Facts on Indonesia

	Indonesia
	"The nation with the largest Muslim Population worldwide"

	Indonesia is a string of 17,000 islands, which stretches between Thailand and the northern tip of Australia in the Indian Ocean.
	Current issues include: alleviating poverty, preventing terrorism, consolidating democracy after four decades of authoritarianism, implementing financial sector reforms, stemming corruption, and holding the military and police accountable for human rights violations.
	Indonesia is troubled by deep racial divides and the situation recently worsened in the north of Sumatra where the situation for Christians and Christian organisations has become precarious. there are 170 million Muslims compared to the 30 million Christian minority in Indonesia. Whilst there is a large Christian population, they are systematically and socially discriminated against. Many Christians are in jail under false or unlawful charges.
	Everyone must choose to follow one of five recognised religions: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christian (Protestant of Catholic).
	There are strong movements for independence in many of the islands, particularly in East Timor (Timor Lorosae).
	The country was badly affected by the Asian economic crisis in 1997; nearly half the population now live under the poverty line. Indonesia is plagued by natural disasters. The 2004 tsunami had greatest impact on Indonesia particularly in the northern hostile region of Acech. 45 000 children were killed in Indonesia alone. Estimates show that 417,124 displaced people, 55 percent of them children, are still living in temporary shelters and camps.