|RNational holiday:|N Independence Day, August 17.
|RNature and climate:|N 17 000 islands between Australia, the Southeast Asian mainland, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. 3 000 of the islands are inhabited. Most of the islands are mountainous with more than 100 still active volcanoes. The highest peak, Puncal Jaya on Irian Jaya, reaches 5029 m.a.s.l.
Flora and fauna is very rich. Rainforests cover most of the land, but extensive forestry in the last decades is a strong threat against these forests. Rhinoceros, tigers, crocodiles, elephants and many other animals used to be common on the islands, but cultivating of vast areas, hunting and industrial forestry threatens many species.
The climate is tropical with an average temperature of 27°C throughout the year at sealevel and gets cooler at higher elevation.
At elevations between sea level and 750 m.a.s.l.rice, maize, tobacco, sugarcanes, cocos, rubber, oilpalms pepper and vegetables are grown.
At elevations between 750 and 2450, the tempered zone, coffee, tea rice, maize, cacao trees and european vegetables are grown, and above 2450 m.a.s.l., in the cold zone, cultivating is sparse and temperature often below 10°C.
Percipitation between 2000 and 3000 mm throughout the country.
|RPeople:|N Malayans 53%, Sudanese 14%, Madurese 8%. On Irian Jaya and Borneo many different tribes still live a traditional live. Some of these tribes have probably not been found yet!?
The Java island comprising 7% of the area hosts more than 60% of the population and is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
|REconomy:|N 55% of the labour force is occupied in agriculture, 10% in manufacturing, 4% in construction and 3% in transport and communications.
Food production is mainly based on self-subsistence farming, while smallholder and plantations produce for export. Most important crops are rice, maize, cassava, peanuts, rubber, cacao, coffee, tea and spices.
Agriculture has been concentrated to the bigger islands, but has since the 1960:s been developed on other smaller islands.
There is good fishing in the sea all around Indonesia, but fishing is not developed.
Indonesia have the world's largest resources of hardwood and in the 1970:s forestry was so extensive that vast areas was devastated. In the 1980:s forest processing was developed and Indonesia now is the world's largest exporter of plywood.
There are big mineral resources. Indonesia is the biggest producer of oil and natural gas in Far east these minerals account for 40% of the export revenues. Indonesia also have coal, uranium, salt, phosphates, iron, manganese, nickel, bauxite, tin, gold, silver and copper. Many of the resources are difficult to access.
The major industries are petroleum, textiles and mining. There is an extensive light industry mainly based on traditional craftsmanship. In the last decades heavy industry have been developed, often with foreign capital, and foremost on Java and Sumatra islands.
Tourism is an important source of income.
|RHistory:|N It is assumed that Hindu and Buddhist civilizations from India reached the Indonesian island about 2000 years ago. In the 15th century many islamic seafarers and traders visited Indonesia and Islam became the predominant religion in the 16th century. The big western islands were divided in several kingdoms and the smaller eastern islands were mainly tribal societies.
The Portuguese were the first European traders but were outnumbered by the Dutch in the 17th century. The Dutch East india Company seized control over Java 1750, but when the company went bankrupt in 1799 the control was passed to the Dutch government that established colonial rule. The Dutch colonization continued during the 19th century but not until the early 20th century the Dutch had full control over the area that is today's Indonesia.
In 1918 an advisory board with native representatives was established and in 1925 the colony had its own constitution granting some degree of selfrule.
In 1942 Japan occupied Indonesia and by the Japanese surrender the independent republic Indonesia was proclaimed. The Netherlands tried to reestablish colonial rule, but after threats from the USA, the Netherlands in 1949 recognized Indonesia as an independent country with the Dutch sovereign as head of state. This personal union was dissolved in 1954 when Indonesia was proclaimed republic.
Still the western part of New Guinea, Irian Java, remained a part of the Netherlands, but was ceded to Indonesia in 1963.
From the start the leading party, the Indonesian Nationalist Party, PNI, moved steadily to the left, but when the communist party attempted a coup in 1965 the PNI changed course and turned to a more western friendly policy. After the coup-attempt several hundred thousand people were killed as suspected communists.
The PNI and its leaders have governed Indonesia with firm hand since independence, which have promoted the economic development and encouraged foreign investments. In the 1990:s the government have lifted some of the restrictions on the press and released some of the political opponents.
In 1975 Indonesia invaded the Portuguese colony East Timor and killed more than 100 000 Timorese. The colony was annexed in 1976, but has not been recognized by the international community. Clashes between Indonesian military and East Timorese are frequent.
