History

President Sukarno

The 17,000 islands that make up Indonesia were home to a diversity of cultures and indigenous beliefs, when the islands came under the influence of Hindu priests and traders in the first and second centuries. Muslim invasions began in the 13th century, and most of the archipelago had converted to Islam by the 15th century. 

During the World War ll, Japan seized the islands. Tokyo was primarily interested in Indonesia's oil, which was vital to the war effort, and tolerated fledgling nationalists such as Sukarno and Mohammed Hatta. After Japan's surrender, Sukarno and Hatta proclaimed Indonesian independence on Aug. 17, 1945

At first independent Indonesia was a parliamentary democracy. However in February 1957 President Sukarno introduced a new political system, which he called 'Guided Democracy'. The power of parliament was reduced and his own power was greatly increased. His opponents formed a separate 'parliament' called the PRRC (the Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia). However the army remained loyal to Sukarno and he stayed in power.

In 2004 Susilo Bambang Yudhoyno was elected President of Indonesia.