Background :
The Dutch began to colonize Indonesia in the early 17th century; the islands were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. Indonesia declared its independence after Japan's surrender, but it required four years of intermittent negotiations, recurring hostilities, and UN mediation before the Netherlands agreed to relinquish its colony. Indonesia is the world's largest archipelagic state and home to the world's largest Muslim population. Current issues include: alleviating poverty, preventing terrorism, consolidating democracy after four decades of authoritarianism, implementing financial sector reforms, stemming corruption, holding the military and police accountable for human rights violations, and controlling avian influenza. In 2005, Indonesia reached a historic peace agreement with armed separatists in Aceh, which led to democratic elections in December 2006. Indonesia continues to face a low intensity separatist movement in Papua.
Location :
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
Area - comparative :
land area slightly less than three times the size of Texas.
Indonesia has a total of 5million km2. One million more than the USA, although only
2 million km2 are land.
Climate :
Wet season is Nov - March and hot season May to October.
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands.
Languages :
Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch.
Capital city : Jakarta.
Interesting facts about Indonesia :
Indonesia is home to 35cm miniature deer, fish that climb trees to catch insects and spiders that catch and devour small birds in giant webs.
The ape-man...Java is one of the earliest places in the world where ape-man lived. The skull of an ape-man who lived at a time when most of Europe was under ice was discovered here.
Population...Indonesia has the fifth largest population in the world(+-180million) which equals the combined population of all other South East Asian countries.
Indonesia An ethnological goldmine...the variety of ethnic groups is unparalled anywhere else in the world(316 ethnic groups).
Indonesia Volcanoes...Indonesia sprawls through a part of the western pacific known as the "Ring of Fire". With over 400 active volcanoes, there are over 3 earthquakes per day.
Indonesia Islands...Three of the ten largest islands in the world are found here.
