Indonesia

Content

• General Facts

• Ethnical Diversity

• Culture

Our contact at the Embassy

Gustaf Sirait (pronounce Si ra it)

• Cultural and information Attaché in Embassy of Indonesia

• Background: o French literature studies in Jakartao Worked in Foreign Ministry of Indonesia

Republic of Indonesia

• Capital: Jakarta• Population: 240 millions (est. 2009)

o 4th most populated countryo a lot of ethnic groups

• Official language: bahasa indonesia.• Governement type: republic

o 2 presidential elections, last one in 2009

Source: CIA Factbook

Geographical location

Main Islands• Java, Sumatra• Kalimantan (Bornéo)• Sulawesi (Célèbes)• Maluku (Moluques)• Timor• Irian Jaya or Papua

• Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Oceano Around 17500 islands from which 3000 are inhabited

33 regions, very scattered and diversified

Climate

• Equatorial climateo Hot and wet

 

• The same temperature all the year:      between 26°C and 30°C

• 2 "seasons": o rainy season (december -> february)o wet season (march -> november)

History

Pre-colonial era• V. century: Individual Island states. Maritime and trading population• Gradual adoption of Islam between the XIII. and the XVI. Century

Colonial era• Dutch colony between 1602 and 1942• Japanese occupation (1942-1945)• Armed conflict with Dutch between 1945 and 1949

Independent era• Independence : 27 December 1949• Ruling of Sokano and Suharto until the promulgation of the republic

in 1999 

Tsunami• Earthquake on December 26, 2004

160 000 dead on Aceh

Borobudur: a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Javanese housekeeper with a colon child.

Ethnical groups

• More than 750 tribes and dialects

• Black, Arab, Asian, Indian,...

Languages

Tribes & Diversity

• Different ethnic groups:o Javanese, Batak, Chinese, Indians, Blacks ...

• Several behaviors: o Middle-Javanese have a strong sense of politenesso East-Javanese are more informal, familiar

• No real tensions nowadays between tribes except for:o Enmity with powerful Chinese (solved recently)o Feeling of being set aside from Papuan peopleo Seeking of independence of Aceh

• Padang : Minang Kabao, matriarchal tribe even if muslim

• All the holy days are celebratedo A lot of social bonding at these occasions

Religions

• Muslims (88%)o "Religion of Java“

• Christians (8%)• Buddhists or Hinduists (2%)

 • Some regions with strong majority religion • No separation between Church and State• One of the five religions must be chosen and declared

Five Principles

• One God• Justice• Indonesian Unity• Consensus• Social Justice for all

Spirit

• Take your time, think of the "elastic watch“

• High respect to the superior and the oldero even a young chief

• Always try to find consensus elegantly and politlyo Never be too direct!! 

• Avoid public disputes / humiliations

• Moderated Islam (no burqa)o be careful with clotheso Relation to alcohol

• Criticizing the politicians directly is not well thought-ofo only their ideas not the person

Spirit• Relative to Islam:

o Clothes -> be coveredo Avoid tenderness in public -> do not kiss to say hello!

• Hierarchy -> stay politeo  respect prayer's time

• Westerner are called "Bule" (pronounce "Boulet")o Indonesian are usually very kind with Bule

• Atheism is not well thought-of

Trima Kassi! (Thank You!)

Questions?