Indonesia is a multicultural country with over 350 ethnic groups and 650 languages, the majority of its population practices Islam but it also has several other religious groups. It was ruled as a colony by the Dutch for 350 years which aimed to divide its diverse population but this led to a growing independence movement. The country is now in a period of reform after the authoritarian rule of Suharto from the 1960s-1990s to create a more democratic and pluralistic society.

1. Indonesia in Brief
The Team
Hangzhou, January 2011

2. Agenda
1 Indonesia: Multicultural Country 3
2 Indonesia: Historical Overview 9
3 Photos of Jakarta 17

3. Indonesia:
multicultural country

4. Indonesia: the biggest Archipelago in the world
 A very diverse country:
 > 350 ethnic groups
 > 650 languages
 6 religions:
 Catholic;
 Christian;
 Islam;
 Buddhism;
 Hinduism
 Konfuzianism
 Traditional religions
More than 17.000 Island
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5. Ethnic Diversity
Others, 14.66
Javanese, 41.71
Toraja, 0.37
Aceh, 0.43
Gorontalo, 0.48
Chinese, 0.86
Major ethnics:
Cirebon, 0.94
Makasar, 0.99
1. Javanese (83 mio)
Sasak, 1.30
Balinese, 1.51
Banjar, 1.74
Banten, 2.05 2. Sundanese (31 mio)
Bugis, 2.49
Betawi, 2.51 3. Melayu (7 mio)
Minangkabau, 2.72 4. Maduranesse (6,5 mio)
Batakese, 3.02
5. Bataknesse (6 mio)
Sundanese, 15.41
Madura, 3.37
Melayu, 3.45
Composition of ethnic groups in Indonesia (Suryadinata, et.al, 2003 p.13)
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6. Ethnic Diversity
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7. Religion Diversity
Christian
8.92
Hinduism, 1.81
Buddhism, 0.84
Islam
88.22
Others, 0.20
Composition of religions in Indonesia (Suryadinata, et.al.,p.103)
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8. Religion Diversity
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9. Indonesian History

10. Colonialization Period
The longest occupation by Dutch colonizer:
They conquer Indonesia for 350 years. The practices of Dutch
colonies include:
Forced labor
Divide et impera (Divide and conquer)
as a strategy to exploit Indonesian diversity to create divisions amongst
people so independence struggle will be more difficult
Here’s a hierarchy of Indonesian people created by the Dutch, primarily to
create social tension and jealousy:
•The most noble: Dutch people
•The privileged: Foreign East people (Indonesian people of foreign
descent: Chinese-Indonesian, Arab-Indonesian, etc)
•The most unworthy: indigenous people
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11. Colonialization Period
1920s: Ethical politics (Politik Etis)
Some visionary Dutch urges the colony to give back to
Indonesians for their hard work during the forced labor that
contributes a lot to Netherland’s wealth.
So a conduct called Politik Etis is implemented with giving
Indonesian people education. The education is limited only for
wealthy people who has status in society.
Eventually the Politik Etis movement backfire the
Dutch, because it raises Indonesian people’s consciousness about
the Dutch strategy to divide them.
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12. Colonialization Period
Milestone: 1928, Youth Pledge(Sumpah Pemuda )
oath taken to preserve national unity:
One archipelago
One nation
One language
October 28, 1928
This has fuelled more efforts to reach independence, and an effort
to put national identity above all primordial sentiments.
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13. SUHARTO’S ERA
Sukarno is eventually toppled down after a bloody coup in
September 30, 1965, which is usually referred to as the 30
September movement.
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14. SUHARTO’S ERA
• Freedom of political expression were strongly restricted. Issues about
cultural / religious differences were considered as a “sensitive issue” that
should not be addressed in any form.
• The prohibition to speak about SARA --
suku(ethnicity), agama(religion), ras(race), antargolongan(intergroup
relations)
– Example of SARA implementation The discrimination against ethnic Chinese and Indonesians
of Arabic descent is occurring, but never mentioned in public space to “maintain order and
stability”.
• The cultural diversity in Indonesia is maintained and controlled politically
and thereby never acknowledged, much less being managed. So
multicultural awareness in never really systematically taught in Indonesia
during Suharto’s era. School textbooks reduce culture into
songs, artifacts, and dances, without teaching about the different cultural
values.
• Suharto was toppled after a huge student demonstration in 1998.
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15. SUHARTO’S ERA
Suharto was toppled after a huge student demonstration in 1998.
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16. Reformation
In this era, starting from 1999 with Habibie as Suharto’s
successor, the commitment is to create a more democratic
atmosphere in Indonesia.
A commitment to give space for pluralism to blossom
(Suparlan, 1999).
A wave of deadly terrorism conducted in the name of Islam is
scaring people away, yet Indonesia is applauded with its quick
responses to the terrorism and the numbers of captured
terrorists to this day, dead or alive.
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17. Photos in Jakarta

18. Mall
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19. Mall
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20. Mall
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21. Gathering
Content Here
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22. Traffic
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23. Thank You
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