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The Dutch began to colonize Indonesia in the early 17th century; Japan occupied
the islands from 1942 to 1945.
Indonesia declared its independence shortly before
Japan's surrender, but it required four years of sometimes brutal fighting,
intermittent negotiations, and UN mediation before the Netherlands agreed to
transfer sovereignty in 1949.
A period of sometimes unruly parliamentary
democracy ended in 1957 when President SOEKARNO declared martial law and
instituted "Guided Democracy." After an abortive coup in 1965 by alleged
communist sympathizers, SOEKARNO was gradually eased from power.
From 1967
until 1998, President SUHARTO ruled Indonesia with his "New Order" government.
After street protests toppled SUHARTO in 1998, free and fair legislative elections
took place in 1999.
Indonesia is now the world's third most populous democracy,
the world's largest archipelagic state, and the world's largest Muslim-majority
nation.
Current issues include: alleviating poverty, improving education,
preventing terrorism, consolidating democracy after four decades of
authoritarianism, implementing economic and financial reforms, stemming
corruption, reforming the criminal justice system, 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 in Papua by the
separatist Free Papua Movement.
IMG ![]()
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