HISTORY OF INDONESIA

National Movements

When all these regional wars of independence were unsuccessful, Indonesian leaders started a more organized struggle against Dutch colonialism known as Indonesia's national movements for independence.
This period was pioneered by the founding of the "Boedi Oetomo" (Noble Conduct) movement on the 20th of May 1908, which was initially designed as a cultural association for Indonesian intellectuals, turned into politics, stimulated by Japan's victory over Russia in 1901, which accelerated modern national movements throughout Indonesia. The founder of "Boedi Oetomo" was Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo, supported by Dr. Soetomo, Gunawan and Suradji...More

The Asian-African Conference

President Soekarno had to his credit the holding of the Asian-African Conference in Bandung, West Java, from April 18 to 24, 1955. The initiative was taken by Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Myanmar and Ceylon (Sri Lanka). The conference was attended by delegates from 24 Asian and African countries. The purpose of the meeting was to promote closer and amiable cooperation in the economic, cultural and political fields. The resolution adopted became known as the "Dasa Sila", or "The Ten Principles," of Bandung....More

The Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia

On the 15th of August 1950, the original proclaimed Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia was restored however, retaining a liberal democratic system of a cabinet answerable to the House of the People's Representatives, which became the source of frequent changes of cabinet or governments. This situation naturally could not be a firm basis for national development in a developing country, which had just become an independent state, where no political stability could be secured....More

The Beginning of the New Order Government

Over-confident of their strength and precipitated by the serious illness of President Soekarno, who was undergoing treatment by a Chinese medical team from Beijing, the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) attempted another coup on September 30, 1965. The uprising, however, was abrupt and quickly stamped out by the Armed Forces under Major General Soeharto, then Chief of the Army's Strategic Command.
On the night of September 30, or more precisely in the early hours of October 1, 1965, armed PKI men and members of Cakrabirawa, the President's security guard, set out to kidnap, torture and kill six top Army Generals....More

The Reform Order Government

Since the outset of the First Five-Year Development Plan in 1969, Indonesia under the New Order Government of President Soeharto had endeavored to achieve its national development goals. Indonesia, indeed, had been able to achieve substantial progress in various fields which had been enjoyed by the majority of the Indonesian people. Indonesia had gained success in the national development. Unfortunately, severe economic crisis, which began with the monetary crisis, struck Indonesia as of July 1997.
Since the middle of 1997, the people's standard of living dropped considerably. The decline in the people's standard of living was aggravated by various political tensions arising from the 1997 general elections. The political system which had been developed since 1966 turned out to be unable to accommodate the dynamism of the aspirations and interests of the community. This led to riots and disturbances....More

General Election