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Indonesia
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FactsBackground: The Dutch began to colonize Indonesia in the early 17th century; Japan occupied the islands from 1942 to 1945. Indonesia declared its independence after Japan's surrender, but it required four years of intermittent negotiations, recurring hostilities, and UN mediation before the Netherlands agreed to transfer sovereignty in 1949. Free and fair legislative elections took place in 1999 after decades of repressive rule. Indonesia is now the world's third most populous democracy, the world's largest archipelagic state, and home to the world's largest Muslim population. Current issues include: alleviating poverty, improving education, preventing terrorism, consolidating democracy after four decades of authoritarianism, implementing economic and financial reforms, stemming corruption, holding the military and police accountable for human rights violations, addressing climate change, and controlling infectious diseases, particularly those of global and regional importance. In 2005, Indonesia reached a historic peace agreement with armed separatists in Aceh, which led to democratic elections in Aceh in December 2006. Indonesia continues to face low intensity armed resistance by the separatist Free Papua Movement. note: data are in 2010 US dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $695.1 billion (2010 est.); GDP - real growth rate: 6% (2010 est.); 4.5% (2009 est.); 6% (2008 est.); GDP - per capita (PPP): $4,300 (2010 est.); $4,100 (2009 est.); $3,900 (2008 est.); note: data are in 2010 US dollars GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 16.5%; industry: 46.4%; services: 37.1% (3rd quarter, 2010 est.); Population below poverty line: 13.33% (2010); Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3%; highest 10%: 32.3% (2006); Labor force: 116.5 million (2010 est.); Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 38.3%; industry: 12.8%; services: 48.9% (2010 est.); Unemployment rate: 7.1% (2010 est.); 7.9% (2009 est.); Budget: revenues: $119.5 billion; expenditures: $132.9 billion (2011 est.); Industries: petroleum and natural gas, textiles, apparel, footwear, mining, cement, chemical fertilizers, plywood, rubber, food, tourism; Industrial production growth rate: 3.6% (2010 est.); Electricity - production: 129 billion kWh (2008 est.); Electricity - consumption: 119.3 billion kWh (2007 est.); Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2009 est.); Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2009 est.); Statistics: CIA World Factbook. PressBisnis Indonesia(Business-oriented, independent), Jakarta Jakarta Post, The(Independent, English-language), Jakarta Kompas(Independent), Jakarta Republika(Islamist), Jakarta Suara Pembaruan(Moderate, Christian), Jakarta Tempo(Independent newsmagazine), Jakarta Waspada(Independent daily), Medan Indonesia in the NewsDisplaying 37 to 40 of 55 items. American PatriotismGoenawan Mohamad, writing for Jakarta's Tempo magazine, writes that patriotism breeds bad prose and paranoia. We Must Remain FirmThe Australian, in an Oct. 14 editorial written just after the Bali bombing, writes that Australia must not waver in its support for the U.S. war on terrorism Indonesia: ‘Religion Will Not Prosper Through Violence’The arrest of Muslim leaders known for their hard-line political stance has contributed to fears of reprisals among Muslims. The Jakarta Post's Soeryo Winoto talked to Hasyim Muzadi, the leader of Indonesia’s largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama. Cracking Down in Indonesia'If mishandled, Indonesia's crackdown on Islamists and consequent polarization could inadvertently help rather than hinder the formation of a Jemaah Islamiyah—an Islamic community in Indonesia,' writes The Jakarta Post. |
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