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INDONESIA
Tanah Air-ku

Point of interest :

Republic of Indonesia

PROCLAMATION

We the peole of Indonesia, do hereby proclaim the independence of Indonesia
All matters pertaining to the transfer of the power, etc.,
will be carried out expediently and in the shortest possible time

Jakarta, August 17th, 1945
On behalf of the Indonesia people,

Sukarno - Hatta

Introducing Indonesia
History
Coat of Arm
Pancasila
Indonesia's Flag : Sang Saka Merah Putih
Bahasa Indonesia

Introducing Indonesia

Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago extending between two continents, Asia and Australia. Its location across important trade routes has long influenced its political and economic development.

Indonesia has a land area of 1,905,443 sq. kms (735,354 sq. miles) and its 13,677 islands stretch 5,152 kms (3,200 miles) from East to West and 1,770 kms (1,100 miles) from North to South (look at the map of Indonesia). The five main islands are Sumatera, Java, Kalimantan (the major part of Borneo), Sulawesi and Irian Jaya, the western part of New Guinea.

The total population of Indonesia is an estimated 190 million and it is the fifth most populous country in the world, exceeded only by China, India, Rusia and the United States of America. Indonesians are basically of Malay heritage and are divided into approximately 300 ethnic groups which speak about 583 languages and many more dialects. The national language is Bahasa Indonesia.

Jakarta is the capital of the Republic of Indonesia and is the centre of government and economic activity.

History of Indonesia

The fossils of the Java Man (Pithecanthropus Erectus) discovered in 1890 near the village of Trinil in East Java is proff that Indonesia was inhabited more than 1,000,000 years ago.

From 206 B.C. to 24 A.D. trade was established with China and contacts with South India in the first century A.D. brought an influx of Hindus which continued to the 7th century. Hindu and Buddhist influence lasted for 14 centuries, creating a synthesised Indonesian-Hindu civilization and two powerful kingdoms rose - Sriwijaya in Sumatera from the 7th to 9th century and Majapahit in East Java in the 10th century finally disintegrating in the 16th century.

The Arabs first landed in North Sumatera in 846 A.D. and Moslem kingdoms rose in Java in the 16th century and Islam spread throughout the islands.

The Portuguese in search of spice arrived in the Spice Islands (Maluku) in the 16th century, followed by the United Dutch East India Company (VOC) in 1605 who got control of the spice and coffee trade and increased their suzerainty over Indonesia territories. During the Napoleonic wars when Holland was occupied by France, Indonesia fell under British East India Company rule from 1811 to 1816 with Thomas Stamford Raffles as lieutenant governor who introduced partial self government.

The Japanese occupation of Indonesia further strengthened the nationalist movements and with the surrender of the Japanese, Sukarno and Hatta proclaimed Indonesia's independence on August 17, 1945.

The 1945 Constitution and the national philosophy "Pancasila" which is contained in its Preamble, guide all the policies of the present government and the organs of state.

The Indonesia Coat of Arm

The coat of arm of Indonesia is "GARUDA PANCASILA". The Garuda Pancasila is the golden eagle of Indonesia mithology. This bird is streching its wings. Its principal colour, gold, describes the greatness of the nation. Its subsidiary colour, black, represents nature. The sublim ideal of the nation is the lawful and properous community based on Pancasila and 1945 Constitution.

There are seventeen flight feathers on each wing, eight tail feathers and forty-five neck feathers, which symbolize the date of our Proclamation of Independence in August 17th, 1945.

There is a shield on the nect of the eagle. The shield symbolizes both struggle and protection. Its main background colours, red and white, are those of the national flag. Its fields represent the Pancasila Principles upon which the Indonesian State is founded. The bar cross its centre represent the equator, as Indonesia lies in the equatorial zone.

The golden star on the middle of the shield represents the first Pancasila principle. The chain represents the second principle. The banyan tree (pohon beringin) represents third principle. The head of bull (banteng) represents fourth principle. The gold and white paddy and cotton represents fifth principle.

Pancasila

There are five symbols on the Garuda Pancasila's shield. A star, which is in the middle of the shield, represents the first of the Pancasila Principles. The chain represents the second of the Pancasila. The banyan tree or "Beringin" tree represents the third of the Pancasila. The bull's head represents the forth of Pancasila. The spray of rice and cotton represent the fifth of Pancasila.

Pancasila is the foundation of Republic of Indonesia. It becomes the way of life. Pancasila was born on June 1st, 1945. Panca means five and Sila means principle. Do, Pancasila is the Five Basic Principles of Indonesia.

PANCASILA

Believe in The One Supreme God
Just and Civilised Humadity
The Unity of Indonesia
Democracy which is guided by the inner wisdom in the unanimity arising out of deliberation among representatives
Social justice for the whole of the people of Indonesia

Indonesia's Flag : Sang Saka Merah Putih

Sang Saka Merah Putih (Indonesia's flag) has two horizontal colors. The red means bravery and the white means purity and truth.

Bahasa Indonesia

Bahasa Indonesia is an Indonesian national language. Bahasa means language. Mostly, Indonesian speak Bahasa Indonesia for communicate to the others who have different ethnic group background and mother tongue. Each ethnic group has totally different language among the others. So, Bahasa Indonesia is the very important part as a communication language in Indonesia.

Point of interest :

Republic of Indonesia

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