Student's Book – Dec 2009 (5.9mb) - The Curriculum Project

Modern IndonesiaAfter three and a half decades of Dutch rule,Indonesia gained independence in 1945.Kusno Sosrodihardjo, also known asSukarno, became the first President ofIndonesia. He began ruling the country in ademocratic style but, over time, he becameincreasingly authoritarian.On 30 September 1965, there was anattempted coup against Sukarno whichfailed. Sukarno retaliated, killing between500,000 and one million people.KEY WORDSappoint (v) – to assign a duty or responsibility to someonecoup (n) – a sudden takeover of power by forceembezzlement (n) – the theft of money or items by the person entrusted to keep them safegraft (n) – the practice of offering something (usually money) in order to get an illegaladvantageloot (v) – to take money or goods illegallyresentment (n) – a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-willretaliate (v) – to act harmfully against a person or group in response to a (real or perceived)wrongdoing; revengesuppress (v) – to put down by forceMap 17: IndonesiaEven though the coup failed, it still left Sukarno weak. General Suharto took advantage of thisweakness and seized power in March 1967. He was officially appointed as President one yearlater, with the support of the United States government.exercisecomprehensionA. What form of government did Indonesia have after independence? Who was thefirst President?B. How long did the first President rule?C. How was the end of the first President’s rule different from the beginning?The United States government supported Suharto and his government at first. Foreign investmentfrom the US helped encourage economic growth in Indonesia for the next three decades.Politically, however, not much changed after Suharto took power. Authoritarian rule continued.Suharto’s regime was accused of corruption and suppressing political opposition. Opponents ofthe regime were jailed while Suharto’s family and friends took powerful places in thegovernment and grew wealthier. Graft and embezzlement of national funds increased.By 1990, the human rights situation in Indonesia began to concern the international community.In 1976, for example, a group of people asked for the independence of Aceh from Indonesia.Suharto sent troops against them. As a result, 15,000 people died. In 1991, Indonesian troopskilled more than 200 civilians in East Timor.In 1997, Indonesia suffered badly from the Asian Financial crisis. The prices of basic goods likefood and fuel increased during this time by as much as 500 percent. The United States beganlimiting military aid and the International Monetary Fund would only help Indonesia if politicalchanges took place. Foreign investors began to lose confidence in the country and stoppedinvesting, making the economic situation worse.66