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Republic of Indonesia
Timeline: The Endless War

OTL equivalent: United States
Flag Seal
Location of Indonesia
Location of Indonesia
Motto
Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Javanese)
("Unity in DIversity")
Anthem "Indonesia Raya"
Capital Jakarta
Largest city Jakarta
Other cities Bandung, Medan, Denpasar
Language
  official
 
Indonesian
  others Javanese, Sudanese, 600 other
Ethnic Groups
  main
 
Javanese, Sudanese
  others Over 600
Demonym Indonesian
Government Unitary Presidential Constitutional republic
President Prabowo Subianto
Population 270 million 
Established 1945
Independence from The Netherlands
  declared August 17, 1945
  recognized December 27, 1949
Currency Indonesian RP
Time Zone (UTC+7, +8, +9)
Internet TLD .com, .org, .net, .id
Organizations United Nations, ASEAN

Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of more than 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo, and New Guinea. Indonesia is the world's largest island country and one of the largest country by land area, it is also the world's 4th-most populous country as well as the most populous Muslim-majority country, with 270 million people.

Pre-1948 History[]

Early History[]

The islands, which now comprised Indonesia were first inhabited by the Austronesian peoples around 2,000 BC. The ideal location (allowing easier trade), the ideal agricultural conditions, and the mastering of wet-field rice cultivation allowed small hindu, and buddhist kingdoms to flourish.

However, these kingdoms were later replaced by newer kingdoms, which adopted islam, through the influence of arabic traders. The religion itself would grow from northern Sumatra, and by the late 16th century, the islands of Java and Sumatra were dominated by muslims.

Colonialism[]

The first europeans to arrive in Indonesia, where portuguese merchants around the early 16th century, their main goal was to trade spices with the local kingdoms, and spread the gospel. Following the portuguese, were the British, and Dutch. The Dutch eventually won out, and controlled Indonesia through the Dutch East India company (VOC). Despite the VOC, being disbanded in 1800, the dutch retained control of the archipelago, despite resistance from local rulers and locals (Dipenegoro War, etc.).

Dutch rule only ended in 1942, when the Japanese invaded and subsequently occupied Indonesia during World War II. This encouraged the previously suppressed independence movement. Two days after the surrender of Japan in August 1945, Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta, influential nationalist leaders, proclaimed Indonesian independence and were appointed president and vice-president respectively.

After Indonesia declared their independence, the Netherlands attempted to re-establish their rule, and a bitter armed and diplomatic struggle ensues.

Following history after 1948[]

Independence[]

The conflict (The Indonesian War of Independence) ended in December 1949 when the Dutch formally recognized Indonesian independence in the face of international pressure. Despite extraordinary political, social and sectarian divisions, Indonesians, on the whole, found unity in their fight for independence.

After Independence and Soekarno presidency[]

After becoming independent, Sukarno became president, and made Indonesia a liberal democracy. however, this democracy wasn't very stable, as there was many problems. This included a famine, a ruinous economy, low educational and skills levels, authoritarian traditions, guerrilla war with militant and islamist Darul Islam, a declaration of an independent Republic of South Maluku, and other rebellions.

While the government was attempting to solve those problems, the constitution was changed, the new constitution mandated a parliamentary system of government, an executive responsible to parliament, and stipulated at length constitutional guarantees for human rights. A proliferation of political parties dealing for shares of cabinet seats resulted in a rapid turnover of coalition governments including 17 cabinets between 1945 and 1958. The long-postponed parliamentary elections were held in 1955; although the Indonesian National Party (PNI)—considered Sukarno's party—topped the poll, and the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) received strong support, no party garnered more than a quarter of the votes, which resulted in short-lived coalitions.

During the 1960s, authoritarianism began to creep in, and Soekarno maintained power by balancing the opposing forces of the military, political Islam, and the increasingly powerful Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI). Tensions between the military and the PKI culminated in an attempted coup in 1965. The army, led by Major General Suharto, countered by instigating a violent anti-communist purge that killed between 500,000 and one million people. The PKI was blamed for the coup and effectively destroyed.

The New order and Soeharto presidency[]

After the coup, General Suharto, who had defeated the coup capitalized on Sukarno's weakened position, and following a drawn-out power play with Sukarno, which ended in Suharto being appointed president in March 1968. His "New Order" administration, supported by the United States, encouraged foreign direct investment, which was a crucial factor in the subsequent three decades of substantial economic growth.

However, this economic growth mainly benefited the rich and powerful, which included Soeharto, as he enriched himself and his family through widespread corruption.

Meanwhile to the east, the dutch controlled territory of western New Guinea (also known as West Irian), was incorporated into Indonesia. This was after several violent clashes between Indonesian and Dutch soldiers. These clashes led to the United States pressured the Dutch into entering secret negotiations between the Netherlands and Indonesians. Which culminated in the Dayton Agreement, which transferred control of Western New Guinea to Indonesia, under the province of Irian Jaya.

Also in the east, the Portuguese territory of Timor was in the process of decolonization, as the Portuguese were leaving after overthrowing their authoritarian regime in 1975. The Indonesian government stoked fears of communism, and broke-up the alliance between the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor, and the Timorese Democratic Union, resulting in a civil war in which the Indonesian government invaded and annexed the country, with the backing of the United States.

Fall of the New Order and Reformation[]

WIP

Instability[]

WIP

Modern Era[]

WIP

Government and Politics[]

Indonesian government and politics is divided into 3 different branches, just like many other democracies. It consists of the President (Executive), the People's Consultative Assembly (Legislative), and the the Supreme Court (Judiciary).

Indonesia is a republic with a presidential system. The President of Indonesia is the head of state and of government, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), and the director of policy-making, domestic policy, governance, and foreign affairs. The president may serve a maximum of two consecutive five-year terms.

The highest representative body at the national level is the People's Consultative Assembly. Its main functions are inaugurating and impeaching the president, supporting and amending the constitution, and formalizing broad outlines of state policy. The People's Consultative Assembly comprises two houses; the People's Representative Council, with 575 members, and the Regional Representative Council, with 136. The People's Representative Council passes legislation and monitors the executive branch. While the people's Representative Council settles local and regional affairs.

Most civil cases are heard before the State Court, while appeals are heard before the High Court. The Supreme Court of Indonesia is the highest level of the judicial branch, and hears final appeals and conducts case reviews. Other courts include the Constitutional Court that listens to constitutional and political matters and the Religious Court that deals with codified Islamic Law (sharia) cases.

Additionally, the Judicial Commission monitors the performance of judges.

Parties and Elections[]

Since 1999, Indonesia has had a multi-party system. In which no one party has been able to win a majority of seats. Currently, the Great Indonesia Movement Party hold a plurality of seats and controls the People's Consultative Assembly by being in an alliance with the Prosperous Justice Party, the Democratic Party, and the National Mandate Party. The Great Indonesia Movement Party and is also the party of incumbent president, Prabowo Subianto.

The recent 2019 elections resulted in 9 political parties in the DPR, with a parliamentary threshold of 4% of the national vote. The first general election was held in 1955 to elect members of the DPR and the Constitutional Assembly. At the national level, Indonesians did not elect a president until 2004. Since then, the president is elected for a five-year term, as are the party-aligned members of the DPR and the non-partisan DPD. Beginning with 2015 local elections, elections for governors and mayors have occurred on the same date. In 2014, the Constitutional Court ruled that legislative and presidential elections are to be held simultaneously, starting in 2019.

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