Indonesia

Indonesia is a country located within South East Asia and Oceania. It has been in a constant state of conflict with the resource-rich Federal Republic of Australia for decades, heavily backed by Arasaka and the secessionist Republic of West Australia.

Overview
Indonesia is the "big gun" of ASEAN. This long island chain has the largest land and sea force available within the South East Asian and Oceania regions, and the willingness to use them, as anyone in "East Irian Jaya" will testify. During the Second Corporate War, the Indonesian government took advantage of the turbulence to take control of Papua New Guinea. The public explanation for this action was to stop cross-border incursions from Irian Jaya rebels taking sanctuary within Papua New Guinea's jungles. This, however, was nonsense, as the Indonesian government saw a fortune to be made from PNG's rescources. True enough, the forests containing teak wood sold well and the Japanese purchased land holdings, leasing rain forest areas to pharmaceutical companies. Most eastern cities in PNG were sold to SovOil for refineries and repair docks.

The Indonesian navy is split into two main divisions; Arasaka-backed forces remain on standby aginst the Federal Republic of Australia's navy off the northern coast of Australia, ready to destroy attempts at aid for PNG, for which the Federal Australian Republic claims jurisdiction, and to assist tbe dissident nation of the Republic of West Australia. Another half guards the Malaccan Straits, the main shipping route between Japan/China and the Indian Ocean.

The four main ethnic groups in Indonesia are: Indonesian, Malays, Chinese, and Arabs. The Indonesian Malays are guaranteed the best jobs and housing. Due to threatened past invasions from Chinese communist and economic dominance from overseas Chinese. Indonesians have passed laws to keep the Chinese under control. Since the 90's Chinese education opportunities and government jobs have been severely restricted. Also, materials written in Chinese are banned. The majority of Chinese left in Indonesian cannot read or speak Mandarin. There is underground net movement of Chinese texts and learning programs which the government is desperately trying to stop. Needless to say, the Indonesians encourage Chinese to go to Singapore, and many take them up on the offer. However, the Triads still do business in and do the Shanghai banks.

The Arabs (or Middle-Easterners for precise) are refugees from the Meltdown who were too poor to go Brunei,but not poor as to be moved to Mindanao. Mostly' they are Iranians and Turks. They came expecting Islam like they had back home and were stunned to find the Iaissez-fairez Islam, with native influences that exist in Indonesia and Malaysia. Many have joined the radical, anti-Chinese Sarekat Islam (Islam Association), and are working towards the enactment of Islamic law. The Jakarta army and business are trying to stop this quickly. The Sarekat Islam is based mainly in Irian Jaya.

Economy
Despite all of the political problems, the economy is fairly strong. The foreign corporations pumped large amounts of money into infrastructure, ports, and airstrips, especially in the more backwater areas. Of course, these are to facilitate the stripping of the forests, mining of the mountains, and delivery of crops, but it has added a lot of cash to the country. Unfortunately, a lot of that money went into the pockets of local administrators.

Indonesia is at the edge of the Slick, so fishing and aquaculture hasn't entirely died here, and quite a few of the islands (Bali, Lombok, Sumba) have resorts for corps on holiday. Half of Irian Jaya and East Irian Jaya has been leased outright, along with parts of Kalimatan, to Biotechnica and Tiger Medicines for biodiversity research.

The black market does quite well with drugs, guns, Chinese learning guides and software, communications equipment, etc. being smuggled in through the various islands. The pirates that lurk in the various coves and bays raid ships when they can, but mainly just carry contraband.

Jakarta
The capital city, on the island of Java, is pretty unpleasant. It's hot, dirty, and squalid, full of people who have moved in from the countryside looking for work Beggars are plentiful, especially from areas bought out by the corps. Some of the areas of interest to the Cyberpunk are the Chinatown area of Glodok, and the docks at Sunda Kelapa. Menteng is the Corporate HQ and residential area. Unless you have business, and/or look respectable, you'll get hassled by the guards. The best area for picking up info, jobs, and "necessary items" would be in Monas. This is a pretty standard city, unfortunately.

East Irian Jaya (Formerly Papua New Guinea)
This used to be a territory of Australia, and locals and expats were treated rather equally. After independence, the new government started an anti-expat campaign, which unfortunately drove out most of those best able to help run the country. As a consequence, the government floundered, and became an easy target for Indonesia. (This is also the area where "cargo cults" came from, as the tribes were isolated until the late 1800's) The area is still under tribal alliances, and hordes of young men go to the cities, especially Port Moresby, looking for work and not finding any. They end up living with their wantoks (families), and becoming rascals (violent troublemakers).

ElJ's highlands are being ripped up in some locations for the gold and copper, where other areas are under Bio-Corp control. Either way, the tribes are displaced. When they try to go back to their lands, the Army settles it Quickly. The corps in the cities stay behind guarded barbed wires in aircon offices, ignoring as best as possible the declining situation outside their walls.