WHY INDONESIA
Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world that forms a single state. It consists of five main islands and some 30 smaller archipelagoes, totaling about 17,506 islands and islets of which about 6,000 are inhabited.
The name Indonesia is composed of the two Greek words: “Indos” meaning India, and “Nesos” meaning islands. The Indonesian archipelago forms a crossroad between two oceans, the Pacific and Indian oceans and a bridge between two continents, Asia and Australia. Indonesia’s five main islands are Sumatera, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Papua, and Java.
Because of its strategic position, Indonesia’s cultural, social, political and economic patterns have always been conditioned by its geographical position. Indonesia has three time zones; Western Indonesia Standard Time (GMT plus seven hours), Central Indonesia Standard Time (GMT plus eight hours), and Eastern Indonesia Standard Time (GMT plus nine hours).
Indonesia’s climate and weather is characterized by equatorial double rainy seasons. Its monsoon-type climate changes approximately every six months; although in recent years, weather patterns have been somewhat disrupted as part of global changes in weather. The dry season is from June to September and the rainy season from December to March. Intervening periods are transition months in which the weather will be mixed. Average temperature on the coastal plans is 28°C, inland and mountain areas 26°C, and higher mountain areas 23°C, varying with the altitude.
PeoPle of IndonesIa
Due to Indonesia’s emergence into an archipelago—where inhabitants are of similar ancestry—were separated by seas and therefore lost contacts, have caused the individual development of cultures, including their languages and growing diversity. Nevertheless, the population of Indonesia has been reclassified, not much on the basis of their racial origins, but more on the basis of their linguistic identities caused by diversification into four ethnic groups. These are the Melanesians (the mixture between the sub-Mongoloids with the Wajaks), the Proto-Austronesians (including the Wajaks), the Polynesians, and the Micronesians. The Melanesians are Acehnese, Batak, Minangkabaus, Sundanese, Javanese, Madurese, Balinese, Sasaks, Timorese, Dayaks, Minahasas, Torajas, Makassarese, Buginese. Meanwhile the Ambonese and the Papuans are classified into the Polynesians and Proto-Austronesians. The Micronesians are found on tiny islets of Indonesia’s eastern borders.
There are about 500 ethnic groups in Indonesia spread from Sabang (the Northern most tip of Sumatera) to Merauke in Papua. The Javanese community is the largest number of Indonesia’s total population. Apart from the indigenous communities, other sub-communities of foreign descent are Chinese, Arabs, and Indians.
Indonesia’s National Language called Bahasa Indonesia is spoken throughout Indonesia and has been officially introduced since Indonesia’s independence. Its lexicon and structure is mainly based on the Malay language enriched by its multilocal languages and dialects. Although Bahasa Indonesia is regarded as the Lingua Franca, yet local languages and dialects are equally valid. Therefore, the greater parts of Indonesians national are bilingual.
Besides the variety of ethnic groups and languages, different religions are found in Indonesia. These are Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Kong Hu Cu, and other faiths, especially in isolated societies which are called traditional faiths. One of the special characteristics of the Indonesian culture is the high appreciation of the community towards religion and the faith in the One and only God. The Indonesia Government stipulates the Holly Celebrations of each religion as national holidays. The National Constitution ensures freedom of religious practice. Every Indonesian has the right to adhere to his/her own choice of religion, and there shall be no religious discrimination.
Indonesia’s population is the fourth biggest in the world after China, India, and the US. The population is mainly concentrated in Java Island, around 60-percent of the whole population. Java Island is the most fertile land and has 112 volcanic centers of which 15 are active. The lava ejected from the volcanic eruption has a high degree of fertility.
statehood affaIrs of IndonesIa
When World War II broke out in Europe and spread to the Pacific, the Japanese occupied the Dutch East Indies, known as Indonesia on March 1942, after the surrender of the Dutch colonial army following the fall of Hong Kong, Manila, and Singapore. After the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese surrendered to the Allied Forces. This opened the opportunity for the Indonesian people to proclaim their independence. Three days after the unconditional Japanese surrender, the Indonesian people proclaimed their independence on August 17, 1945. It was proclaimed by its national leaders Ir. Soekarno and Drs. Mohammad Hatta who then became the first Indonesian President and Vice President.
Pancasila is the philosophical basis of the Indonesian State that consists of Five Principles: Believe in the One and Only God, Just and Civilized humanity, the Unity of Indonesia, Democracy guided by the inner wisdom in the unanimity arising out of deliberations amongst representatives, and Social justice for the whole of the people of Indonesia.
The National Constitution was then introduced in 1945 and is called as The 1945 Constitution, because it was drafted and adopted in 1945 when the Indonesian State was established. The articles of the 1945 Constitution spell out the ideals and the goals for which the independence was proclaimed on August 17, 1945 and defended thereafter. It also reflects the spirit and vigor of the time when it was shaped. It was inspired by the urge for unity and for the common goals and democracy built upon the age-old Indonesian concepts of gotongroyong (mutual assistance), deliberations of representatives (musyawarah) and consensus (mufakat).
The Indonesian National Flag is called Sang Saka Merah Putih, for it is made up of two colors, red and white. Meanwhile the National Coat of Arms consists of a golden eagle called the garuda, a figure from ancient Indonesian epics and also pictured on many temples from the 6th Century in Indonesia. The eagle is also a symbol of creative energy. Its principle color suggests the greatness of the nation, while the black color represents nature. There are 17 feathers on each wing, 8 on the tail, and 45 on the neck. These figures stand for the date of Indonesia’s independence proclamation.
The motto “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” (Unity in Diversity) is enshrined on a banner held in the eagle’s talons. It signifies the unity of the Indonesian people despite their diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The National anthem is “Indonesia
Raya,” which means Great Indonesia. The song was composed by Mr. W.R. Supratman and first introduced in Batavia, now Jakarta, at the Second All Indonesian Youth Congress on October 28, 1928.
The current President, H.E Joko Widodo, is the seventh President of Indonesia, serving for a period of five years (20142019).
Jakarta is the capital city of Indonesia with over 10 million people. Other landscape and popular tourist objects in Indonesia, among others, are: Borobudur Temple in Central Java, Bali Island, Bunaken Diving spot in North Sulawesi, Diving spot of Raja Ampat in West Papua, Bromo volcano in East Java, and Long House of Minangkabau in West Sumatera.
Indonesian cuisine is one of the most delicious in the world. It is vibrant and flavorful of taste of food. The blend of different Indonesian spices describes the characteristic of Indonesian roots. The techniques used are passion and skills combined to give depth to every bite. Since 2011, Indonesian cuisine began to gain worldwide recognition, when three of its popular dishes made it to CNN International’s World’s 50 most delicious food — the Rendang, Nasi Goreng and Satay.