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?