Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Date:         Mon, 6 Apr 1992 11:29:40 EDT
From:         Elliott Parker <3ZLUFUR@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU>
Subject:      Indonesian information
X-To:         seasia-l@msu.edu

[Forwarded msg:]
======================================================================== 140
From: rnoor@metz.une.oz.au (rnoor)
Subject: Introducing Indonesia
Date: Fri, 3 Apr 92 12:42:45 EST

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Sources:

1. Garuda magazine vol 6 (4) 1986.
2. Directorate General of Tourism Republic of Indonesia. Jl. Kramat Raya
   81- P.O. Box 409 Jakarta-Indonesia

INTRODUCING INDONESIA
*********************


INTRODUCTION

Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago extending between two
continents., Asia and Australia. Its location across important trade
routes has long influenced its political and economical development.

Indonesia has a land area of 1,905,443 sq kms (735,354 sq. miles)
and its 13,677 islands stretch 5,152 kms (3,200 miles) from East to
West - and 1,770 kms (1,100 miles) from North to South

The five main islands are Sumetera, Jawa, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Irian
Jaya.

Java is the principle island in terms of population and land use and
the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta, is located on its North western coast.
It is also the most densely populated island and 63% of the total
population of Indonesia live on it.

The island of Bali, Indonesia's fabled tourist destination, is only
5,623 sq kms (2,170 sq miles) and has a population of less than 2% of the
population.

The total population of Indonesia is an estimated 175 million and it is
the fourth most populous country in the world, exceeded only by
China, India and USA. The population is predominantly youthful, with
half under the age of 20 years.

Indonesias are basically of Malay heritage and are divided into
approximately 300 ethnic groups which speak about 365 languages and dialects.
Islam is the predominantly religion and the national language is Bahasa
Indonesia.

Jakarta is the capital of the Republic of Indonesia and is the centre
of government and economic activity, with a population of over 6 million.

CLIMATE

Indonesia has a tropical climate and only two seasons. The dry season
is between April and October and the rainy season between December
and January having the heaviest rainfall.  However, rainfall varies
from island to island, with an average of 330 cm, or 130 inches in
Kalimantan and 100 cm or 40 inches in the eastern part of Nusa Tenggara.
The  maximum temperature is 30oC and the minimum 21oC except in the highlands
are cooler

HISTORY

The fossils of the Java Man (Pithecanthropus erectus) discovered in  1890
near the village of Trinil in East Jawa is proof that Indonesian was
inhibited more than 1,000,000 years ago.  Other discoveries tell of a stone
age civilization and it is believed that between 3,000 to 500 B.C. migration
took place from South Chine, Yunnan, and Tonkin of Malays of Mongoloid
stock who introduced New Stone, Bronze and Iron Age cultures and the
Austronesia languages.

They mixed with the original inhibitants, cultivated rice and lived in
villages. As seafarers they sailed as far as west as Madagascar and east to
Polynesia and the Easter Islands.

From 206 B.C to 24 A.D. trade was established with China and contacts with
South India in the first century A.D. brought an influx of Hindus which
continued to the 7th century.  Hindu and Buddist influence lasted for
14 centuries, creating a synthesised Indonesian-Hindu civilization and two
powerful kingdoms rose - Sriwijaya in Sumatera from the 7th and the 9th
century and Majapahit in East Java in the 10th century, finally
disintegrating in the 16th century.

The Arabs first landed in North Sumetera in 846 A.D. and Moslem kingdoms
rose in Java in the 16th century and islam spread throughout the islands.

The Portuguese in search of spice arrived in the spice island (Maluku) in
the 16th century, followed by the United Dutch East India Company (VOC) in
1605 who got control of the spice and coffee trade and increased their
suzerainty over Indonesian territories.

During the Napoleonic wars when Holland was occupied by France,
Indonesia fell under British East India Company rule from 1811 to 1816
with Thomas Stamford Raffles as lieutenant governor who introduced
partial self government.

Many wars were waged against the VOC and lost, with nationalistic sentiments
growing to form national movements of independence.

The Japanese occupation of Indonesia further strengthened the nationalist
movements and with the surrender of the Japanese, Sukarno and Hatta
proclaimed Indonesia's independence on August, 17, 1945.

The 1945 Constitution and the national philosophy "Pancasila" which is
contained in its preamble, guide all the policies of the present
government and the Organs of State. The five priciples expounded
in this national philosophy are: Belief in the one supreme God; Just
and civilized Humanity; Unity on Indonesia; the People's sovereignty
guided by the wisdom of unanimity in deliberations among representatives,
and social justice for all the people of Indonesia.  Guided and inspired by
these fundamental principles, the basic aims to be strived for are: the
setting up of a Government which shall protect the entire Indonesian
people and the country; to advance the general welfare of the people;
to advance the intellectual life of the nation, and to contribute towards
the establishment of a world order based on freedom, peace and social
justice.

The Indonesia's coat of arms is the Garuda, the eagle of ancient Indonesia
mythology, symbolizing creative energy.  Its motto " Bhineka Tunggal Ika"
means Unity in Diversity, signifying the unity of the people in spite of
diversifed ethnic and cultural origin.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU