Indonesia

Indonesia Timeline

By deew212

  • Japenese help Indonesia declare independence

    The Japanese help independence leader Sukarno return from internal exile and declare independence

  • Dutch recognize Indonesia as independent

    The Dutch recognise Indonesian independence after four years of guerrilla warfare
  • Period: to

    Moluccas declare independence

    Maluku (Moluccas) declares independence from Indonesia and fights an unsuccessful separatist war

  • West Papua transfered to Indonesia

    The Dutch agree to transfer West Papua to Indonesia after a period of UN administration

  • Failed coup

    Failed coup: In the aftermath, hundreds of thousands of suspected Communists are killed in a purge of leftists which descends into vigilantism

  • General Suhartp becomes president

    Sukarno hands over emergency powers to General Suharto, who becomes president in March 1967

  • West Papua becomes Irian Jaya Province

    West Papua formally incorporated into Indonesia, becoming Irian Jaya Province

  • Portugal grants East Timor independence

    Portugal grants East Timor independence

  • Invades East Timor

    Indonesia invades East Timor and incorporates it as a province

  • Rupiah plummets in value

    Asian economic crisis: Indonesian rupiah plummets in value

  • BJ Habibie becomes president

    Protests and rioting topple Suharto; B J Habibie becomes president.

  • Free elections held in Indonesia

    Ethnic violence breaks out in Maluku. Free elections are held in Indonesia. East Timor votes for independence in UN-sponsored referendum, after which anti-independence militia go on the rampage. East Timor comes under UN administration. Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) becomes president.

  • Buloggate and Bruneigate scandals occur

    Two financial scandals dog the Wahid administration: Buloggate (embezzled funds from the state logistics agency), and Bruneigate (missing humanitarian aid funds from the Sultan of Brunei). The corruption case against former President Suharto collapses. Irian Jaya separatists become more vocal in demanding a referendum

  • Dayaks force out transmigrants

    Ethnic violence in Kalimantan as indigenous Dayaks force out Madurese transmigrants. Mass political demonstrations by Wahid's supporters and opponents. IMF stops further loans citing lack of progress in tackling corruption

  • Indonesia creates human rights court

    Indonesia inaugurates human rights court which is expected to test government's willingness to hold the military accountable for atrocities in East Timor after the 1999 independence vote

  • East Timor becomes independent

    East Timor becomes independent

  • Peace deak in Geneva signed

    Government and separatist Free Aceh Movement (Gam) sign peace deal in Geneva, aimed at ending 26 years of violence. The accord provides for autonomy and free elections in the Muslim oil-rich province of Aceh; in return the Gam must disarm

  • Martial Law is imposed

    Peace talks between government and Gam separatists break down; government mounts military offensive against Gam rebels. Martial law is imposed

  • Direct presidential elections

    First-ever direct presidential elections; first round narrows field to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and incumbent Megawati Sukarnoputri

  • Peace deal signed to withdrawl gov. soldiers

    Government and Free Aceh Movement separatists sign a peace deal providing for rebel disarmament and the withdrawal of government soldiers from the province. Rebels begin handing in weapons in September; government completes troop pull-out in December

  • International conference held for creating of single state

    Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir holds international conference in Jakarta calling for creation of single state or caliphate across Muslim world

  • Indonesia blamed for human rights violations

    Final report by joint Indonesian-East Timorese Truth Commission blames Indonesia for the human rights violations in the run-up to East Timor's independence in 1999 and urges it to apologise. President Yudhoyono expresses "deep regret" but stops short of an apology

  • police arrest/shoot terrorists related to 2002 Bali bombings

    Several suspected militants are arrested in series of raids on alleged training camps of groups thought to be linked to Jemaah Islamiah (JI) in Aceh province. Fourteen men are charged with plotting to launch terrorist attacks. Police shoot dead Dulmatin - an alleged leading member of JI and the last main suspect in the 2002 Bali bombings still at large - during a raid on a Jakarta internet cafe