two-decade lows, and fears of a fake news campaign targeted to disrupt his re-election.

Some 186 million voters in the world's largest Muslim-majority country are expected go to the polls on April 17, in an election which will also decide members of national and local parliaments.

Analysts say campaigning is likely to focus on the economy, inequality, identity politics and rising intolerance across the sprawling archipelago of more than 260 million people.

Widodo, who is popularly known as Jokowi, surprised many Indonesians in August by choosing to run alongside conservative Islamic cleric Ma'ruf Amin.

Amin, 75, is chairman of the country's top Islamic authority the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), which issues fatwas, and is known for his disparaging views towards certain minorities.

About 90 per cent of Indonesia's 260 million people have traditionally followed a moderate form of Islam, but there are concerns that the historically secular nation is taking a sharp fundamentalist turn.

The pair will square off against Prabowo and former deputy Jakarta governor Sandiaga Uno, a businessman and private equity tycoon.

Prabowo, who lost to Widodo in 2014, was a top military figure in the chaotic months before dictator Suharto was toppled by student protests in 1998.

Following the strongman's downfall, he admitted ordering the abduction of democracy activists and was discharged from the military.

Pundits say Widodo, who has hired billionaire Inter Milan chairman and minority owner Erick Thohir as his campaign manager, is most vulnerable when it comes to the economy and inequality.

Indonesia's currency has slumped in recent weeks, falling to levels not seen since the country was embroiled in a region-wide financial crisis that sparked economic ruin and the street protests that led to the downfall of Suharto.

Claims of economic mismanagement, along with outright character assassination, are expected to be amplified by viral social media and fake news campaigns.

Widodo has been dogged for years by misleading hoaxes that he is a member of the outlawed Indonesian communist party, a Christian and Chinese.

Campaigning for Indonesia's presidential election in April kicked off Sunday, pitting incumbent Joko Widodo against a former military general in the race to lead the world's third-biggest democracy.

Campaigning for Indonesia's presidential election in April kicked off Sunday, pitting incumbent Joko Widodo against a former military general in the race to lead the world's third-biggest democracy. Opinion polls show Widodo, whose down-to-earth style and ambitious infrastructure drive have made him popular with many Indonesians, well ahead of his main challenger Prabowo Subianto. But his bid for a second term is facing headwinds over his economic record, with the rupiah currency sitting at two-decade lows, and fears of a fake news campaign targeted to disrupt his re-election. Some 186 million voters in the world's largest Muslim-majority country are expected go to the polls on April 17, in an election which will also decide members of national and local parliaments. Analysts say campaigning is likely to focus on the economy, inequality, identity politics and rising intolerance across the sprawling archipelago of more than 260 million people. Widodo, who is popularly known as Jokowi, surprised many Indonesians in August by choosing to run alongside conservative Islamic cleric Ma'ruf Amin. Amin, 75, is chairman of the country's top Islamic authority the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), which issues fatwas, and is known for his disparaging views towards certain minorities. About 90 per cent of Indonesia's 260 million people have traditionally followed a moderate form of Islam, but there are concerns that the historically secular nation is taking a sharp fundamentalist turn. The pair will square off against Prabowo and former deputy Jakarta governor Sandiaga Uno, a businessman and private equity tycoon. Prabowo, who lost to Widodo in 2014, was a top military figure in the chaotic months before dictator Suharto was toppled by student protests in 1998. Following the strongman's downfall, he admitted ordering the abduction of democracy activists and was discharged from the military. Pundits say Widodo, who has hired billionaire Inter Milan chairman and minority owner Erick Thohir as his campaign manager, is most vulnerable when it comes to the economy and inequality. Indonesia's currency has slumped in recent weeks, falling to levels not seen since the country was embroiled in a region-wide financial crisis that sparked economic ruin and the street protests that led to the downfall of Suharto. Claims of economic mismanagement, along with outright character assassination, are expected to be amplified by viral social media and fake news campaigns. Widodo has been dogged for years by misleading hoaxes that he is a member of the outlawed Indonesian communist party, a Christian and Chinese.

Indonesia kicks off presidential race as currency slumps

Vietnam's President Tran Dai Quang, a former police chief known as a tough politician and committed communist with little tolerance for dissent, died Friday at age 61 after a serious illness, state media reported.

His death is not likely to dramatically alter politics in a country where the powerful communist government oversees almost every facet of society -- although the death of a sitting leader is rare.&nbsp;

Coverage on state media was sombre Friday, with a Vietnam Television anchor in dark clothing announcing the news of the leader's death, first reported by the official Vietnam News Agency.

A member of Quang's staff confirmed his death to AFP.

The president had sought treatment in Japan for over a year before he was checked into hospital on Thursday afternoon after contracting a "rare virus", Nguyen Quoc Trieu, in charge of the healthcare committee for top leaders, said in state media.&nbsp;

In office as president since April 2016 after more than four decades at the powerful Ministry of Public Security (MPS), Quang had a reputation as a hardliner.

Though he held one of the country's top four positions and was officially the head of state, his role was seen as largely ceremonial, greeting visiting leaders and hosting diplomatic events in a bid to boost Vietnam's profile on the world stage.

Quang, also a politburo member, had appeared thin and pale in public in recent months and was unstable on his feet last week when he hosted a welcoming ceremony for Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Hanoi.

His last public appearance was just two days ago at a meeting with visiting Chinese politicians and foreign dignitaries.

Public profile

His death is not likely to shake up politics in the one-party state, which prides itself on stable, consensus-based leadership and where the dramas that are rumoured to play out in the corridors of power are rarely aired publicly.&nbsp;

"It will not lead to any ruffles in leadership or any tensions," Vietnam expert Carl Thayer told AFP Friday.&nbsp;

Born October 12, 1956 in northern Ninh Binh province, Quang joined the police academy as a young man and went on to study at the College of Foreign Language in Hanoi. He has been a communist party member since 1980.

He joined the security ministry in 1975 and steadily climbed the ranks of the shadowy yet powerful institution, which heads up the country's secret police and intelligence.

Despite his reputation as an influential politician, Quang often appeared uncomfortable in the public eye and lacked the charisma of his peers in the party's upper echelons.

In an interview with AFP in 2016, Quang read from a prepared statement and was quickly escorted out by staff when questions went off-script.

Dissident crackdown

His time in office was underpinned by a simmering conflict with Beijing over the South China Sea, a long-running dispute between the communist neighbours that escalated on several occasions during his presidency.

But Beijing paid tribute to Quang Friday, with foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang calling him "an outstanding leader... (who) made important contributions to the national development of reform and opening up in Vietnam".

Quang also threw his weight behind an anti-corruption campaign that critics said was designed to eliminate political foes.

But his primary role was as the administration's public face at high-profile events, notably at an APEC meeting in Danang in November last year where he hosted a bevy of world leaders -- including US President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin.&nbsp;

Some paid respects to Quang online Friday, but emotional outpourings were largely absent.

"People don't care that much because they're more focused on making ends meet... and they've lost trust in this regime," the head of Vietnam's independent journalist association Pham Chi Dung told AFP.&nbsp;

As president, Quang also oversaw a crackdown on dissidents, with more than 40 jailed this year alone.

It earned him a bruised reputation that is likely to resonate among critics outside Vietnam.

"He was basically at the top of the apparatus of repression that silences voices," Andrea Giorgetta of the International Federation for Human Rights told AFP.&nbsp;

Quang is survived by his wife and two sons.&nbsp;

There was no immediate announcement about when his funeral will take place, though the government is certain to host a state service for him.&nbsp;

Vietnam's President Tran Dai Quang, a former police chief known as a tough politician and committed communist with little tolerance for dissent, died Friday at age 61 after a serious illness, state media reported.

Vietnam's President Tran Dai Quang, a former police chief known as a tough politician and committed communist with little tolerance for dissent, died Friday at age 61 after a serious illness, state media reported. His death is not likely to dramatically alter politics in a country where the powerful communist government oversees almost every facet of society -- although the death of a sitting leader is rare. Coverage on state media was sombre Friday, with a Vietnam Television anchor in dark clothing announcing the news of the leader's death, first reported by the official Vietnam News Agency. A member of Quang's staff confirmed his death to AFP. The president had sought treatment in Japan for over a year before he was checked into hospital on Thursday afternoon after contracting a "rare virus", Nguyen Quoc Trieu, in charge of the healthcare committee for top leaders, said in state media. In office as president since April 2016 after more than four decades at the powerful Ministry of Public Security (MPS), Quang had a reputation as a hardliner. Though he held one of the country's top four positions and was officially the head of state, his role was seen as largely ceremonial, greeting visiting leaders and hosting diplomatic events in a bid to boost Vietnam's profile on the world stage. Quang, also a politburo member, had appeared thin and pale in public in recent months and was unstable on his feet last week when he hosted a welcoming ceremony for Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Hanoi. His last public appearance was just two days ago at a meeting with visiting Chinese politicians and foreign dignitaries. Public profile His death is not likely to shake up politics in the one-party state, which prides itself on stable, consensus-based leadership and where the dramas that are rumoured to play out in the corridors of power are rarely aired publicly. "It will not lead to any ruffles in leadership or any tensions," Vietnam expert Carl Thayer told AFP Friday. Born October 12, 1956 in northern Ninh Binh province, Quang joined the police academy as a young man and went on to study at the College of Foreign Language in Hanoi. He has been a communist party member since 1980. He joined the security ministry in 1975 and steadily climbed the ranks of the shadowy yet powerful institution, which heads up the country's secret police and intelligence. Despite his reputation as an influential politician, Quang often appeared uncomfortable in the public eye and lacked the charisma of his peers in the party's upper echelons. In an interview with AFP in 2016, Quang read from a prepared statement and was quickly escorted out by staff when questions went off-script. Dissident crackdown His time in office was underpinned by a simmering conflict with Beijing over the South China Sea, a long-running dispute between the communist neighbours that escalated on several occasions during his presidency. But Beijing paid tribute to Quang Friday, with foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang calling him "an outstanding leader... (who) made important contributions to the national development of reform and opening up in Vietnam". Quang also threw his weight behind an anti-corruption campaign that critics said was designed to eliminate political foes. But his primary role was as the administration's public face at high-profile events, notably at an APEC meeting in Danang in November last year where he hosted a bevy of world leaders -- including US President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin. Some paid respects to Quang online Friday, but emotional outpourings were largely absent. "People don't care that much because they're more focused on making ends meet... and they've lost trust in this regime," the head of Vietnam's independent journalist association Pham Chi Dung told AFP. As president, Quang also oversaw a crackdown on dissidents, with more than 40 jailed this year alone. It earned him a bruised reputation that is likely to resonate among critics outside Vietnam. "He was basically at the top of the apparatus of repression that silences voices," Andrea Giorgetta of the International Federation for Human Rights told AFP. Quang is survived by his wife and two sons. There was no immediate announcement about when his funeral will take place, though the government is certain to host a state service for him.

Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang dies at 61 after serious illness

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is on the first leg of his three-nation tour in Southeast Asia, will visit Indonesia Arjuna Wijaya Monument&nbsp;in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The Arjuna Wijaya Monument is one of the iconic monuments in Jakarta, which is located at a central location in Jakarta, just next to Monas -- a national monument of Indonesia. Arjuna Wijaya means Victory of Arjuna and it depicts a scene from Indian epic Mahabharata.

During the day PM Modi is also scheduled to hold detailed discussions with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta.&nbsp;

He will also interact with Chief Executive Officers and the Indian community in Indonesia.

He is also scheduled to address the Indian gathering in Jakarta tomorrow at 4 pm local time.

It will be followed by a brief stopover at Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur, where Prime Minister will congratulate the newly elected Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr Mahathir Mohammad.

This is the first time PM Modi is visiting Indonesia.

The enormous Monument , Arjuna Wijaya, depicts a scene from Indian epic Mahabharata, where Arjuna and Lord Krishna are in a chariot being pulled by eight horses symbolizing eight philosophies of leadership called Asta Brata, namely, Kisma (Earth), Surya (Sun), Agni (fire), Kartika (stars), Baruna (ocean), Samirana (wind), Tirta (rain) and Candra (month).&nbsp;

The monument is significant for both countries as it portrays the strong connection between India and Indonesia through the epic Mahabharata and its central character Arjuna which is a household name in Indonesia.&nbsp;

The Arjuna Wijaya cost around IDR 300 million in 1987 and was removed in early 2014 for renovation work. &nbsp;It was re-opened by Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama on 11 January 2015.

The prime minister arrived in Indonesia on Tuesday evening as he is visiting three south-east Asian countries -- Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore -- to enhance India's relations and engagements under his "act east" policy.

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The Arjuna Wijaya Monument is one of the iconic monuments in Jakarta, which is located at a central location in Jakarta, just next to Monas, national monument of Indonesia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is on the first leg of his three-nation tour in Southeast Asia, will visit Indonesia Arjuna Wijaya Monument in Jakarta on Wednesday. The Arjuna Wijaya Monument is one of the iconic monuments in Jakarta, which is located at a central location in Jakarta, just next to Monas -- a national monument of Indonesia. Arjuna Wijaya means Victory of Arjuna and it depicts a scene from Indian epic Mahabharata. During the day PM Modi is also scheduled to hold detailed discussions with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta. He will also interact with Chief Executive Officers and the Indian community in Indonesia. He is also scheduled to address the Indian gathering in Jakarta tomorrow at 4 pm local time. It will be followed by a brief stopover at Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur, where Prime Minister will congratulate the newly elected Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr Mahathir Mohammad. This is the first time PM Modi is visiting Indonesia. The enormous Monument , Arjuna Wijaya, depicts a scene from Indian epic Mahabharata, where Arjuna and Lord Krishna are in a chariot being pulled by eight horses symbolizing eight philosophies of leadership called Asta Brata, namely, Kisma (Earth), Surya (Sun), Agni (fire), Kartika (stars), Baruna (ocean), Samirana (wind), Tirta (rain) and Candra (month). The monument is significant for both countries as it portrays the strong connection between India and Indonesia through the epic Mahabharata and its central character Arjuna which is a household name in Indonesia. The Arjuna Wijaya cost around IDR 300 million in 1987 and was removed in early 2014 for renovation work. It was re-opened by Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama on 11 January 2015. The prime minister arrived in Indonesia on Tuesday evening as he is visiting three south-east Asian countries -- Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore -- to enhance India's relations and engagements under his "act east" policy. ×

PM Narendra Modi to visit Indonesia's iconic Arjuna Wijaya monument today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday flew kites as they inaugurated the first joint kite exhibition themed on India's largest epics Ramayana and Mahabharata at Jakarta's National Monument.

Prime Minister Modi and President Widodo participated in the 'Kite Exhibition' which showcased the strong civilisational links between India and Indonesia. The two leaders flew kites with broad smiles on their faces.

"Cultural connect touching the skies! Ramayana themed joint kite exhibit unveiled...Ahmedabad and Jakarta Kite Museums exchange MoU," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a tweet.

"PM @narendramodi and Indonesian President @jokowi together taking the relationship to new heights!" he tweeted along with a picture of both the leaders flying their kites at the exhibition.

The exhibition is themed on Hindu mythology epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata with images on kites of Lord Rama killing his rival Ravana and of demons.

The Ramayana theme is designed by Indonesian organisers while the Mahabharata theme has been designed by Indians.

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"The Leaders welcomed the conclusion of the MoU between Layang-layang Museum Jakarta and Kite Museum of Ahmadabad and noted with appreciation the holding of the First Joint Kite Exhibition on the theme of Ramayana and Mahabharat at National Monument in Jakarta," Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

Modi arrived in the Indonesian capital Jakarta yesterday on the first leg of his three-nation tour to East Asia during which he will also travel to Malaysia and Singapore to further boost India's Act East Policy.

Prime Minister Modi and President Widodo also participated in a 'Kite Exhibition'.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday flew kites as they inaugurated the first joint kite exhibition themed on India's largest epics Ramayana and Mahabharata at Jakarta's National Monument. Prime Minister Modi and President Widodo participated in the 'Kite Exhibition' which showcased the strong civilisational links between India and Indonesia. The two leaders flew kites with broad smiles on their faces. "Cultural connect touching the skies! Ramayana themed joint kite exhibit unveiled...Ahmedabad and Jakarta Kite Museums exchange MoU," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a tweet. "PM @narendramodi and Indonesian President @jokowi together taking the relationship to new heights!" he tweeted along with a picture of both the leaders flying their kites at the exhibition. The exhibition is themed on Hindu mythology epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata with images on kites of Lord Rama killing his rival Ravana and of demons. The Ramayana theme is designed by Indonesian organisers while the Mahabharata theme has been designed by Indians. "The Leaders welcomed the conclusion of the MoU between Layang-layang Museum Jakarta and Kite Museum of Ahmadabad and noted with appreciation the holding of the First Joint Kite Exhibition on the theme of Ramayana and Mahabharat at National Monument in Jakarta," Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. Modi arrived in the Indonesian capital Jakarta yesterday on the first leg of his three-nation tour to East Asia during which he will also travel to Malaysia and Singapore to further boost India's Act East Policy.

PM Modi, Indonesian president Joko Widodo fly kites in Jakarta

Indonesia passed a new law&nbsp;Friday&nbsp;that will give police more power to take pre-emptive action against terror suspects in the wake of the country's deadliest Islamist attacks in years.

The bill had been stalled for almost two years as parliament wrangled over details, including how to define terrorism, but a wave of deadly suicide bombings this month hiked pressure on lawmakers to pass the legislation.

Police will now be allowed to detain terror suspects for as long as 21 days, up from the current one week, and they will now also be able to charge people for joining or recruiting for a "terrorist" organisation, at home or abroad.

Rights activists have expressed concerns that the bill's vague wording could open the door to a crackdown on any group seen as a threat.&nbsp;

This month, 13 people were killed in separate suicide attacks on churches and a police station by two families -- including a nine and 12-year-old girl -- in Indonesia's second-biggest city Surabaya.

The families had ties to a local extremist network that had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, which claimed the attacks.

A police officer was also killed in the subsequent attack on a police station in Sumatra days later.

Indonesia -- which is set to host the Asian Games&nbsp;in three months&nbsp;and an IMF-World Bank meeting in Bali in October -- has long struggled with Islamist militancy.

Its worst-ever attack was the 2002 Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people, including locals and foreign tourists.

Security forces have arrested hundreds of militants during a sustained crackdown since the Bali bombing and most attacks in recent years have been limited to low-level operations against domestic security forces.&nbsp;&nbsp;

But police have said they needed beefed-up terror laws to crack down on homegrown militancy.&nbsp;

In the wake of the Surabaya attacks, President Joko Widodo threatened to issue an emergency regulation if the parliament failed to pass the new law.

Police will now be allowed to detain terror suspects for as long as 21 days, up from the current one week

Indonesia passed a new law Friday that will give police more power to take pre-emptive action against terror suspects in the wake of the country's deadliest Islamist attacks in years. The bill had been stalled for almost two years as parliament wrangled over details, including how to define terrorism, but a wave of deadly suicide bombings this month hiked pressure on lawmakers to pass the legislation. Police will now be allowed to detain terror suspects for as long as 21 days, up from the current one week, and they will now also be able to charge people for joining or recruiting for a "terrorist" organisation, at home or abroad. Rights activists have expressed concerns that the bill's vague wording could open the door to a crackdown on any group seen as a threat. This month, 13 people were killed in separate suicide attacks on churches and a police station by two families -- including a nine and 12-year-old girl -- in Indonesia's second-biggest city Surabaya. The families had ties to a local extremist network that had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, which claimed the attacks. A police officer was also killed in the subsequent attack on a police station in Sumatra days later. Indonesia -- which is set to host the Asian Games in three months and an IMF-World Bank meeting in Bali in October -- has long struggled with Islamist militancy. Its worst-ever attack was the 2002 Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people, including locals and foreign tourists. Security forces have arrested hundreds of militants during a sustained crackdown since the Bali bombing and most attacks in recent years have been limited to low-level operations against domestic security forces. But police have said they needed beefed-up terror laws to crack down on homegrown militancy. In the wake of the Surabaya attacks, President Joko Widodo threatened to issue an emergency regulation if the parliament failed to pass the new law.

Indonesia passes tougher terror law after suicide attacks

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