History Indonesia

History

 historyDates

In around the year 1000, Hinduism first began to penetrate into Bali from Java.
1284, first military conquest of Bali by the kingdom of Java.
1343, after a period of independence, Bali again came under the control of the Javanese sovereigns.
End 14th - beginning 15th century, collapse of the Javanese Empire of Majapahit, with a Hindu religion, and expansion of Islam in the Indonesian archipelago. Bali found a certain independence again, and became one of the refuges for Hinduism.
1597, first invasion by Europeans (Dutch), in Bali.
18th century, incessant conflict between the small local sovereigns sharing the island.
1840, military settlement by the Dutch, in the north of Bali. During the course of the following decades, they fomented local rivalries.
1906, the Dutch took control of the whole of the island, after a dramatic episode when the local aristocracy, having been militarily defeated, destroyed itself in a vast ritual collective suicide, the puputan.
8 March 1942, the Dutch colonial government gave in to the Japanese forces, who took control of the whole of the archipelago.
17 August 1945, declaration of independence of Indonesia, at the initiative of the nationalist leader Sukarno. Bali, historically hesitant, came under Javanese control again.
27 December 1949, after four years of often bloody conflict, the old Dutch colonisers finally recognised Indonesia's independence.
1963, eruption in Bali of the Gunung Agung volcano, with thousands of victims.
1965, following a military coup in which Suharto overthrew Sukarno, a bloody anti-communist repression broke out all over Indonesia. The massacres were particularly big in Bali.
Since the 70s, the tourist industry in Bali has grown considerably, making it one of the richest islands in the Indonesian archipelago today.
Opposition to the repressive regime of Suharto is constant. Muslim groups and students demonstrate against corruption and violation of human rights. Suharto reinforces control of the Universities and the media.
The population grows at the same time as class inequality. The government has had a successful birth control programme.
In 1988 and 1993, Suharto was re-elected by Parliament, with no opposition. His power increased. In 1993, he began his sixth mandate.
1998. As the opposition gradually grew, the government weakened and riots increased, Suharto was obliged to stand down after thirty two years in power. Jusuf Habibie replaced him. The pressure continued, and the opposition became stronger.
1999. Legislative elections won by the Indonesian Democratic Party in June. The Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid was elected President in October. He intended to reduce the army's power, bring about economic recovery, and fight against corruption, despite criticism of him.
2001. The separatist movements clashed, and the army reinforced its power. Wahid was suspected of corruption. Demonstrations continued.
23 July 2001. Wahid was overturned, and Megawati Sukarnoputri, oldest daughter of Sukarno, replaced him. She was popular and supported. She needed to boost the economy and weaken the opposition.
2004. Yudohono, an old general, was elected President. This was the first time that the people directly elected their President. He had to fight against the terrorist threat, corruption, and reduce unemployment and poverty.
15 August 2005: Signature of peace agreement between independent rebels from the Indonesian province of Aceh and the government of Jakarta. This agreement brought 30 years of conflict to an end.