Indonesia

History

Java and other parts of what is now Indonesia were under Buddhist
and Hindu influence from Idian traders over 2,000 yrs. ago.

In the 15th century Islam came along w/ Arab sailors,
and by the 16th century it dominated the country.

At this time Portuguese traders began a short lived period
of domination over Java.

17th Century
The Dutch came and established control over Java by 1750.

In the early 1900s the Dutch finally established domination
of what is now Indonesia. Their's was 1 of the more
pathetic examples of European colonialization.

Indonesian Oil Was A Major Reason
For America's Entry and W.W.II

Post War

1945
Anti-Dutch nationalists led by Sukarno
and Hatta declare independence.
The U.S. sells weapons to the Dutch who fight a brutal
war for 4 yrs. in an effort to reestablish enslavement.

12/27/49
The Netherlands gives up claim to sovereignty over the islands.

8/17/50
Sukarno declares a republic and is declared President.
New Guinea's West Irian section remains under Dutch control.
Irian 'rebels' are suppressed w/ U.S. weapons and sanctioned torture.

1957
The Dutch refuse to negotiate the return of west Irian,
and Indonesia begins to seize Dutch property on
Java and other islands in retaliation.

1962
US mediated plan is agreed to.

1963
UN turns West Irian over to Indonesia
as Sukarno promises plebiscite.

1969
Tribal chiefs vote to stay w/ Indonesia.
Insurgency begins by angry West Irian nationalists.

1960
Sukarno suspends Parliament.

1963
Sukarno named President-for-life.
Begins making alliances w/ the Communists.

1964-65'
Communist-armed Indonesian troops raid Malaysia,
whose formation Sukarno had opposed.

1965
Military officers stage coup against Sukarno but he rallies,
after finding Communist involvement Sukarno begins slaughter
of over 300,000 people suspected of being 'communists'.
U.S. refuses to denounce slaughter and Military aid
to take advantage of situation.

1968
Head of the military Suharto takes control, restricts opposition,
turns to the West and begins exporting massive amounts of oil.

Dec., 1975
Portuguese rule in East Timor collapses and Indonesia moves in.
U.S. govt. supports torture and imprisonment of Timorese
who defy Indonesian control.

1993
Suharto is 'elected' to 6th term.

7/27/96
Economic problems cause anti-Suharto riot in Jakarta

Mar., 1997
Fraudulent gold mine in Busang, East Kalimantan
defrauds investors of $3 billion.
(Must have been friends of Dollar Bill's.) Sept., 1997
Severe drought causes massive fires that destroy
some of the most precious rain forests in the world.

Early 1998
Rain forest fires in Indonesia and Malaysia
blanket S.E. Asia in dense smoke.

Indonesia

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