Land and People

^ People

Due to Indonesia's emergence into an archipelago where its inhabitants, though of one similar ancestry, were separated by seas and therefore lost contacts, have caused the individual development of cultures, including their languages and their growing into diversification.

Nevertheless, the population of Indonesia has been reclassified, not so much on the basis of their racial origins, but more so on the basis of their linguistics identities caused by mentioned diversification, into four ethnic groups. A pure classification according to their racial origins is difficult to realize due to their inter-marriages. These four main ethnic groups are the Melanesians (the mixture between the Sub-Mongoloids with the Wajaks), the Proto-Austronesians (including the Wajaks), the Polynesians and the Micronesians.

These Melanesians are again sub-divided into the Acehnese of North Sumatra, the Batak in Northeast Sumatra, the Minangkabaus in West Sumatra, the Sundanese in West Java, the Javanese in Central and East Java, the Madurese on the island of Madura, the Balinese, the Sasaks on the island of Lombok, and Timorese on Timor Island. On the island of Borneo in Indonesia's Kalimantan, one finds the Dayaks. On the island of Sulawesi in the north are the Minahasas and in the center the Torajas, and in the southern part, the Makasarese and the Buginese. The Ambonese on the group of islands in the Maluku and the Irianese in Papua are classified into the Polynesians and the Proto-Austronesians. The Micronesians are found on tiny islets of Indonesia's eastern borders.

^ Languages and Dialects

Languages and dialects spoken and written over the whole of the Indonesian archipelago, 150 to 250 in number are usually classified according to the above mentioned ethnic denominations. The main district local languages of Indonesia are among others: the Acehnese, Batak, Sundanese, Javanese, Sasak, Tetum of Timor, Dayak, Minahasa, Toraja, Buginese, Halmahera, Ambonese, Ceramese, several Irianese languages and other such languages. In between these languages there exist many other different dialects.

Indonesia's National Language has been officially introduced since Indonesia's independence and is called the BAHASA INDONESIA. Its lexicon and structure is mainly based on the Malay language enriched by Indonesia's lexicon of her multi-local languages and dialects. Although the Bahasa Indonesia has since been regarded as the Lingua Franca, yet local languages are equally valid and no attempt and intention exist to abolish these local languages and dialects. Therefore, the greater parts of the Indonesian nationals are bilingual.

In August 1973, Indonesia and Malaysia signed a cultural agreement in which similar spelling of both the Malaysian "Bahasa Persatuan" and the Indonesian "Bahasa Indonesia" has been agreed upon.

^ Race, Culture and Ethnic Groups

The first inhabitant of Indonesia was the Javaman, who lived 500,000 years ago, named Pithecanthropus erectus by Eugene Dubois who found the fossils at several places on the island of Java in the vicinity of the Bengawan Solo River. The fossils found in 1891 and 1892 in the village of Trinil, near Solo, were called Homo Soloensis, while those found in Wajak were called Wajakensis. Homo Soloensis with the same characteristics as the Austro-Melanosoid people had roamed to the West (Sumatra) and to the East (Papua).

In the period of 3,000-500 BC, Indonesia was inhabited by Sub-Mongoloid migrants from Asia who later inter-married with the indigenous people. In 1,000 BC, inter-marriage still occurred with Indo-Arian migrants from the South-Asian sub-continent of India.

The influx of the Indian settlers until the seventh century AD brought about the Hindu religion spread throughout the archipelago.

Moslem merchants from Gujarat and Persia began visiting Indonesia in the 13th century and established trade links between this country and India and Persia. While conducting trade, the Gujarat and the Arab people also spread the Islamic religion in this area. The first to accept the Islam religion were the coastal kingdoms, which before had embraced Hinduism.

In Aceh, Islam was widely accepted by the community with the Pasai and Perlak Kingdoms becoming the first Moslem kingdoms in the archipelago.

First accepted by court circles, Islam founds its way to the community at a later stage. Particularly in Java, the "Wali Songo" (Islamic preachers) had played a very important role.

It was in 1511, that Portuguese arrived in Indonesia. The arrival of the Portuguese should be linked to the European demand for spices. They were followed by Spaniards, the Dutch and the British. Besides search for spices, they propagate Christianity.

In the rivalry that ensued, the Dutch ultimately succeeded in gaining the trade monopoly in spices throughout the archipelago, thus making the beginning of 350 years of Dutch colonialism over the country.

In the period preceding independence, Indonesia's community was made up of a large variety of ethnic groups or rural communities. The members of each group are tied to each other by a sense of solidarity and identity which finds its roots in the land,language, art, culture and customs they share.

There are about 500 ethnic groups in Indonesia spread from Sabang (the northernmost tip of Sumatra) to Merauke in Papua. The Javanese community is the largest number of Indonesia's total population, followed by the Sundanese, Madurese, Minangkabau, Buginese, Batak and the Balinese. Other ethnic groups are among others the Ambonese, Dayaks, Sasaks, the Acehnese, etc.

Apart from the indigenous communities, other sub-communities of foreign descent are the Chinese, Arabs and Indians.

^ Population Growth Rate

NUMBER, GROWTH RATE AND DISTRIBUTION

According to the 2000 Population Census, Indonesia had total population of 205,843,000 heads _placing it the world's fourth largest after China, India, and the United States of America_ with ratio between males and females over 100, meaning more male than female in number. With population growth of 1.49 percent per annum during the period of 1990-2000, the total number of population in June 2003 was estimated at 215,276,000 heads with population density at about 111 heads per sq km.

Since its proclamation of independence in August 1945, the country has held population census for five times i.e. in 1961, 1971, 1980, 1990, and 2000. Such a census was once held during the Dutch colonialists' occupation as well but its results' accuracy were doubtful. However, its data could be used as comparative basis of reference. According to Kolonial verslag: Volkstelling 1930 (Colonial Report: Population Census 1930), at the time the total number of population of the Netherlands East Indies now called Indonesia, was 60,700,000 heads, of which 41,700,000 heads (68.7%) occupied the island of Java. The island of Sumatra accounted for only 13.6 percent, Sulawesi 6.9 percent, Nusa Tenggara 5.7 percent, Kalimantan 3.6 percent, Maluku and Papua 1.5 percent.

Population growth rate tended to decline during the past two decades. During the period of 1980-1990, population grew at an average of 1.97 percent per annum; it decreased to an average of 1.49 percent in the 1990-2000 period. This declining growth rate was parallel with the decrease of a households' number. Based on the 1990 Census, there were 39,546,000 households with an average of 4.5 heads per household. The following decade saw the total households numbering 52,008,000 with an average of 3.9 heads per household. The decline was chiefly due to the success of family planning programs starting into operation in 1970s.

In 2002, of 91,600,000 working population, some 44.34 percent worked in agricultural sector, 19.42 percent in trade, 13.21 percent in manufacturing ployees in the sectors of services, manufacturing, trade, and agriculture.industry, and 11.30 percent in services. Higher proportion of the working population in Java earned their life in manufacturing and trade rather than in agriculture. The reverse applied in other islands. Further, the remaining 27.33 percent worked as labors or employees.

With its land area of about 6.75 percent of the country's total land area, Java accounts for about 58.83 percent of the country's total population. It means population density in Java Island is 997 heads per sq km. The Greater Jakarta, which accounts for only 0.4 percent of the country's total area, is home to about 4.01 percent of the country's total population, making its population density stood at 12,985 heads per sq km. Trailing behind is Banten with 1,100 heads per sq km. Outside Java, Bali is the most dense with 596 heads per sq pm, and North Sumatra with 162 heads. On the contrary, Papua which accounts for some 19.3 percent of the country's total area, is home to only 1.10 percent of total population, making its density of only six heads per sq km; Kalimantan (part of Indonesia), which makes up some 30.37 percent of the country's total land area, accounts for only 5.49 percent of the country's total population or with an average density of 20 heads per sq km.

In overcoming such uneven distribution of population, Indonesia had for many years introduced and carried out migration programs by moving a number of people from the densely populated islands (Java and Bali) to the sparsely populated islands (Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua). The programs ended a couple of years ago.

RACES AND ETHNIC GROUPS

The Indonesian people consist of hundreds of ethnic groups, with each group having distinct language, art, tradition and custom. Those ethnic groups politically and geographically unite into a nation, the Indonesian nation under the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, with Pancasila as its state philosophy. It was during the second Indonesian Youth Congress on October 28, 1928, that the Bahasa Indonesia, the Indonesian Language, was for the first time declared as lingua franca for ethic groups residing in the territory of then the Netherlands East Indies, now called Indonesia. The event -called as the "Youth Pledge"- was the starting point of the all ethnic groups to awake to build one nation and one motherland, Indonesia.

The island of Sumatra is home to the ethnic groups of Acehnese, the Gayo, the Batak, Malays, Minangkabauan, Jambi, Palembang etc. The island of Java is home to the ethnic groups of Betawi, Javanese, Sundanese. The island of Bali is home to the Balinese, while the ethnic groups of Lombok, Sasak, Flores and Timorese live in East and West Nusa Tenggara. In Kalimantan live in the Dayak, Banjar and Malays; in Sulawesi the Minahasans, Torajans, Bugisnese, Makassar, Mandar etc. The Asmat, Marind-anim, Dani, Yali, Korowai, Biak, Serui, Artak are ethnic groups that live in Papua.

Each of those ethnic groups has its own distinct dances popularly known among the public, such as Saman dance of Aceh, Tortor dance of the Batak, Piring dance of Minangkabau (West Sumatra), Ondel-ondel dance of Betawi, Lenso dance of Ambon (Maluku), etc.

Each ethnic group adopts a different kinship system as well. The Bataks, for instance, adopt a patriarchal system, and bear clan names after their own surnames. The Bataks are known for their talented singers. The Minangkabauans, known as domestic tough migrants, stick to a matriarchal system.

Sundanese and Javanese are known for their industrious and tenacious labors, and their arts batik textiles are popular at home and even abroad. So are the Balinese with their particular dancing and carvings. The Bugisnese-Makassars have been known for their seafaring people with their wooden "phinisi" ships sailing high seas since hundreds years ago. Meanwhile, the people of Maluku have been known for their skillful singers and traditional music instruments, and Papuans are the country's promising athletes for the future.

It was the 1930 census that for the first time recorded the composition and number of ethnic groups in the country. This feature was dropped in the following censuses until the 1990 Census due to mainly socio-political reasons. But the 2000 Census did it again, particularly in term of quantitative data reflecting socio-political perspective changes in the country. The availability of data on each ethnic group is believed to be able to help understand them, and settle any ethnic conflict.

The 2000 Census recorded only 15 ethnic groups, among the hundreds existing ones, with ethnic members more than one million people. It also revealed different composition from that of the 1930 Census recorded.

According to the 2000 Census, Javanese people account for the greater part, namely some 41.71 percent of the country's total population. Trailing behind are Sundanese with 15.4 percent, Malay 3.45 percent, Madurese 3.37 percent, the Bataks 3.02 percent, Minangkabau 2.72 percent, Betawi 2.51 percent, Bugis 2.49 percent, Banjar 1.74 percent, Balinese 1.51 percent, Sasak 1.30 percent, Makassar 0.99 percent, Gorontalo 0.84 percent, Acehnese 0.43 percent, Torajan 0.37 percent, and others 14.66 percent. Chinese descents make up only 0.86 percent.

Composition of Main Ethnic Groups to the country's Total Population (%)

During the period of 1930-2000, recording the highest population growth rate was the Malay with an average of 2.84 percent per annum; followed by Betawi with an average of 2.34 percent, the Batak 2.31 percent, Banjar 1.94 percent, Bugis 1.69 percent, and the Javanese with an annual average of 1.58 percent.

The majority of the Javanese people reside in Central Java, East Java, and Yogyakarta -their native land. However, they also live in Lampung (4,713,731 heads or 61.89 percent of the area's total population), in Jakarta (35.16 percent), North Sumatra (32.62 percent). The least Javanese people can be found living in West Nusa Tenggara (1.47 percent of its total population) and in East Nusa Tenggara (0.81 percent).

The Sundanese live in West Java -their homeland-, in Banten (22.66 percent of the area's total population), and in Jakarta (15.27 percent). The least percentage of this ethnic group can be found living in East Nusa Tenggara (0.03 percent) and North Sulawesi (0.08 percent of the province's total population).

Jakarta, homeland to the Betawis, and the capital of the Republic, in 2003 was home to estimated 8,640,000 people, of whom 35.16 percent are of Betawis, 15.27 percent Sundanese, 5.53 percent Chinese descents, 3.61 percent the Bataks, 3.18 percent Minangkabauans, 1.62 percent Malays, and the remaining of other ethnic groups.

^ Religions

Since many centuries ago the territory, which is now called Indonesia, has been an important passage of trading ships and place to call in for traders from many nations. While trading, they also propagated religious teachings they respectively adhered to local people. Hinduism and Buddhism, for example, were propagated by Indian merchants and migrants. Remnants of the two religion's glory are the monumental buildings of Borobudur Temple (Buddhist) and Prambanan Temple (Hindu) in addition to tens of smaller temples, particularly in Java. Indonesians may boast Borobudur Temple, located in Magelang, Central Java, as one of the world's marvels.

In 2000, some 1.60 percent of the country's total population adhered to Hinduism. The greater concentration of Hindus is in Bali Island (some 75.35 percent of the Island's total population).

Buddhism is followed by some 1.51 percent of the country's total population, with their greater concentration found in the province of Bangka-Belitung (7.23 percent of the province's total population) and in Riau Province (4.18 percent).

Islam was brought to Aceh, the most northern tip of Sumatra Island, by Gujarati and Persian merchants embracing the religion, before spreading to Banten and Demak in Java Island, and other areas later on. Islam was thus developed at coastal areas first before penetrating to hinterlands. In Java in particular, the role of the nine Islamic holy men (Wali Songo) in propagating Islam was prominent. The number of followers has been increasing from time to time. According to the 1971 Census, some 87.51 percent of the country's total population were followers of Islam; and according to the 2000 Census, Islam followers accounted for 88.22 percent, or an average increase of 1.86 percent annually. This makes Indonesia a country with the largest Islam followers in the world. It is worth noting that the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta is the country's largest mosque, and even the largest in Southeast Asia, and the Demak Mosque one of the country's oldest mosques.

Catholicism was first introduced to this area by pastors participating in the Portuguese voyages in search of Indonesian spices. After failing to defend Malacca, the Portuguese went away to land in Larantuka, Flores. From this place Catholicism was propagated and spread for the first time to throughout the country.

Jakarta's large and beautiful cathedral is the pride of Indonesian Catholics. While Protestantism was introduced and propagated by Dutch and German missionaries, and later on by American missionaries. They initiated preaching the religion at Tapanuli (North Sumatra), Ambon (Maluku), Minahasa (North Sulawesi) and Manokwari (Papua), before to Kalimantan, Java and others.