INDONESIA

History

Indonesia did not exist as yet during the Palaeocene period (70 million years BC), the Eocene period (30 million years BC), the Oligacene period (25 million years BC) and the Miocene period (12 million years BC). It is believed that Indonesia must have existed during the Pleistocene period (4 million years BC) when it was linked with the present Asian mainland. It was during this period that the Homonids made their first appearance and Java Man inhabited the part of the world now called Indonesia. Java Man, named Pithecanthropus Erectus by Eugence Dubois who found the fossils on the island of Java, must have been the first inhabitant of Indonesia.

When the sea level rose as the result of melting ice north of Europe and the American continent, many islands emerged, including the Indonesian archipelago. It was also during this period (3000-500 BC) that Indonesia was inhabited by Sub-Mongoloid migrants from Asia who later inter-married with the indigenous people. Later still (1000 BC) inter-marriage occurred with Indo-Arian migrants from the south-Asian sub-continent of India.

The first Indian migrants came primarily from Gujarat in Southeast India during the first Christian era.

The Caka period in Indonesia witnessed the introduction of the Sanskrit language and the Pallawa script by the Indian Prince Aji Caka (78 AD). The Devanagari script of the Sanskrit language was also used, as shown in ancient stone and copper inscriptions (paracasthies) which have been unearthed. The language and script were adapted and called the Kawi language and included words and phrases derived from Javanese.

Early trade relations were established between South India and Indonesia. Sumatra was then named Swarna Dwipa of "the island of gold," Java was called Java Dwipa or "the rice island," and a Hindu kingdom of Crivijaya in Sumatra and Nalanda in South India were not confined to religious and cultural exchanges. They later developed diplomatic relations, and even covered a wide range of trade.

The influx of Indian settlers continued during the period from the first to the seventh century AD. Peacefully and gradually the Hindu religion spread throughout the archipelago. It was adopted by all layers of the people of Java, but limited to the upper classes on the other islands.

Geography

Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world. It consists of five major islands and about 30 smaller groups. The figure for the total number of islands is 17,508 according to the Indonesian Naval Hydro-Oceanographic office. The archipelago is on a crossroads between two oceans, the Pacific and the Indian ocean, and bridges two continents, Asia and Australia. This strategic position has always influenced the cultural, social, political and economic life of the country.

The territory of the Republic of Indonesia stretches from 6o08' north latitude to 11o15' south latitude, and from 94o45' to 141o05' east longitude. The Indonesian sea area is four times greater than its land area, which is about 1.9 million sq. km. The sea area is about 7.9 million sq. km (including an exclusive economic zone) and constitutes about 81% of the total area of the country.

The five main islands are: Sumatra, which is about 473,606 sq. km. in size; the most fertile and densely populated islands, Java/Madura, 132,107 sq. km; Kalimantan, which comprises two-thirds of the island of Borneo and measures 539,460 sq. km; Sulawesi, 189,216 sq. km; and Irian Jaya, 421,981 sq. km, which is part of the world's second largest island, New Guinea. Indonesia's other islands are smaller in size.

The archipelago is divided into three groups. The islands of Java, Sumatra and Kalimantan, and the small islands in-between, lie on the Sunda Shelf which begin on the coasts of Malaysia and Indo China, where the sea depth does not exceed 700 feet. Irian Jaya which is part of the island of New Guinea, and the Aru Islands lie on the Sahul Shelf, which stretches northwards from the Australian coast. Here the sea depth is similar to that of the Sunda Shelf.

People

The population policy is directed toward development of the population as human resources in order that the national development can be effective and valuable, while the quality of life is gradually improving. Meanwhile, control of population growth is carried out through efforts to lower the birth and mortality rate, especially that of infants and children. These efforts in particular have been implemented through family planning programs which also have the purpose of improving the welfare of mother and child and at the same time create a small, happy, and prosperous family.

Language

There are 583 languages and dialects spoken in the archipelago. They normally belong to different ethnic groups of the population. Some of the distinctly different local languages are: Acehnese, Batak, Sundanese, Javanese, Sasak, Tetum of Timor, Dayak, Minahasa, Toraja, Buginese, Halmahera, Ambonese, Ceramese, and several Irianese languages. To make the picture even more colorful, these languages are also spoken in different dialects.

The national language of Indonesia is "Bahasa Indonesia". Originally it was the Malay language mainly spoken in the Riau Islands. In its spread throughout the country, its vocabulary and idioms have been enriched by a great number of local languages. To keep pace with religious, social and cultural progress, many words and terms have been derived from foreign languages, including Dutch, Chinese, Sanskrit, Arabic and, later, Portuguese.

Although Bahasa Indonesia has become the lingua franca, local languages and dialects continue to be spoken and will not be abolished.

Transportation

The development of the transportation system is designed to support the development of the economy, the national stability and inter-regional equality as well as distribution to realize the Indonesian Archipelagic Outlook.

In Repelita VI, the Government developed a national transportation system with special attention to undeveloped areas, mainly in eastern Indonesia, improved town transportation that supports industry, agriculture, trade and tourism and increased the quality of transportation means and infrastructures, the community's role, human resources and technology.

To achieve those targets, transportation is developed through eight (8) programs, comprise five (5) main programs and three (3) supporting programs.

The main programs cover the development of the national transportation system, the construction of roads and bridges and improvement of land, sea and air transportation.

The supporting programs cover the development of meteorology and geophysics, improvement of search and rescue, the promotion of education and training and development of transportation resources.

The national transportation system in the fourth year of Repelita VI developed several strategic concepts and basic policies on the transportation system, in accordance with national space planning aimed at supporting economic development.

Besides, the Government conducted various studies and researches to help the concept of the national transportation system.

During four years of Repelita VI, the road network was rehabilitated.

The construction of new roads and bridges was directed towards opening remote areas, developing urban, transmigration and production areas and supporting the development of strategic locations.

In 1997/98, the Government rehabilitated 33,482 km of roads and 8,636 meters of bridges. If compared with those in 1996/97, it showed and increase of 3.3% and 8.7% respectively.

Tourism

Tourism in Indonesia is being developed through two main programs, covering tourism and tourism products. There are five supporting programs, namely' control of environmental pollution, education, training and tourism guidance; tourism research and development; tourism infrastructure development; and the supervision and development of arts and culture.

The target for tourism set in Repelita VI is 6.5 million foreign tourists with US$9 billion in foreign exchange. Meanwhile 84.2 million domestic tourists are expected to spend nine (9) trillion rupiahs. Through various activities, tourism is expected to generate 900.000 new job opportunities.

Religion

The development of religious life in Repelita VI is directed towards the stabilization of a harmonious religious life as reflected by the enhancement of faith and devotion to the One and Only God, improvement of the believers participation in development through education in the family and expansion of religious means and infrastructures.

The main policy of religious development in Repelita VI, covers promotion in the quality of faith and devotion to the One and Only God among religious followers in an effort to strengthen the national unity, encourage their participation in development, increase the practice of religious life both in private and in social life and improve the Haj-pilgrimage services and boost religious education at all school levels.

Based on those policies, the Government underlines 7 (seven) main programs namely : the improvement of religious information and guidance, means for a religious life, better haj-pilgrimage services, religious education for primary schools, secondary schools and higher education, religious institutions and workers.

Beside those main programs, the Government also launched six supporting programs namely: promotion of the younger generation, the role of women in religious research education and training and religious law counseling.

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