Fri, 26 Dec 2003

Caught in a cross fire

While the country continued to grapple with the reality of terrorism this year, life became even more difficult for many people.

Civilians in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam have become victim to the government's policy to settle what it sees as the main issue in the province, separatism. Others have lost their families or perished in environmental disasters, and still others have lost their livelihood in evictions and fires.

The press, known as among the most free in Asia, also faced threats to their freedom as a number of media were brought to trial, mainly on charges of defamation and libel.