|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
ISLANDS
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Aceh
This staunchly Muslim area has a centuries-old resentment of outside rule and a simmering separatist movement,
long kept in check by a heavy military presence. The area is rich in natural gas, palm oil and coffee, and timber--resources
that were for many years dominated by family and friends of former President Suharto in Jakarta. After Suharto’s
departure from office in May 1998, separatist activity has bubbled up into violent clashes and protests. President
Abdurrahman Wahid elected in October 1999, promised a referendum for Aceh to decide its future, but faced heavy
opposition in the Jakarta government. Later Wahid backpedaled, saying a referendum would not take place for three
years. Aceh’s independence movement is building, with growing street protest, and rebels reportedly trained in
Libya.
Riau
This province in eastern Sumatra is rich in forest resources, and produces about 80 percent of Indonesia’s oil
-- industries that were long controlled by the business clique in Jakarta. Since the end of Suharto’s rule, Riau
has come forward with demands that greater portions of the oil and other revenues remain within its boundaries.
Although there are groups in Riau that call for independence, most residents appear to support making Riau a federal
state of Indonesia.
East Kalimantan
This area is rich in lumber and related products, as well as habitat to rare jungle species such as orangutans.
Jakarta companies long controlled lumber, and the government in Jakarta regulated cutting. As central power has
faded, local interests are getting more of the take from the rainforest resources, and a push to make Kalimantan
a federal state of Indonesia, would likely hasten this trend. Environmentalists worry that, as one consequence,
conservation efforts are breaking down, further endangering rare species.
Sulawesi
The region grows cotton, coffee and sugar, has forest resources and a thriving port in the south. It has substantial
mineral and petroleum reserves. Thus, one of its main concerns is retaining a greater portion of the wealth from
those products, long dominated by Jakarta. Historically, Sulawesi has staged revolts against Jakarta’s rule, but
in the post-Suharto environment, the island has pushed to become a federated state. In recent months, as refugees
poured onto the island from violence-torn Ambon in the neighboring Spice Islands, sporadic Muslim-Christian violence
has flared in Sulawesi. In early January, more than 100 houses were burned in clashes, while Muslims protested
over attacks on fellow Muslims in Ambon, and threatened retaliation. |
| |
The Spice Islands
The Spice Islands, or the Maluccas, were long the subject of battles by European powers to control the valuable
spice trade. The population on the string of about 1,000 islands is largely Christian, unlike that of Indonesia
as a whole, which is majority Muslim. These idyllic islands have a history of resistance to Jakarta’s rule, and
since late 1998, since central rule deteriorated, tensions between Christians and Muslims have erupted as well.
Early on, these clashes were centered on main city of Ambon, but starting in 1999, they flared on other more remote
islands. About 2,000 people had died in the violence by early 2000. Attacks on Muslims have sparked protests elsewhere
in Indonesia, where some Muslims have called for a “holy war“ to avenge their brethren. |
Lombok
This idyllic island has become one of Indonesia’s most popular tourist destinations, following in the footsteps
of nearby Bali. Centuries ago, Lombok was a source of fragrant sandalwood, attractive to Arab traders. In the 1900s,
the island was somewhat over half Christian -- unlike Indonesia as a whole, which is about 90 percent Muslim--although
religious tension had increased in recent decades as more migrants came from elsewhere in Indonesia. Lombok was
peaceful until the start of 2000, when rallies by Muslims intended to protest religious and ethnic strife elsewhere
in Indonesia turned violent. The island saw its first major conflict between Christian and Islamic populations.
Christian churches were burned and looted, and the violence threatened to destroy the island’s lucrative tourist
business. |
Irian Jaya
Irianese on this mountainous island have long resented rule by Jakarta, which took the territory from Dutch colonists.
But the stakes have been high. Irian Jaya had barely emerged from the Stone Age when vast stores of minerals were
discovered there. American company Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold, in Irian Jaya since 1967, mines the world's
largest single gold deposit there. Under Suharto, secessionist sentiment was harshly suppressed, and the lion’s
share of mineral revenue went to Jakarta. In the post-Suharto era, secessionists are gaining power. Thousands have
joined in recent pro-independence rallies in Irian Jaya. More moderate Irianese call for more resource revenues
to be retained by the province. They also complain that rapid migration from other Indonesian islands has deprived
the indigenous people of jobs and education. |
| |
|
|
