HISTORY
When Marco Polo reached Indonesia he saw a rhinoceros, thought it was a unicorn, and was really disappointed about how ugly it was.
Before the colonial Dutch came in the 1596, Indonesia was made up of many kingdoms in constant warfare. Indonesia was ruled by the Netherlands from the 17th century until World War II.
The city of Surakarta, Central Java was founded on the banks of Bengawan Solo River on February 18, 1745, and became the capital of the Kingdom of Surakarta.
Mount Tambora in Indonesia began one of the most violent volcanic eruptions in recorded history in 1815, killing at least 71,000 people, and affecting worldwide temperatures for the next two years.
One of the most powerful volcanic eruption in recorded history began on August 26, 1883 on Krakatoa, a small, volcanic island west of Sumatra in Indonesia. Heard 3,000 miles away, the explosions threw five cubic miles of earth 50 miles into the air, created 120-foot tsunamis and killed 36,000 people.
During World War II, the Japanese drove out the Dutch and took control of Indonesia. After Japan surrendered in the war, Indonesia claimed its independence. At 10 o'clock on August 17, 1945, Sukarno read Indonesia's Declaration of Independence in Jakarta.
From 1800-1949, Indonesia was known as the Dutch (or Netherlands) East Indies.
Sukarno later became Indonesia's first President serving his country from 1945 to 1967. He led Indonesians in resisting Dutch re-colonization efforts via diplomatic and military means until the Dutch acknowledgment of Indonesian independence in 1949.
Indonesia's Independence Day is celebrated every year on August 17th as a national holiday.
The Flag of Indonesia is a simple bicolor with two equal horizontal bands, red (top) and white (bottom). It was introduced and hoisted in public at the Indonesian Declaration of Independence on August 17, 1945 in Pegangsaan Timur street in Jakarta, and again when the Dutch formally transferred sovereignty exactly five years later,
Monaco's flag is the same but less wide. Poland’s is the same but upside down.
The rupiah is the national currency of Indonesia. Introduced in 1946 by Indonesian nationalists fighting for independence, the currency replaced a version of the Netherlands Indies gulden which had been introduced during the Japanese occupation in World War II.
The 30 September Movement attempted a coup against the Indonesian government on September 30, 1965. The rebellion was crushed by the military under Suharto and led to a mass anti-communist purge, with over 500,000 people killed. The US played a significant role in the killings, supplying economic, technical and military aid to the Indonesian military when the killings began and providing "kill lists."
On February 22, 1967, Sukarno announced he would resign from the presidency, and on March 12th he was stripped of his remaining power and Suharto was named acting president. Sukarno was placed under house arrest in Bogor Palace; little more was heard from him, and he died in June 1970.
Suharto was the second President of Indonesia, holding the office for 31 years from the ousting of Sukarno in 1967 until his resignation in 1998.
Although veneration of the dead is often considered blasphemy in Islam, Sukarno's grave in Blitar receives tens of thousands of Javanese Muslims each year seeking his spiritual blessing.
From 1800-1949, Indonesia was known as the Dutch (or Netherlands) East Indies.
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| Official Portrait of President Sukarno. |
Sukarno later became Indonesia's first President serving his country from 1945 to 1967. He led Indonesians in resisting Dutch re-colonization efforts via diplomatic and military means until the Dutch acknowledgment of Indonesian independence in 1949.
Indonesia's Independence Day is celebrated every year on August 17th as a national holiday.
The Flag of Indonesia is a simple bicolor with two equal horizontal bands, red (top) and white (bottom). It was introduced and hoisted in public at the Indonesian Declaration of Independence on August 17, 1945 in Pegangsaan Timur street in Jakarta, and again when the Dutch formally transferred sovereignty exactly five years later,
Monaco's flag is the same but less wide. Poland’s is the same but upside down.
The rupiah is the national currency of Indonesia. Introduced in 1946 by Indonesian nationalists fighting for independence, the currency replaced a version of the Netherlands Indies gulden which had been introduced during the Japanese occupation in World War II.
The 30 September Movement attempted a coup against the Indonesian government on September 30, 1965. The rebellion was crushed by the military under Suharto and led to a mass anti-communist purge, with over 500,000 people killed. The US played a significant role in the killings, supplying economic, technical and military aid to the Indonesian military when the killings began and providing "kill lists."
On February 22, 1967, Sukarno announced he would resign from the presidency, and on March 12th he was stripped of his remaining power and Suharto was named acting president. Sukarno was placed under house arrest in Bogor Palace; little more was heard from him, and he died in June 1970.
Suharto was the second President of Indonesia, holding the office for 31 years from the ousting of Sukarno in 1967 until his resignation in 1998.
Although veneration of the dead is often considered blasphemy in Islam, Sukarno's grave in Blitar receives tens of thousands of Javanese Muslims each year seeking his spiritual blessing.
Megawati Sukarnoputri became the first female president of Indonesia on July 23, 2001 after her predecessor Abdurrahman Wahid was removed from office. The eldest daughter of Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, she served as the fifth president of Indonesia to 2004.
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| Official portrait, 2001 |
FUN INDONESIA FACTS
It has 18,307 islands. of which 922 are permanently inhabited. Indonesia is the world’s largest country comprised solely of islands.
Because of all those islands, Indonesia’s coast is about 34,000 miles long, the world’s second longest coastline after Canada.
Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world with a population of 238,452,952 (2004 est.) Half of the population lives in Java.
The official language of Indonesia is Bahasa Indonesia, but a total of 737 languages are spoken throughout Indonesia, many of them confined to remote tribal groups.
Modern Indonesia is founded on a philosophical theory called Pancasila. The philosophy requires, amongst other things, that all citizens believe in God. Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism are the recognised religions.
The religion that most Indonesians follow is Islam. Although formally not an Islamic country. Indonesia has the largest Muslim population on earth.
The Minangkabau of West Sumatra, Indonesia, are the largest modern matrilineal society, with a population of four million.
2% of Indonesians will be smoking by the age of 4.
In Indonesia there is a superstition that staying in the bathroom too long makes you look old.
The world's most expensive coffee is Kopi Luak. It is made from beans excreted by the luak (palm civet) of Indonesia.
Drink-driving is not illegal in Indonesia.
Indonesia is the most biodiverse country in the world. It is home to an estimated 17% of the world's known plant and animal species.
Sumatra, the only place on Earth where great apes, elephants, rhinos and tigers coexist.
Indonesia has won eight gold medals at the Olympics, all for Badminton.
Source Daily Express
Indonesia has won eight gold medals at the Olympics, all for Badminton.
Source Daily Express
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