Indonesia Acronyms

AAI Indonesian Advocates' Association
AAPMI Association of Indonesian Fashion Designers
ABRI Indonesian Armed Forces
ADRI Indonesian Army
AEI Indonesian Public Companies Association
AFA ASEAN Federation of Accountants
AICE Association of Indonesian Coffee Exporters
AICESSCC Indonesia-China Economic Social and Cultural Cooperation Association
AIMMI Association of Indonesian Edible Oil Industries
AIPI Association of Indonesian Political Scientists
AIPO ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization
AJI Alliance of Independent Journalists
AKABRI Armed Forces Academy
ALRI Indonesian Navy
Amdal The Environmental Impact Analysis
AMM ASEAN Ministerial Meeting
AMN National Military Academy
AMT Tangerang Military Academy
ANEX ASEAN News Exchange
AP3I Indonesian Retailers Association
APBN State Budget
APEC Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
APECC Asia Pacific Exhibition and Convention Council
APEI Indonesian Securities Companies
Apfindo Indonesian Meat Producers and Feedlot
APHI Association of Indonesian Forest Concessionaires
API Indonesian Textile Association 2nd ref association
Apindo Indonesian Employers Association
APJATI Association of Labor Export Companies
APKI Indonesian Pulp and Paper Association
Apkindo Association of Indonesian Wood Panel Producers
Apnatel Indonesian Telecommunications Association
Apodeti Prointegration group in East Timor
Aprindo Association of Indonesian Retailers
Arpindo Indonesian Association of Pager Operators
Askindo Indonesian Cocoa Association
ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations
ASEAN CCI ASEAN Chamber of Commerce and Industry
ASEM Asia-Europe Meeting
Asirevi Video Film Importers Association, 2nd ref association
ASIRI Recording Industry Association
ASITA Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies
Askes State-owned Health Insurance Company
Aspadin Association of Indonesian Producers of Packaged Drinking Water
Aspiluki Indonesian Computer Software Association
ASRI Indonesian Fine Arts Academy
Astek State insurance program
ATF ASEAN Tourism Forum
ATNI National Theater Academy of Indonesia
AURI Indonesian Air Force
Bapebti Indonesian Commodities Exchange Agency
Bakin State Intelligence Coordinating Board 2nd ref board
BAKN Institute of State Personnel Administration
Bakorlak An interdepartmental agency for drug control
Bakornas PB National Disaster Management Coordination Board
Bakorstanas Agency for the Coordination of Support for the Development of National Stability
Bakorstanasda The Jakarta Agency for the Coordination of Support for the Development of National Stability
Bakosurtanal Coordinating Body for Survey and National Charting Development Board
Bakom-PKB Coordinating Body for National Unity
Bamus House's Consultative Body
Bamus Betawi Native Jakartans Association
Bandungwangi Mutual Support for Friendship and Protection (a help group for Kramat Tunggak prostitutes)
Banpro Bandung Promotion Group (setup by leading Bdg hotels)
Bapedal Environmental Impact Management Agency, agency
Bapeka Supreme Audit Body
Bapeksta Export Service Facilitating Agency
Bapedalda Regional Environmental Impact Management Agency
Bapepam Capital Market Supervisory Agency,
Bapfida Film Control Agency or City Film Control Agency
Bapindo Indonesian Development Bank
Bappeda City's Development Planning Board
Bappebti Futures Exchange Supervisory Board
Bappenas National Development Planning Board
Batan National Atomic Energy Agency
BAZIS an (Islamic) board which oversees the collection of alms
Bepedti Commodities Trading Board
BIA Armed Forces Intelligence
BIDA Batam Industrial Development Authority
BIDSUS An agency responsible for fighting certain crimes, like subversion, corruption and smuggling
BIMP-EAGA East Asian Growth Area composed of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
BKKBN National Family Planning Board
BKKKS Social Welfare Coordinating Body
BKPM Investment Coordinating Board
BKPMD Regional Investment Coordinating Board
BKSDA Natural Resources Conservation Center a local natural conservation office
BKSP Greater Jakarta Coordination Board
BLHI Board of the Indonesian Environment Management
BMG Meteorology and Geophysics Agency
Bopunjur Bogor-Puncak-Cianjur
Botabek Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi
BP7 Referred to as: an agency for the study of the state-ideology Pancasila and Agency for the Propagation of Pancasila) OR an agency entrusted with the task of disseminating the state-ideology Pancasila
BPD Regional Development Bank
BPEN National Agency for Export Development, 2nd ref agency
BPHN Agency for National Legal Development
BPI The over-the-counter market, the Indonesian Parallel Bourse (stock exchange)
BPIS Strategic Industries Supervisory Agency whose 10 strategic industries also include rail, weapons, explosives and telecommunications companies.
BPK Supreme Audit Agency (was Bapeka)
BPKP Development Finance Controller
BPN National Land Agency
BPPC Clove Marketing and Buffer Stock Agency
BPPI Indonesian Tourism Promotion Board
BPPK An agency to supervise the affairs of national heroes and their widows
BPPKA Foreign Contractors Management Body
BPPT Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology, chaired by State Minister of Research and Technology
BPS Central Bureau of Statistics
BPUT Land Affairs Office
BRIEF Business Review Indonesia Forum
BRN State Secrets Agency, later became Bakin
BSF See LSF
Bulog State Logistics Agency
BUMN State-owned enterprises
CBSA Indonesian "active learning method" education system
CESDA Center for the Study of Development and Democracy
CGI Consultative Group on Indonesia (was IGGI)
CIDES Center for Information and Development Studies
CIFOR Center for International Forestry Research
CNPPA-SEA Commission on National Parks and Protected Areas for South East Asia
CNRT Conselho National de Resistancia Timorese, an East Timor resistance movement (National Resistance Council for an Independent East Timor)
CPIS Center for Policy and Implementation Studies (of the Ministry of Finance)
CRP Community Recovery Program, an NGO entrusted with distributing safety net funds from foreign donors
DAMRI State-run bus company
Dekopin Indonesian Cooperatives Council
Depanri National Aeronautics and Aviation Council
DFN National Film Board
DIA Aceh Special Province
Dinas Autonomous agency offices under the governor or mayor/regent
DIY Yogyakarta Special Province
DKI Jakarta Special Province
DKP Officers Honor Council or Honorary Press Council
DKS Surabaya arts council
DLLAJ City Land Transportation Agency
DOM Military operation areas
DPA Supreme Advisory Council (this body advises the President on matters in various sectors)
DPIS Agency for the Supervision of Strategic Industry
DPKEKU Indonesian Economic and Finance Reselience Council
DPN National Productivity Council
DPR House of Representatives
DPRD I Provincial Legislative Council for provinces; City Council for cities
DPRD II Regional Legislative Council for provinces; City Council for cities
DRN National Research Council
DSN National Standardization Board (environmental)
EAGA East ASEAN Growth Area, encompassing Indonesian provinces of North Sumatra and Aceh, the western parts of Malaysia and Thailand's southern areas.
ECONIT Advisory Group on Economic Industry and Trade
EJIP East Jakarta Industrial Park
EKONID German-Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
ELSAM Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy
ET (Ex-political prisoner/former political detainee
ETAN East Timor Alert Network
FASI Indonesian Aerosport Federation
FCHI A Hindu intellectual organization.
FEUI University of Indonesia's School of Economics
FISIP School of Social and Political Science of University of Indonesia
FKI Indonesia Working Forum
FKKP Forum of Communication for Counterbalance Group
FKPGA Communications Forum for Retired Garuda Employees
FKPPI Communication Forum of Indonesian Veterans' Children
FKSH Forum of Social and Humanistic Studies in Yogyakarta.
Foreri Forum for the Reconciliation of the Irian Jaya Community
Forki Indonesian Karate Federation
Fosko 66 Forum, Studi dan Komunikasi, a study and communication forum
FPMR Forum for Students and People Movement
FPR Reformed Entrepreneurs Forum
G30S Abortive coup by the Indonesian Communist Party on Sept. 30, 1965.
Gabsi Indonesian Contract Bridge Association
Gaikindo Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries
Gapensi Indonesian Builders Association
Gapkindo Indonesian Rubber Producers Association
Gappindo Association of Indonesian Fishing Companies
GAPPRI Association of Indonesian Cigarette Producers
GBHN State Policy Guidelines
GBSI Federation of Independent Trade Unions
GDN National discipline movement Gegana bomb squad
Gerkatin Organization For Care of the Deaf
Gestapu Gerakan 30 September (Sept. 30 Movement 1965)
Ginsi Indonesian Importers Association
GKBI Federation of Indonesian Batik Cooperatives
GKJ Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (Jakarta Playhouse)
GMF Garuda Maintenance Facility
GMKI Indonesian Christian Students Movement
GMNI The Indonesian Nationalist Students Movement
GNOTA National Foster Parents Movement
GOI Government of Indonesia
Golkar Golongan Karya (translates as functional group), the government-backed ruling political organization
Golput The acronym for Golongan Putih, literally meaning "white group", coined to describe people who refuse to vote during the general elections.
GPBSI All Indonesian Theater Organization
GPK The government term meaning peace-disturbing movement or security disturbance groups
GRM Marhaen's People Movement, an organization grouping disciples of the late president Sukarno
GUS Coordinating Agency for the Development of the Informal Sector(this agency registers street vendors and moves them to more "appropriate" places)
GUSK Small-scale business task force
Hankamnas National Defense and Security Board
Hati Hapus Hukuman Mati (ban capital punishment)
HGB Right of Building
Himasita Association of Students for Plant Protection
Himpala Association of Nature Lovers (in Uni)
Hiperkes The occupational health and safety program
Himni Indonesian Nuclear Society
Hipmi Association of Young Indonesian Businessmen
HIPPI Indonesian Indigenous Businessmen's Association
HKBP Congregation of Toba Batak Protestant Churches
HKI Indonesian Christian Church
HKTI Indonesian Farmers Association
HMI Association of Islamic Students
HMWI Indonesian Women Managers Association
HPPIA Association of Indonesian Researches and Students in Australia
HSBI Association of Islamic Art and Culture
HTI Industrial timber estate
IAI Indonesian Architects Association
IAIN State Islamic Institute or State Academy of Islamic Studies
IBF International Badminton Federation
IBI Indonesian Midwives Association
IBRA Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency
IBT Eastern part of Indonesia
ICEL Indonesian Center for Environmental Law
ICIP Indonesian Cleaner Industrial Production Program
ICMI Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals
ICW Indonesian Corruption Watch
ICWA Indonesian Council on World Affairs
IDI Indonesian Doctors Association
IDT Presidential instruction on least developed villages program
IGGI Inter-Governmental Group on Indonesia (now CGI)
IIEE Foundation Foundation of Indonesian Institute for Energy Economics
IIP Institute of Public Administration
IJEG Indonesian Japanese European Group
IJS Jakarta Social Institute
Ikadin Indonesian Bar Association
Ikapi Indonesian Publishers Association
Ikasi Indonesian Fencing Association
IKIP Teachers Training Institute
IKJ Jakarta Arts Institute
IKPM Indonesian Fashion Designers Association
IKPN Civil Servants Cooperatives Organization
IMAMI Indonesian Mosques Association
IMB Building permits
IMI Indonesia Motorsports Association
IMM Muhammadiyah Students Association
IMS-GT Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore Growth Triangle
IMT-GT Indonesian-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle
INACA Indonesian Nati
Inkopar Federation of Employees Cooperative
INDRA Indonesian Debt Restructuring Agency
INFA Indonesian Forwarders Association
INFID International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development
INPI Indonesian NGOs Partners Initiatives
INPI-PACT Indonesian NGOs Partners Initiatives Private Agencies Collaborating Together
IGA Indonesian Gas Association
Inkopkar Workers' Central Cooperative
INPRES Presidential instruction program
INSA Indonesian National Shipowners Association
Insus An agricultural intensification program
INTI Chinese-Indonesians Association
IPA Indonesian Petroleum Association
IPB Bogor Institute of Agriculture
IPCOS Institute for Policy and Community Studies
IPHI Association of Indonesian Lawyers
IPKI Independence Vanguard Party
IPKIN Indonesian Association of Computer and Information Professionals
IPMI Indonesian Management Institute
IPMI Indonesian Fashion Designers Association
Ipoleksosbud Ideology, politics, economic, social and cultures
IPSI Indonesian Pencak Silat Association
IPTN Bandung-based PT Industri Pesawat Terbang Nusantara,
IPU Inter-Parliamentary Union
ISAI Institute for the Studies on Free Flow of Information
ISEI Indonesian Economists Association
ISHI Institute of Study on Human Interests
ISI Indonesian Fine Arts Institute
ISSI Indonesian Cycling Association (lnt 4/98)
ISWI Association of Indonesian Women Graduates
ITB Bandung Institute of Technology
ITI Indonesian Technical Institute
ITPB Indonesia Tourism Promotion Board different from BPPI ??
ITTO International Tropical Timber Organization
Jabotabek Jakarta-Bogor-Tangerang-Bekasi (Greater Jakarta)
Jakprom Jakarta Tourism Promotion Board
JATS Jakarta Automated Trading System
Jibor Jakarta interbank offered rate
JITC Jakarta International Trade Fair Corporation
JSX Jakarta Stock Exchange
Kadin Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
KABI Association for Action of Indonesian Workers
KAMI Indonesian Students Action Front
KAMMI Indonesian Muslim Students Action Front
Kamra People's Security
KAMURRI Students Action Front for Reformation
Kanwil District offices of the central government located in the provinces
Kapci Committee of Indonesian Advocates for the Disabled
Kapet Biak Integrated Economic Development Zone
KARMA Action Coalition of Acehnese Students
KCBI Indonesian Buddhists Association
KDEI Indonesian Securities Central Depository
KDF District development fund
KFT Indonesian Television Workers Association
KIP Kampong Improvement Program
KIPP Independent Election Monitoring Committee
KISDI Indonesian Committee for World Muslems Solidarity
KISS Coordination, Integration, Synchronization and Simplification (system)
KITAS Temporary Stay Permit
KMHDI Association of Indonesian Hindu Students
KMPAN Nusantara Youths-Students Committee
KNIP Indonesian National Central Committee
KNPI Indonesian National Youth Committee
Kodiklat Military Education and Training Command in Bandung
Kodim District military command
Komnasham National Commission on Human Rights
KONI National Sports Council
Konphalindo National Consortium for Nature and Forest Conservation in Indonesia
Kontras Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence
Kopassus The Army's Special Force (red berets)
Kopkamtib Operational Command for the Restoration of Security and Order a now defunct internal security agency
Kopti Indonesian Soybean Curd and Soybean Cake Cooperative
Korem Military command post
Korpri Indonesian Civil Servants Corps
Kosgoro Multipurpose Cooperative of Mutual Assistance
Kostrad Army Strategic Reserves Command (green berets)
Kowani Indonesian Women's Congress
KPB State Joint Marketing Office
KPLP Indonesian Coast and Sea Guard Unit
KPPRI Indonesian Successors Struggle Association
KPR Housing loan/home loan
KTI Indonesian Boxing Committee
KUD Village cooperatives
KUHAP Criminal Code Procedures
KUHP Criminal Code
KUHPer or KUH Perdata Civil Law Code
KUK Credit for small enterprises
Kukesra People's Prosperity Business Credit (antipoverty drive)
KPU General Elections Commission (name changed from National Elections Committee March 1999)
KUT Credit for farmers
KWI Bishop Council of Indonesia
KWK Koperasi Wahana Kalpika, a bus cooperative established in 1996
LAKA Aceh Custom and Culture Institute
Lamindo Latin America-Indonesia trading firm
LAN National Institute of Administration
Lapan National Space and Aviation Agency
LBH Legal Aid Institute , also see YLBHI
LEI Indonesian Ecolabeling Foundation
Lekra People's Cultural Institute
Lemhannas National Resilience Institute
LIPI National Institute of Sciences
LKMD Community Welfare Organization, at village level
LP2K Institute for Consumers' Protection and Fostering
LP3ES Institute of Research, Education and Information of Social and Economic Affairs
LP3M Institute of Rural, Coast and Societal Studies
LPSI Institute for Strategic Studies of Indonesia,
LPU General Elections Institute
LSAF Institute of Religious and Philosophical Studies
LSF Film Censorship Institute, formerly called the Film Censorship Board (BSF)
LUBER Langsung, umum, bebas, rahasia (direct, public, free and secret {elections})
LVRI Indonesian Veterans Legion
MA Supreme Justice
MANI Anti-Nuclear Society
MARA Council for People's Mandate
Masyumi Indonesian Muslim Congregation)
Masjumi Defunct Islamic political party Majelis Syurro Muslimin Indonesia
MCK Mandi, cuci, kakus — public bathing, washing and toilet facilities
Menwa University military group, recruited and trained by ABRI
MIPPA Indonesian Society for Alternative Press (Australia-based)
MKGR Musyawarah Kekeluargaan Gotong Royong, a mass organization affiliated to Golkar which broke away in May 1998
Mobnas National car
Monas The National Monument in Medan Merdeka Square, Centra Jakarta
MPI Indonesian Forestry Society
MPR People's Consultative Assembly
MPRS Provisional People's Consultative Assembly
MUI Indonesian Ulemas Council
NAFED National Agency for Export Development
NCO Nusantara Chamber Orchestra
NEM Grade point average from the final school exam
NERIC Natural Resources Information Center
NU Nahdlatul Ulama, a 30-million-strong Muslim organization.
OIC Organization of Islamic Conference
ONH Haj pilgrimage fund
OPM Free Papua Movement
Organda Organization of Land Transportation Owners
Ormas Mass organizations
Orsos Social organizations
Orpol Political organizations
OT Organisasi terlarang, (prohibited organization)
OTB Organisasi tanpa bentuk (formless organizations)
P3DT Infrastructure development program in less-developed villages
P3M Indonesian Society for Pesantren and Community Development
P4 Guidelines for the comprehension and practical application of Pancasila
P4D Regional Committee for the Settlement of Labor Disputes (attached to the Ministry of Manpower)
PABBSI Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Association
Panwaslak or Panwaslakpus Election Supervisory Committee
Pantura Java's northern coast (pantai utara)
Parkindo Ddefunct Indonesian Christian Party
PASI Indonesian Amateur Athletics Association
Paskas Air Force's special force
Paspampres Presidential Security Detail (old acronym was Paswalpres)
PBB (Indonesian acronym for) United Nations
PBHI Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association
PBI Indonesian Bowling Association
PBSI Badminton Association of Indonesia
PBVSI Indonesian Volleyball Association
PCPP Association of Intellectuals for Pancasila Development
PDBI Indonesian Business Data Center
PDI Indonesian Democratic Party (Partai Demokrasi Indonesia)
PDII-LIPI Center for Scientific Documentation and Information at the Indonesian Science Institute
Pefindo PT Pemeringkat Efek Indonesia, the state (bond) rating agency,
Pelindo PT Pelabuhan Indonesia, a state-owned company assigned to managed several seaports in West Java,
Pelti Indonesian Tennis Association
PEPABRI Armed Forces Veterans Association
Peradah Association of Hindu Youths
Peradin Association of Indonesian Advocates
Perbakin Indonesian Target Shooting and Hunting Association
Perbanas Federation of Private Domestic Banks
Perbasi Indonesian Basketball Association
Perbasasi Indonesian Baseball and Softball Association
Percasi Indonesian Chess Association
Perhapi Association of Indonesian Mining Professionals
Perhepi Association of Agriculture Experts
Perkemi Indonesian Kempo Association
Perpani Indonesian Archery Association
Perpobin Indonesian Power Boating Association
Persagi Indonesian Nutrition Association
Persani Indonesian Gymnastics Association
Persetasi Indonesian Sepaktakraw Association
Persija Jakarta Soccer Association
Persis Persatuan Islam
Persit Association of wives of servicemen
Pertina Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association
Perum State company
Perumka State railway company Perusahaan Umum Kereta Api
Perumnas State Housing Company
Peruri State-owned securities paper and bank note printing company
Pesti Indonesian Soft Tennis Association
PETA Pembela Tanah Air (Defenders of the Fatherland), the militia set up during the Japanese occupation in 1942. PETA was one of several militias that were incorporated, after the proclamation of independence in August 1945, to become the Badan Keamanan Rakyat (People's Security Corps). The BKR later became the republic's military, now known as the Armed Forces (ABRI), which was established on Oct. 5, 1945.
PFN State-owned Movie Industry
PGI Indonesian Communion of Churches (Protestant)
PGI Indonesian Golf Association
PGN PT Perusahaan Gas Negara
PGRI Indonesian Teachers Union
PGSI Indonesian Wrestling Association
PHDI Indonesian Hindu Religious Council
PHRI Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association
PHSI Indonesian Hockey Association
PIFA Portugal-Indonesia Friendship Association
PII Institute of Indonesian Engineers
Pijar Center of Information and Action Network for Reform (an NGO)
PIKI Association of Protestant Intelligentsia
PIN National Immunization Week
Pindad Army Industrial Affairs Center (includes its weaponry industry)
PIPM Three stock market outlets established by JSX or capital market information centers
PIR Smallholders estate
PJKA Old name of state railway company, now Perumka
PJSI Indonesian Judo Association (lnt 4/98)
PKBI Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association
PKI (Defunct) Indonesia Communist Party
PKK Family Welfare Movement, a community family welfare organization
PKWA American Studies Center (at the University of Indonesia)
PLN PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara, state-owned electricity company
PLTN Nuclear Power Plant
PMI Indonesian Red Cross
PMII Indonesian Quality Management/Control Association also Indonesian Islamic Students Movement
PMKRI Association of Catholic Students
PMPD Pro-Democracy Students Party, established by a group of Hasanuddin
University (Ujungpandang) students in 1996
PMU Project Management Unit (for Jakarta subway)
PN State company
PNI Indonesian National Unity established Oct. 1995 also Indonesian National Party
PNRI State-owned Printing Company
PPK/S District/Subdistrict Polling Committees
PODSI Indonesian Rowing Association
POGI Indonesian Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology
POLRI National Police
POMG Parent-teacher association
PON National Games
Poperi The Association of Indonesian Lawyers Organizations: AAI and five lawyers' organizations — IPHI, LBPH Kosgoro, BPKH MKGR, LKBH Trisula and LPPH — joined forces to establish Poperi
Pordasi Indonesian Equestrian and Horse Racing Association
Porlasi Indonesian Yachting Association
Porserosi Indonesian Roller Skating Association
Posindo PT Pos Indonesia, state-owned postal service company
POSSI Indonesian Diving Association
PPBI Center for Indonesian Workers Struggle
PPD State-run city or municipal bus company
PPFI Indonesian Film Company Organization
PPI Indonesian Workers Party
PPD I Provincial Elections Committee
PPD II Regional Elections Committee
PPIP Portugal-Indonesia Friendship Association
PPS Polling Committee
PPMKI Vintage Car Lovers Association
PPN Value-added tax (VAT)
PPP United Development Party
PPPM The Association for the Development of Pesantren (traditional Islamic schools) and Society
PPSK Center for Strategy and Policy Studies
PPTI Organization for Eradication of Tuberculosis
PPW-LIPI Center for Political and Regional Studies, Indonesian Institute of Sciences
PRD Democratic People's Party
Prokasih Clean River Program
PRSI Indonesian Swimming Association
PSASI Indonesia Water Skiing Association
PSI Indonesian Socialist Party (defunct)
PSI Indonesian Squash Assoc
PSPI Center for the Study of Indonesian Property
PSRSI Indonesian Squash Association
PSSI All Indonesian Football Federation,
PTIK Police Staff College
PTMSI Indonesian Table Tennis Association
PTO Entertainment tax
PTPN State plantation company
PTS Systematic Land Registration
PTTUN State Administrative High Court
PTUN State Administrative Court
PUDI Indonesian Democratic Union Party
Puskopau Indonesian Air Force Cooperative
PWI Indonesian Journalists Association
REI Indonesian Real Estate Developers Association,
Repelita, Pelita Rencana Pembangungan Lima Tahun (Five-Year Development Plan). Pelita stands for Pembangunan Lima Tahun (Five-Year Development Program.) Repelita is the plan, Pelita is the finished program. Do not interchange, e.g. the current Sixth Five-Year Development Plan will end on March 31, 1999. The Fourth Five-Year Development Program was considered successful.
RKL Environmental Management Plan
RMS South Maluku Republic (a separatist movement quashed in the 1950s)
RPL Environmental Monitoring Plan
RSCM Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital
RSUD City hospitals
RT Neighborhood unit
RW Community unit
SARA Tribal affiliations, religion, race and societal groups
Satgasus Special Jakarta traffic police squad
SBIs /SBI Bank Indonesia promissory notes
SBKRI Evidence of Indonesian Citizenship certificate (for Chinese Indonesians only. The law which requires SBKRI was abolished in 1996)
SBSI Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union
SCBD Sudirman Center for Business Development
SD Kindergarten
SD IMBAS Satellite schools (of a Gugus Sekolah) (school affiliation)
SDSB Now defunct government-sponsored lottery Sumbangan Dana Sosial Berhadiah (Social Philanthropic Contributions with Prizes)
Sembako The nine basic comodities
Sesko Staff and command colleges
Seskoad Army Staff and Command School (not College, not SESKOAD)
SGP Indonesian Press and Graphics Association
SHS State-owned Perum Sang Hyang Seri rice seed company
Sijori Triangle of growth involving Indonesia's Riau province, Singapore and Johor, Malaysia.
Sipora Foreigners Control Coordination
SIPPT Land-use permit
Siskamling Neighborhood watch
SIUPP Surat Ijin Usaha Penerbitan Pers (publishing license) issued by the Ministry of Information
SKEPHI Network for Forest Conservation in Indonesia
SKU General Agency Permit for shipping
SMI Indonesian Independent Union
SMID Indonesian Students Solidarity for Democracy
SMP Senior high school
SMPI Indonesian Press Solidarity Society
SNI Indonesian National Standards (environmental standards)
Somaka Students Solidarity for Aceh Cases
SPP Educational Management Contribution
SPS Newspaper Publishers Union
SPSI All-Indonesia Workers Union
FSPSI All-Indonesia Workers Union Federation
SPT Yearly tax assessment
SRI Survey Research Indonesia
SSE Surabaya Stock Exchange
STO Automatic telephone system
STSI Indonesian Arts High School
Supersemar An abbreviation of the March 11 Indonesian (Presidential) Executive Order signed on March 11, 1966 by president Sukarno when the political turmoil in the country reached its peak following the abortive communist coup attempt the previous September.
Taperum Civil Servants Housing Savings
Taspen Civil Servants Pension Fund
TIM Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center
TIME Tourism Indonesia Mart and Expo
TNI Indonesian Military
TUK Card operated public telephone (telefon umum kartu)
UDT Timorese Democratic Union
UGM Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta
UI University of Indonesia in Jakarta
UKI Christian University of Indonesia
UKSW Satya Wacana Christian University in Salatiga, Central Java
Unfrel University Network for Free and Fair Elections (a poll watchdog)
URC The police's rapid reaction unit
Walhi Indonesian Forum for Environment
Walubi Council of Buddhist Communities
Wanhankamnas National Defense and Security Council
Wanra People's Resistance
Wapam Warung Pasar Modal
Wasantaranet Wawasan Nusantara Network, Posindo's Internet service,
WCFSD World Commission on Forests and Substainable Development
WI Indonesian Wushu Association
WIB Indonesian Western Time Zone
WIT Indonesian Eastern Time Zone
WITA Indonesian Central Time Zone
WKS Compulsory posting for university graduates
WPI Indonesian Women in Development
Yasco Scorpio Foundation
YKAI Indonesian Children's Welfare Foundation
YKCI Indonesian Creativity Foundation
YKPK National Brotherhood Foundation
YLBHI Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute
YLKI Indonesian Consumers Foundation
YLLI Yayasan Laut Lestari Indonesia, an environmental organization
YPAC Foundation for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Children.
YPSDMI Foundation of Indonesian Human Resources Development

United Indonesia Cabinet

President : Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Vice President : Jusuf Kalla

Coordinating Ministers

1. Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs : Adm. (ret) Widodo A.S.
2. Coordinating Minister for the Economy : Boediono
3. Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare : Aburizal Bakrie

Ministers

4. Home Minister : Mardiyanto
5. Foreign Minister : Hassan Wirayuda
6. Defense Minister : Juwono Sudarsono
7. Finance Minister : Sri Mulyani Indrawati
8. Religious Affairs Minister : M. Maftuh Basyuni
9. Agriculture Minister : Anton Apriyantono
10. Education Minister : Bambang Soedibyo
11. Health Minister : Siti Fadilah Supari
12. Social Services Minister : Bachtiar Chamsyah
13. Transportation Minister : Jusman Syafii Djamal
14. Manpower and Transmigration Minister : Erman Suparno
15. Industry Minister : Fahmi Idris
16. Trade Minister : Mari E. Pangestu
17. Energy and Mineral Resources Minister : Purnomo Yusgiantoro
18. Justice and Human Rights Minister : Andi Mattalata
19. Public Housing Minister : Muhammad Yusuf Asy'ari
20. Forestry Minister : M.S. Ka'ban
21. Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister : Freddy Numberi
22. Public Works Minister : Joko Kirmanto
23. Culture and Tourism Minister : Jero Wacik
24. Information and Communication Minister : Muhammad Nuh

State Ministers

25. State Minister for Women Empowerment : Meutia Farida Hatta Swasono
26. State Minister for Administrative Reforms : Taufik Effendi
27. State Minister for State Enterprises : Sofyan A. Djalil
28. State Minister of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Board chairman : Paskah Suzetta
29. State Minister for Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises : Suryadarma
30. State Minister for the Environment : Rachmat Nadi Witoelar Kartaadipoetra
31. State Minister Research and Technology : Kusmayanto Kadiman
32. State Minister for Development of Disadvantaged Regions : Muhammad Lukman Edy
33. State Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs : Adyaksa Dault

OTHER VIPS

34. State Secretary : Hatta Radjasa
35. Cabinet Secretary : Sudi Silalahi
36. People's Consultatives Speaker : Hidayat Nurwahid
37. House of Representatives Speaker : Agung Laksono
38. Attorney General : Hendarman Supandji
39. Supreme Court Chief Justice : Bagir Manan
40. Constitutional Court president : Jimly Asshidiqie
41. Bank Indonesia Governor : Burhanuddin Abdullah
42. TNI Chief : Marshal Djoko Suyanto

May 7, 2007

Indonesia, a Nation in Transition

Although hundreds of ethnic groups have been known as the indigenous of Indonesia for hundreds and thousands of years, Indonesia did not exist in its present form until the turn of the 20th century.

Of the so-called natives of Indonesia, archaeologists have speculated that the first people to populate Indonesia migrated from mainland China some 1,000 years ago and inhabited a stretch of islands along the equator, later known as Nusantara.

Over the centuries they built and refined their statecraft in the form of kingdoms and principalities. Sharing similar characteristics with other Southeast Asian kingdoms, these Nusantara kingdoms based their conception of state more on people than on space or territory. But intercourse with the western world changed the course of history in Nusantara.

In 1511, the Portuguese conquered Malacca, located on the Malay peninsula, which was then still an inseparable part of Nusantara. The Dutch followed in 1512 and landed on Banten shore in Java. At first, the Dutch came more as traders under the trading umbrella of the Royal East Indies Company (Vereniging Oost Indische Compagnie, VOC). For the next two centuries, the Dutch conducted business with the natives, although in many cases the trade was not on equal terms. Often, trade was accompanied by violent pacification processes.

Then the VOC went bankrupt and the Dutch government took over the business in Nusantara (called the East Indies by the Dutch). Starting from about the mid-seventh century and lasting until the arrival of the Japanese in 1942, was the "real colonization" called "high colonialism" in literature. The period was disrupted briefly when the British took over colonial rule in 1811 to 1814. Among other things that the natives learned from colonization was statecraft based on territorial conception rather than on people.

In the early 20th century, the natives of Nusantara learned that as diverse as their ethnicities were, they could imagine themselves as a unified community. A nationalism had grown in a process that Benedict Anderson, a doyen of Indonesian studies, calls an "imagined community". During the first half of 20th century Nusantara, its people built an imaginary nation called Indonesia -- the name itself was borrowed from the West. By the end of the 1930s, it was clear that the end of Dutch colonialism in Indonesia was only a matter of time.

During World War II, 1942-1945, the Japanese occupied Indonesia. Although short-lived, the occupation enabled Indonesians to arm themselves for the very first time. Shortly after Japan's defeat in WWII, Sukarno and Hatta proclaimed Indonesia an independent state, and they became the founding fathers of the new country. The largest archipelago in the world, with over 17,000 islands -- only 3,000 of which are inhabited -- has emerged into a new Indonesia.

When the Dutch returned and tried to reestablish colonial rule, armed Indonesians resisted. The Dutch were forced to recognize an independent Indonesia in 1949.

The new Indonesia adopted a federal system of governance for a short time. But for a longer period, within a five-year span (1950-1955), leaders of the new country were eager to adopt a liberal system of government. Although there is no proof that the system ruined the economy, it was clear that the elite's political stability was shaky. The longest serving prime minister was only two years in office.

The government then held a general election in 1955, the first and only democratic general election Indonesia ever had. But feeling that the country was still unstable two years after the election, president Sukarno, backed by the Army, declared the 1950 Provisional Constitution void and reintroduced the 1945 Constitution. The latter provided an ample opportunity for Sukarno, popularly known as Bung Karno (Comrade Sukarno), to balance three political powers -- the Indonesian Communist Party, the Army and himself.

In the first half of the 1960s, Bung Karno leaned toward the left. On domestic politics, he was trying hard to balance the communists and the Army; on the international stage he was establishing himself as leader of a new world, free from Cold War antagonism. But economic decline and mounting conflicts, especially between communists and noncommunists, the latter of which was backed by the Army, caused him to lose control over the situation.

On Sept. 30, 1965, an abortive coup occurred. There are two conflicting versions of events surrounding the attempted coup. The official Army version insists that the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) was behind the coup attempt, while the communist version asserts that the coup was an internal matter of the Army. In fact, several members of PKI's central bureau were involved, as well as many Army officers and personnel.

The abortive coup cost Indonesia dearly. It took the lives of seven high-ranking Army generals, followed by a pogrom of communists -- a moderate estimate ranges between 300 thousand and 500 thousand alleged members of PKI. Soeharto, who then was a major general and commander of the Army Strategic Reserves Command, took over leadership and deposed Bung Karno from his presidential seat.

In 1966, Soeharto received a letter known as the March 11 Letter of Instruction which reportedly transferred state power from Sukarno to him.

In 1967, Soeharto unseated Sukarno as president in the special session of the Provisional People's Consultative Assembly (MPRS).

Consolidating his power under a new regime called the New Order, Soeharto launched a "regime cleansing" against the Old Order.

Together with Hamengkubuwono IX, the sultan of Yogyakarta, and Adam Malik -- the three were known as the triumvirate -- Soeharto divided the tasks for economic and political reconstruction. Sultan Hamengkubuwono was assigned to lead efforts for economic recovery, Adam Malik was assigned to redirect Indonesia's foreign policy toward the West, and Soeharto himself was "assigned" to rebuild the lamentable domestic politics.

Soeharto was determined to change Indonesia's course, from its emphasis on politics to prioritizing economic development. He set up the trilogy of development: political stability, economic growth and equality.

To gain political legitimacy, perceived as a prerequisite to economic growth, the government conducted a general election in 1971. The election, however, was far from democratic. Soeharto introduced the "floating mass" concept that banned political parties from operating at village level.

From the 1971 election and throughout the New Order period, the Functional Group (Golongan Karya, or Golkar) served as Soeharto's main political machinery. Golkar legally operated not as a political party, although in fact it was a party. Golkar ran in the 1971 elections against 10 other political parties -- including PKI and Masyumi which were two of the four biggest parties in 1955 but which had been out of political scene -- and won 62 percent of the vote.

In 1974, Soeharto forced all political parties to merge into three: Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI). Again, legally speaking Golkar was not a political party. Five more elections were conducted every five years. During those years, Soeharto tightly controlled politics; not even the slightest room was available for opposition.

There were several cases of serious opposition during the New Order regime. The first came rather as a blow in 1974, when students protested against Japanese investments. Added by political rivalry between Gen. Soemitro and Maj. Gen. Ali Moertopo, student protests in Jakarta turned into riots. The movement ended with the removal of Soemitro from his powerful position as deputy commander of the Armed Forces and chief of staff of the Operation Command for the Restoration of Security and Order (Kopkamtib).

The second serious opposition movement came in 1978. Again it came from students, who protested Soeharto's bid for a second term in office, which would be decided upon by the People's Consultative Assembly in its General Session in March 1978.

Several retired Army officers backed the students, while factionalism was apparent within the Armed Forces. Soeharto moved fast to crush the movement. Hundreds of opposition and student leaders were arrested, dozens of newspapers and magazines were closed down. The movement lost its momentum, and after that Soeharto enjoyed an incontestable position.

If Golkar served as Soeharto's main political machinery, the Army functioned as guardian of the state. And since the state was personalized around Soeharto alone, the Army also served to protect him. Under its dual function role doctrine -- the doctrine argues that the duties of a professional Indonesian Armed Forces includes attending to nonmilitary business, especially if it has to do with politics -- the military intervened in almost all sectors of public life. At its peak, the number of military personnel serving in nonmilitary affairs reached over 40,000. Later, history witnessed excesses of the doctrine.

Some businesspeople, many of whom were of Chinese descent, enjoyed state protection and sometimes two-digit economic growth; some grew to become tycoons and magnates. The privileges that these businesspeople enjoyed sparked resentment from other communities. As a result, racial tension grew.

But Chinese businesspeople were not the only ones to enjoy state protection and preference. Some indigenous businesspeople also enjoyed similar privileges. In general, what Kunio Yoshihara calls "ersatz capitalism", or pseudocapitalism, grew. Those "capitalists" were not real capitalists.

Then the financial crisis came. It first hit in mid-1997, and many believe it was a direct result of Thailand's economic crisis. The crisis worsen with the scheduling of the People's Consultative Assembly's General Session in March 1998, with the main agenda being to "elect" a "new" national leadership. It eventually turned into a political crisis too. But Soeharto was determined to run for his seventh consecutive five-year term in office. Supported by his political machine, Soeharto, as expected, became president again.

The economic and political crises made the political climate like a house of cards. Lacking sensitivity, Soeharto filled his new Cabinet with cronies, and appointed one of his daughters minister of social affairs. Less than two months after the formation of the new Cabinet, political tension mounted to an unbearable level. On May 12, four Trisakti University students were shot dead following a peaceful demonstration.

The shootings immediately sparked the emotions of the masses. To the majority of people, the New Order regime had become soulless. Within a week, Indonesia experienced one of its most tumultuous periods in history. For three days, from May 13 through to May 15, six of the country's largest cities were hit by massive riots, probably the largest riots in Indonesia's history. Days later, hundreds of thousand students and members of the public poured into the streets. Chanting and demanding total reform, thousands marched to the legislative building in Jakarta and occupied it for several days.

This forced Soeharto to step down. Instead of returning the presidential mandate to the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) he gave the mandate to vice president B.J. Habibie. The new president is weak, but his weakness is one of his strengths. Everyone close to him feels that they can use him, and thus balancing the power is everyone's interest. The government scheduled another general election on June 7, 1999, only two years after the last election.

Forty-eight political parties, instead of three, competed for 462 seats in the House of Representatives, with the remaining 38 seats going to the military. The election was the first democratic poll since 1955, and the results should have a long-term effect on domestic political stability. The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) won a majority in the House (DPR) with 35 percent of seats, followed by Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Crescent and Stars Party (PBB) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).

Despite its position as a simple majority party, PDI Perjuangan lost the political battle to install chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri as president. In a tight race against a strategic coalition of Golkar and the Axis Force, a coalition of various Islamic parties, PDI Perjuangan also lost the strategic posts of speakers of the House and People's Consultative Assembly. After losing out on the presidency, Megawati was elected as vice president.

Garuda predicted to resume Europe flights in June

By Eliswan Azly

One-and-half years have gone by since the European Union (EU) in July 2007 imposed a flight ban on all Indonesian airline companies to fly to Europe.

But brighter prospects will come to this world largest archipelagic country in mid-2009 after the visit of Vice President Jusuf Kalla to Europe last week which seemed to have brought a good prospect to a possible resumption of flight service to European Space.

Upon his arrival in the country, Kalla said national flag-carrier Garuda Indonesia would possibly resume its flight to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in June this year.

"We hope Garuda will start flying to Europe again in June this year," Kalla said earlier this week.

Garuda had suspended its flights to Europe, including to Schippol airport in Amsterdam, following a ban imposed by the European Union on Indonesian airline flights in July 2007.

Kalla said, when the EU flight ban was declared, Garuda was required to make improvements on 60 flight safety points but now the list had shrunk to 10 points.

"It would be good for us to make a self-assessment. The remaining 10 points can be improved in the next two months," the vice president said, adding that Garuda had purchased several new aircrafts for the Jakarta-Amsterdam route.

Kalla said aircraft prices had dropped, so Garuda could buy several new ones for its Jakarta-Europe services.

Earlier, Julian Wilson, the head of the EC delegation to Indonesia during a courtesy call on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono last month, mentioned that the European Union would likely lift the flight ban, imposed in 2007, in March or June this year.

Wilson also conveyed EU`s appreciation over the enactment of the aviation law on flight safety by the House of Representatives (DPR), according to presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal. He said the EU considered the aviation law as a key factor for an earlier lifting of the flight ban.

Meanwhile, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono welcomed the plan to lift the flight ban as it had hampered the growth of the Indonesian aviation industry and the promotion of Indonesian tourism in Europe.

In response to the possible lifting of the flight ban, Transportation Minister Djusman Syafei Djamal said there was no reason for the EU to extend the flight ban as the DPR had enacted the aviation law on December 17, 2008.

"In our latest meeting, the EU representative said that if the aviation law has been issued, the flight ban might be lifted. Now we have enacted this law, and therefore there is no more any reason for the EU to delay the lifting of the flight ban," the minister said.

As to Wilson`s promise to lift the ban during the meeting with the president, the minister said he still was not so sure that the ban would he lifed not later than June 2009

Since European Union Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso came to Indonesia in November 2008, Djusman said, the EU has several times promised to lift the flight ban.

"I only believe in 50 percent of the truth of the pledge, because it had often been made in the past, but still no result," the minister said.

The minister added that in March 2009 the European Union planned to hold a meeting in Brussels, capital of Belgium, which will also be attended by an Indonesian delegation, to discuss the flight ban on Indonesian airline companies to fly to Europe.

The meeting will focus on the stipulations and implementation of the aviation law to guarantee flight safety, and supervision of the airline companies` operations.

Actually, Indonesia has already implemented a program on the national flag-carrier Garuda Indonesia meeting EU standards, as well as Mandala Airlines and Airfast doing the same thing. This received a boost in May when Garuda passed a safety audit by the International Air Transport Association.

"The Indonesian authorities still have not developed and implemented an efficient oversight program on any of the carriers under their regulatory control," said the EU Air Safety Committee when rejecting the three airlines` request for permission to return to the EU. It was also stated that Indonesia had no effective oversight program and that the International Civil Aviation Organisation was unable to assess recent changes.

The committee also noted that inspectors did not have the power to ground substandard aircraft and urged Indonesia to increase its inspection. A report from the Indonesian director-general of civil aviation said that, from January to April, Garuda had conducted only nine of the 56 mandatory surveys, while Mandala conducted only two out of 27.

The committee admitted that the three airline companies had made some improvements, but was unanimous in rejecting their request to have the ban lifted.

Teuku Faizasyah, spokesman for the Indonesian foreign ministry, expressed disappointment at the result and questioned the reasons behind the extension of the flight ban.

"We are disappointed with the prolonged ban. We`ve made some improvements, so we do hope that these will be taken into consideration," he told reporters. "The way we see it, the EU always puts their actions (in terms of) technicality issues. But we question if there are political motivations behind the decision."

The ban was imposed in 2007 following deregulation in the 1990s that triggered a string of aviation accidents. On New Year`s Day in 2007, 102 people were killed when an Adam Air Boeing 737 crashed into the ocean near Sulawesi. This was followed in March by a Garuda 737 overshooting the runway at Yogyakarta Internataional Airport with 21 fatalities.

Adam Air has since been grounded, while Captain Marwoto Komar, pilot of the Garuda jet, went on trial on charges of a range of alleged offences, the most serious of which could see him imprisoned for life

Indonesia has potential to become world biofuel producer

Indonesia, along with Brazil, has the potential to become a world bio-fuel producer, an Indonesian Farmers Association (HKTI) leader said.

Indonesia had a vast land territory, a great number of workers, a good domestic and international market that could support its efforts to develop ethanol production and jatropha curcas plantations, Siswono Yudohusodo, chairman of HKTI`s advisory board, said here Saturday.

"What is needed is a government policy which would enable villagers in rural areas to produce alternative energy," he said.

The former transmigration minister said that so far farmers only used jatroph curcas as fence plants for house yards and rice fields.

Siswono said that based on a research, alternative energy that could be produced from Jatropha curcas has quality equal to diesel oil. The research was done by the Bandung-based Institute of Technology (ITB) in cooperation with the Mitsubishi Research Institute.

In 2006, a team has also conducted a test on the use of jatropha curcas oil as fuel for motor vehicles and it found that this alternative energy was able to support a trip of more than 3,000 km from Atambua in East Nusa Tenggara province to Jakarta.

Siswono, who is also former HKTI chairman said that jatropha curcas nuts had 30 to 35 percent oil content so that each three kgs of nuts are able to yield one liter of bio-diesel.

Seen from the economic aspect, he said, the price of bio-diesel which was produced from jatropha cucas nuts was about Rp4,500 per liter, cheaper than the rice of diesel oil and premium gasoline.

Artist, journalists plant coral, release turtles at Sikuai

Some film artists including Christine Hakim, West Sumatra tourism officials and foreign journalists planted coral reefs and released a number of young green turtles at Sikuai Island beach here on Friday.

The event took place at the New Sikuai Island Resort, one of West Sumatra's tourist destinations, about one hour by boat from Padang, capital of West Sumatra province.

The group who included movie actress Christine Hakim and some foreign journalists were making a six-day visit to West Sumatra at the invitation of the provincial branch of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) and the local tourist office, starting from Friday (Feb.20).

In addition, Rikwan, the Sikuai Island owner and several officials of the local tourist office also participated in the social activities.

The artists and journalist left the Dermaga Bahari for the Sikuai Island, about 50 hectares wide and 400 meters high, by boat.

The Sikuai Island resort is about three miles from Padang beach.

The artists and journalists were also scheduled to attend the launching of a tourist train on Saturday (Feb 21) which will be operated by the provincial administration in a bid to lure more tourists to the province.

Australia assists Yogyakarta Museum in disaster preparedness

A 10-day disaster preparedness training program sponsored by the Australian Government for museum staff in Yogyakarta and Gadjah Mada University ended last week with participants receiving hands-on experience including through a simulated disaster recovery operation, an Australian Embassy media release said on Tuesday.

"The training program contributed to safeguarding invaluable and irreplaceable public heritage collections, ensuring their longevity so future generations of Indonesians can learn about their heritage," Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer said.

"This aspect of caring for Indonesian museum collections is critical, especially in light of the frequency of earth tremors and earthquakes that have affected central Java in recent years," he added.

The training program, from 27 January to 5 February, was delivered by the Northern Territory Government`s Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT), a public cultural institution located in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

With its close proximity to Indonesia, the MAGNT has a strong reputation as an active contributor to the delivery of museum training programs in Southeast Asia.

"Delivering this important training program in Yogyakarta, with the aim of fostering the improved care of Javanese museum cultural collections, was an exciting opportunity for our Museum," said Ms Joanna Barrkman, MAGNT Curator of Southeast Asian Art and Material Culture.

Stage One of the program, Museum Disaster Preparedness Training, was delivered at Sonobudoyo Museum and provided a "hands on" experience to show museum staff how to conduct a hazard assessment of their collections and how to develop and document a counter-disaster plan.

Participants also undertook a simulated disaster recovery operation.

Stage Two, Museum Collection Management and Storage Procedures Training, explored practical approaches to upgrading the storage conditions of the Sonobudoyo Museum`s ceramic collection. Ms Sandra Yee and Ms Kristin Phillips, professional museum conservators, delivered the program.

The project was sponsored by the Australian Government through the Australia International Cultural Council (AICC) under IN2OZ: Creative Australia aimed at strengthening bilateral cultural links and understanding.

The Republic of Indonesia

The Republic of Indonesia, is a transcontinental country in Southeast Asia and Oceania.

Comprising 17,508 islands, it is the world's largest archipelagic state. With an estimated population of around 237 million people, it is the world's fourth most populous country and the most populous Muslim-majority nation; however, no reference is made to Islam in the Indonesian constitution. Indonesia is a republic, with an elected legislature and president. The nation's capital city is Jakarta.

The country shares land borders with Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Malaysia. Other neighboring countries include Singapore, the Philippines, Australia, and the Indian territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The Indonesian archipelago has been an important trade region since at least the seventh century, when the Srivijaya Kingdom traded with China and India. Local rulers gradually adopted Indian cultural, religious and political models from the early centuries CE, and Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms flourished. Indonesian history has been influenced by foreign powers drawn to its natural resources. Muslim traders brought Islam, and European powers fought one another to monopolize trade in the Spice Islands of Maluku during the Age of Discovery.

Following three and a half centuries of Dutch colonialism, Indonesia secured its independence after World War II. Indonesia's history has since been turbulent, with challenges posed by natural disasters, corruption, separatism, a democratization process, and periods of rapid economic change.

Across its many islands, Indonesia consists of distinct ethnic, linguistic, and religious groups. The Javanese are the largest and most politically dominant ethnic group. As a unitary state and a nation, Indonesia has developed a shared identity defined by a national language, ethnic diversity, religious pluralism within a majority Muslim population, and a history of colonialism and rebellion against it. Indonesia's national motto, "Bhinneka tunggal ika" ("Unity in Diversity" literally, "many, yet one"), articulates the diversity that shapes the country.

However, sectarian tensions and separatism have led to violent confrontations that have undermined political and economic stability. Despite its large population and densely populated regions, Indonesia has vast areas of wilderness that support the world's second highest level of biodiversity. The country is richly endowed with natural resources, yet poverty is a defining feature of contemporary Indonesia.

The name Indonesia derives from the Latin Indus, meaning "India", and the Greek nesos, meaning "island". The name dates to the 18th century, far predating the formation of independent Indonesia. In 1850, George Earl, an English ethnologist, proposed the terms Indunesians — and, his preference, Malayunesians — for the inhabitants of the "Indian Archipelago or Malayan Archipelago". In the same publication, a student of Earl's, James Richardson Logan, used Indonesia as a synonym for Indian Archipelago. However, Dutch academics writing in East Indies publications were reluctant to use Indonesia. Instead, they used the terms Malay Archipelago (Maleische Archipel); the Netherlands East Indies (Nederlandsch Oost Indië), popularly Indië; the East (de Oost); and even Insulinde.

From 1900, the name Indonesia became more common in academic circles outside the Netherlands, and Indonesian nationalist groups adopted it for political expression.Adolf Bastian, of the University of Berlin, popularized the name through his book Indonesien oder die Inseln des Malayischen Archipels, 1884–1894. The first Indonesian scholar to use the name was Suwardi Suryaningrat (Ki Hajar Dewantara), when he established a press bureau in the Netherlands with the name Indonesisch Pers-bureau in 1913.