iblog

Indonesia, a country of more than 13,000 islands and hundreds of ethnic groups, has been living through volatile times, with the fall of President Suharto last May followed this year by its first free elections for more than 40 years. Euphoria at the departure of Suharto has cooled, and the country faces a long, hard climb out of near economic collapse. There have been outbreaks of sustained religious and ethnic violence in different parts of the sprawling archipelago, as well as renewed calls from some areas for independence. These aspirations may have been further fuelled by the vote in favour of independence by the people of East Timor, though the violent chaos which followed the vote there also serves as a warning to others. Ensuring real stability is one of the biggest challenges facing Indonesia’s leaders.