Culture

Batik
Batik is two-dimensional decorative art on cloth. This hand-made textile art uses wax to draw pattern in
the beginning. Fluid of melting wax is painted on the cloth
to cover parts that will resist the dye. Batik primarily is used as kebaya and sarung (women and men
underskirt). Nowadays its function varies like used as shirt,
accessories such as woman's handbags, scarfs even as decorative icons such tablecloths, paintings and
lampshades.
The center of batik crafts sits in Central Java Tengah in the cities of Solo, Pekalongan and Yogyakarta,
although in other area like Lasem and Cirebon batik can also be found.
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Paintings
The Indonesian painter who has able to gain international reputation is realist Raden Saleh that lived in
the 19th century. And 20th century painter who could reach the same achievement is Affandi.
Traditional painting flourishes in Klungkung, Bali in the form of cloth paintings.
Then in the thirty, two European painters Walter Spies (Germany) and Rudolf Bonnet (Dutch) came to Bali
bringing the influence of European style and concepts of art.
Since then Balinese Paintings far more widely developed in theme and style.
Painting above is one of Spies' painting called Morning in Iseh, which render a beautiful morning
landscape in Iseh. Romantic-decorative shapes show us the influence of Balinese traditional art of
painting, and the influence of European art can be seen on the existence of perspective.
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Wayang
Wayang is a form of traditional Javanese theatrical performance. Known as world of shadows, wayang
which refers to wayang kulit, is a theater performed by a dalang/puppeteer with plays puppets behind a
wide white screen illuminated by an oil lamp. The shadows of puppets on the screen caused by flickering
lamp
create lively atmosphere for the performance.
Puppets played (called wayang,too) are made from cows or goats skin which is carved and painted.
Wayang kulit is performed in the important ceremonies which mark a stepping stone in one's life such as
wedding or selamatan. The plays performed are stories from Mahabarata and Ramayana. Wayang itself
keeps so much philosphy from all aspects of life of Javanese society

Other kinds of wayang are wayang golek ; wayang in three-dimensional shape, wayang orang which
performed by people and wayang topeng peformed by poeple with masks.
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Dance
Almost every part of Indonesia has traditional dancing. The number of dancing types is known more than
200. Its functions diverse from performance in the palace, for pay homage to God, entertainment, ritual
ceremonies to dance for the death in funeral ceremonies.
Gesture of Javanese dancing is generally slow and calm, emphasizing graceful movement. In Central
Java, dance firstly was a sacred part of palace life, where dance was only performed for the king.
Javanese Dance can still be found at performance in the kraton (palace) Yogyakarta.
Whereas in Bali island dance movements tend to be jerk and faster, stress expressive nature. Dance is
functioning in a wider sense and touch every pore of society's life. The most well-known Balinese dancing
is Legong Dance, which usually
performed by Balinese girls (picture above).

The Birth of the Republic

The War of independence
Diplomacy and Fighting
The Indonesian Question in the United Nations
World Recognition and Indonesia's Sovereignty
The Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia
Challenges to " Unitary State"
The Asian-African Conference
The Republic of Indonesia first saw light on August 17, 1945, when its independence was proclaimed just
days after the Japanese surrender to the Allies. Pancasila became the ideological and philosophical basis
of the Republic, and on August 18, 1945 the Constitution was adopted as the basic law of the country.
Following the provisions of the Constitution, the country is headed by a President who is also the Chief
Executive. He is assisted by a Vice-President and a cabinet of ministers.
The sovereignty of the people rests with the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). Hence, the
President is accountable to the MPR. The legislative power is vested in the House of Representatives
(DPR). Other institutions of the state are the Supreme Court, the Supreme Advisory Council and the
Supreme Audit Board. Soekarno became the first President and Chief Executive, and Mohammad Hatta,
the first Vice-President of the Republic. On September 5, 1945 the first cabinet was formed.

The War of Independence

The infant republic was soon faced with military threats to its very existence. British troops landed in
Indonesia as a contingent of the Allied Forces to disarm the Japanese. Dutch troops also seized this
opportunity to land in the country, but for a different purpose, - namely, to regain control of the former East
Indies. At the beginning they were assisted by British troops under General Christison, a fact later
admitted by Lord Louis Mountbatten, the Commander of the Allied Forces in Southeast Asia based in
Myanmar. In fact, the British troops were officially only assigned to the task of repatriating Allied prisoners
of war and internees.
On November 10, 1945, fierce fighting broke out between British troops and Indonesian freedom fighters
in which the British lost Brigadier Mallaby. As a result, the British turned to all-out combat from the sea, air
and land. The newly recruited army of the Republic soon realized the superiority of the British forces and
withdrew from urban battles. They subsequently formed guerrilla units and fought together with armed
groups of the people.
Under the pretext of representing the Allied Forces, the Dutch sent in more troops to attack Indonesian
strongholds. Between 1945 and 1949 they undertook two military actions.
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The Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia
On August 17, 1950 the Unitary State of the Republic on Indonesia, as originally proclaimed, was
restored. However, the liberal democratic system of government was retained whereby the cabinet would
be accountable to the House of Representatives. This was a source of political instability with frequent
changes in government.
In the absence of a stable government, it was utterly impossible for a newly independent state to embark
on any development program. With the return of the unitary state, the President once again assumed the
duties of Chief Executive and the Mandatory of the Provisional People's Consultative Assembly. He is
assisted by a Vice-President and a cabinet of his own choosing. The Executive is not responsible to the
House of Representatives.
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The National Flag

The Indonesian national flag is called "Sang Saka Merah Putih." As provided for in Article 35 of the 1945
Constitution, the flag is made up of two colors, red on top of white. Its width is two-thirds of its length, or
two meters by three meters. It is hoisted in front of the presidential palace, of government buildings and
Indonesian missions abroad. The first flag was courageously flown amidst Japanese occupation forces on
the day Indonesia's independence was proclaimed. Since then it has been hoisted at independence day
commemorations in front of the presidential palace in the capital city of Jakarta. This historical flag, or

"bendera pusaka," was flown for the last time on August 17, 1968. Since then it has been preserved and
replaced by a replica woven of pure Indonesian silk.

The National Anthem

The national anthem is "Indonesia Raya," which means Great Indonesia. The song was composed in
1928. The colonial policy of the day was "divide and rule." It was a policy that deliberately aggravated
language, ethnic, cultural and religious differences amongst the people.
The birth of Indonesia Raya marked the beginning of Indonesian nationalist movements. The song was
first introduced by its composer, Wage Rudolf Supratman, at the second All Indonesian Youth Congress
on October 28, 1928 in Batavia, now Jakarta. It was the moment when Indonesian youth of different
ethnic, language, religious and cultural backgrounds resolutely pledged allegiance to:

One native land, Indonesia;

One nation, the Indonesian nation;

One unifying language, the Indonesian language.

Soon the national song, which called for the unity of Indonesia, became popular. It was echoed at
Indonesian political rallies, where people stood in solemn observance. The song seriously aroused
national consciousness among the people throughout the archipelago.

Volcanoes
The country is predominantly mountainous with some 400 volcanoes, of which 100 are active. Mountains
higher than 9,000 feet are found on the islands of Sumatra (Mt. Leuser and Mt. Kerinci), Java (Mt. Gede,
Mt. Tangkubanperahu, Mt. Ciremai, Mt. Kawi, Mt. Kelud, Mt. Semeru and Mt. Raung), Sulawesi (Mt.
Lompobatang and Mt. Rantekombala), Bali (Mt. Batur and Mt. Agung), Lombok (Mt. Rinjani) and
Sumbawa (Mt. Tambora). The highest mountain is the perpetually snow-capped Mandala Top (15,300
feet) in the Jaya Wijaya mountain range of Irian Jaya.
Recorded eruptions of volcanoes over the last two decades are:Sumatra - Dempo 1973, and 1974,
Merapi 1978, Sorik Merapi 1989, Kerinci 1990; Sunda Strait Anak Krakatau 1978 and 1979; Java - Bromo
1972, Merapi 1972 and 1976, Raung 1978, Semeru 1978 and 1979, Butak Petarangan (Sinila and
Sigludar) 1979; Paluweh - Rokatenda 1978, Galunggung 1982, Slamet 1988, Kelud 1990; Sulawesi Lokon 1978, 1979 and 1991, Siau - Karangetang 1978 and 1979, Colo 1983, Soputan 1989; Maluku Dukono 1978, Gamalama Kie Besi 1987, Banda Api 1988; ast Nusa Tenggara - Lewotobi Laki-laki 1990.

Population
The population policy is directed toward development of the population as human resources in order that
the national development can be effective and valuable, while the quality of life is gradually improving.
Meanwhile, the control of population growth is carried out through efforts to lower the birth and mortality
rate, especially that of infants and children. These efforts in particular have been implemented through

family planning programs which also have the purpose of improving the welfare of mother and child and
at the same time create a small, happy, and prosperous family.
The implementation of population policy has noted significant progress. In 1998, the life expectancy was
64.7 years, the crude death rate was 7.7 per 1.000 people, and the infant mortality rate was 50 per 1.000
live birth. Meanwhile, the crude birth rate in 1998 was 22.7 per 1.000 people and the total fertility rate was
2.59 per woman. Until June 1999, the total population is approximately 209 millions.