IndonesiaDemographics:
With its 253,609,643 people, Indonesia is the 4th largest country in the world by population. It is the 15th largest country in the world by area with 1,904,569 square kilometers. Indonesia is now the world's third most populous democracy, the world's largest archipelagic state, and the world's largest Muslim-majority nation. Political History: The Dutch began to colonize Indonesia in the early 17th century; Japan occupied the islands from 1942 to 1945. Indonesia declared its independence shortly before Japan's surrender, but it required four years of sometimes brutal fighting, intermittent negotiations, and UN mediation before the Netherlands agreed to transfer sovereignty in 1949. A period of sometimes unruly parliamentary democracy ended in 1957 when President SOEKARNO declared martial law and instituted "Guided Democracy." After an abortive coup in 1965 by alleged communist sympathizers, SOEKARNO was gradually eased from power. From 1967 until 1988, President SUHARTO ruled Indonesia with his "New Order" government. After rioting toppled Suharto in 1998, free and fair legislative elections took place in 1999. Current issues include: alleviating poverty, improving education, preventing terrorism, consolidating democracy after four decades of authoritarianism, implementing economic and financial reforms, stemming corruption, reforming the criminal justice system. Languages spoken: Bahasa Indonesia, English, Dutch, over 700 local dialects (of which the most widely spoken is Javanese). |
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LocationCentral Java, Indonesia
Here in Central Java, we live among the polite friendliness and warmness of the Javanese people and culture. Central Java represents the heart of Javanese tradition, and while you would surely see the influence of Islam were you to visit here, I have no doubt that you would also see the remnants of an ancient culture in between the cracks of a changing and developing country |